Formula One: Lewis Hamilton has no desire to race in Indianapolis 500

Three-time Formula One champions Lewis Hamilton says that he has no desire to race in the Indianapolis 500 at this point in time.

Lewis Hamilton, 32, recently made comments to 2017 Indianapolis 500 champion Takuma Sato about his Indy 500 championship ring when Sato was interviewing Hamilton following the Japanese Grand Prix.

The three-time and likely soon-to-be four-time Formula One champion had just won the Japanese Grand Prix, his fourth win in the past five races, eighth win of the season and 61st career victory, when Sato came onto the podium to interview him along with the other two podium finishers in the race, Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.

Before Sato’s interview with Hamilton really started, Hamilton noticed Sato’s ring and asked to try it on, making comments about potentially driving in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” one day to try to win the ring himself.

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Here is what Hamilton said to Sato.

"“Wow, you’ve got some bling, where did this come from?! I love that, I need that ring! Can I try this ring? Can I see if it’s worth me doing it one day? It looks pretty good!”"

But Hamilton has since admitted that he doesn’t have interest in racing in the Indianapolis 500 at this point in time and that Sato’s Indy 500 championship ring has not inspired him to do so.

"“Honestly it hasn’t inspired me to do the Indy 500. I’ve always respected it and appreciated it. I got to watch part of it when Fernando [Alonso] did it which I thought was super exciting. I love the idea of drivers being able to do more than one series.”“Just the other day I got to drive an F1 car on an oval circuit which was interesting. I have a huge amount of respect for those drivers as it is quite scary approaching those banks at the speeds that they do. I personally don’t have a desire to drive it. Maybe one day I will go out and have some fun. I have a lot of opportunities to do those kinds of things, but no real plans to do anything serious.”"

Fernando Alonso gave up his uncompetitive with McLaren in this year’s Monaco Grand Prix to drive in the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 and make his first appearance in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” So Hamilton’s comments really got a lot of people thinking.

While Hamilton said above that he respects what IndyCar drivers do, he was somewhat critical of the IndyCar field itself as a whole at the time, so his admission that he really doesn’t want to race in the Indy 500 at this point should not really come as a surprise to many people.

"“I took a look at the qualifying results. Fernando, in his first qualifying, came fifth. Does that say something about [the level] of IndyCar? Great drivers, if they can’t succeed in Formula One, look for titles in other races, but to see him come fifth against drivers who do this all year round is…interesting.”"

Next: Which drivers will drive for Mercedes and Ferrari in 2019?

Could we see Lewis Hamilton attempt a race such as the Indianapolis 500 a little bit further down the road? Only time will tell, but as far as the present goes, he has made clear that he has no interest in doing so.

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