Fernando Alonso is once again taking his considerable racing talents to the Indy 500 in 2020. He will be competing in an all-new Indy car, and here is a sneak peek at what the legendary Formula 1 racer will be driving.
The Enigma
From the moment he stepped foot into Formula 1, Fernando Alonso proved to be an enigma. He didn’t drive like anybody else, yet his skills behind the wheel could never be doubted. Alonso teamed up with McLaren during his F1 career, and when he stepped away from the sport, he didn’t step away from his team.
In 2017 Alonso was part of the McLaren Indy Car team that came oh, so close to taking the crown. His 2019 attempt was one to forget about, however, with Alonso failing to qualify. Alonso will be hoping his 2020 Indy 500 race is much better with his new car separating him from the competition.
Aiming for the Triple Crown
The Indy 500 is the final piece of the motor racing Triple Crown for Alonso, and this is his new ride for 2020. Alonso’s car will differ from his teammates as he won’t be sporting orange and black, but a white and green paint job. The Spanish driver’s own lifestyle brand, Kimoa, will adorn the car powered by a Chevy engine.
With different liveries from his teammates, this car will ensure that Alonso stands out on the track, no matter what position he finds himself in. Alonso proved in 2017 he has the skills to compete for the crown, and we expect him to fight tooth-and-nail for the win.
Fernando Alonso is bringing a wealth of racing experience to the 2020 Indy 500, and he will be hoping he fares much better than last year. With Alonso as part of the McLaren team for 2020, the British racing franchise will be hoping to have turned a corner in its fortunes.
Senators Demand Legislation to Mandate Driver-Monitoring Tech
After a fatal Tesla car crash in Texas last week, US Senators have proposed legislation on Monday that mandates all new cars in the country to integrate driver-monitoring tech. Two of the legislation’s sponsors, Richard Blumenthal (D-Mass) and Ed Markey (D-Conn), recently addressed a letter to federal regulators expressing concern.
Reports are unclear about how the 2019 Tesla Model S crashed at high speed while in Houston’s residential neighborhood. The police report has summarized that neither of the two passengers present in the car was in the driver’s seat. One of them occupied the front passenger seat while another sat in the rear.
Inclusion of driver-monitoring systems
The incident has drawn more attention to the age-old debate of integrating driver-monitoring systems in automated cars. A few of the car manufacturers are already leading the way. Cadillac’s Super Cruise model already uses a driver-facing camera which verifies if the driver has eyes on the road. While drivers can take their hands off the wheel, it activates when they are not looking at the road and issues warnings before eventually disengaging.
However, cars manufactured by Tesla have a much more basic driver engagement management system. It uses a torque sensor on the steering wheel that drivers can easily bypass by attaching a weight. Also, the sensor does not ensure that the driver has their eyes on the road.
Cars will have mandated driver monitoring by 2027
Many safety advocates argue that Advanced Driver Assistance Systems can be risky without the legislation. Over the past five years, four total deaths because of automated driving assistance.
According to the national highway traffic safety administration, there are an estimated 3000 deaths annually.
The Markey/Blumenthal bill, which is also co-sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar, would require the drafting of rules that need all vehicles to have driver monitoring systems.
If passed, every new car will have to adapt to a version with the technology over the next six years. A hearing has been scheduled for the bill by the House of Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.