Michael Andretti will do everything he can not to miss a minute of the 2018 24 Hours, even if that means live streaming the race. This weekend, he's excited just to be a diehard fan of Le Mans, and of Fernando Alonso! Ever since the team owner served as a mentor to the Spanish driver at the Indianapolis 500 last year, he has been under Alonso's spell. Andretti even went so far as to make the trip to Montréal last week (where Alonso was participating in the Canadian Grand Prix) to wish the McLaren driver good luck knowing he would be unable to make it to Le Mans himself to watch Alonso at the wheel of his Toyota LM P1.    

Michael Andretti: "Fernando is one of the best. In any case, he's the best driver I've ever worked with. Indianapolis last year was so much fun, for me and for the team. Fernando was fast right away and his approach is just astonishing. I don't just mean driving, but everything. He absorbed every detail, refueling, restarting, the procedures, etc. It's the will to do what it takes that makes him stand out from the others."

A difference, according to Andretti, that will have a huge impact at the 13.626 km Le Mans circuit. "Above all, he loves driving. His quickness, his intelligence and his approach leave nothing to chance and are tailor-made for this race." The living legend, with four participations in the 24 Hours to his credit - with Mirage (1982), Porsche (1983 and 1988) and Courage (1997) - knows what he's talking about. "In 1983, with Mario (his father, Ed.), we finished third at the wheel of Team Kremer's 956, but the podium finish wasn't my best memory, it was the checkered flag and the lap with all the multicolored flags being waved by the marshals. In 1988 (again with Mario, and his cousin John, with a factory Porsche 962, Ed.), I made sure John could have the full experience. In fact, I told Fernando to appreciate the entire experience to the fullest."

"I hope he wins because that means I'll definitely have him on my team at Indy again. If he ticks off the box '24 Hours' on Sunday, the box 'Indy 500' will be irresistible to him (laughs, Ed.). He wants the Triple Crown!"

PHOTO (Copyright - Louis Monnier/ACO): Fernando Alonso (Toyota) on 12 June 2018 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.