IndyCar drivers defiant amid perceived slight

Lewis Hamilton has been on the receiving end of criticism from a number of IndyCar drivers after quotes were attributed to him that criticized the quality of the series.

Following Fernando Alonso's fifth-place performance in qualifying for the Indy 500, Hamilton was alleged to have told French newspaper L'Equipe that Alonso's results brought into question the level of IndyCar. 

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While Hamilton's quotes – allegedly made before the Indy 500 took place – are unverified, the reports have been acknowledged by a number of IndyCar drivers. After Tony Kanaan referenced the comments in his Indy 500 banquet speech earlier this week, Graham Rahal also spoke out after his victory in Detroit on Saturday made him the seventh different winner in the series this season.

"Look, man, when I saw Lewis Hamilton's comment, you guys know me, it took me everything I had in my body not to say something," Rahal said. "Legitimately, in Formula 1, over his entire career, it's been a two-car race, four max. Here you have, like, Hinch who spins on lap one. You're going, 'he's done.' No, he had the pace. He had a great strategy. He made some moves. I think he went through a three-stopper, ran blacks, ran hard, had the speed to get through, next thing you know he's in third.

"IndyCar racing, this is the seventh race, seventh different winner. That doesn't happen in other motorsports, period. So no matter what anybody wants to say, it's a great form of motorsports. I think Esteban [Gutierrez] will tell you, I just talked to him briefly, he said this is the most fun car he's ever driven in his life. It's man and machine. It's as simple as that. It's a lot of fun.

"When you win here, like a day like today, you truly feel like you really accomplished something, you know, great. As a driver, as a team, as an engineer, all across the board. So today is extremely, extremely rewarding.

"I can't imagine the feeling of going to each and every race weekend and knowing that all I got to do is beat my teammate and I'm going to win. But that doesn't happen here. So it was rewarding to have a day like today.

"And, look, truth, I put Scott Dixon in a Mercedes all day long, and Lewis is going to have more than he really wants to deal with. I can guarantee you that. Maybe not me, but Scott Dixon."

James Hinchcliffe – who finished third at Belle Isle on Saturday – also referenced Hamilton's comments in the post-race press conference.

"It's funny hearing criticism about the depth of our field from someone who has to race three other cars when we have seven winners in the first seven races," Hinchcliffe said. "It shows how competitive this series is, the parity between the manufacturers, between teams. Just how difficult it is to win one of those races.

"You really have to have everything go your way, pit stops have to be perfect, flags have to fall in your favor, and oh, yeah, you have to be pretty good behind the wheel of a good car.

"For me, I think it's the greatest racing on four wheels on the planet. We're all very privileged to be able to race in such a deep field, such a high class of driver here."

Kanaan's speech in Indianapolis saw the Brazilian take a dig at Hamilton, addressing Alonso by saying: "You were humble, not like your other fellow F1 driver who made some comments this month.

"The guy raced two cars last year, he finished second, so I don't think I can say a lot about him!"