Racing legends Jimmie Johnson, Fernando Alonso have random encounter

If you didn’t know better, it looked as if a couple of guys were just having a friendly discussion in a hallway at a convention center. Except this wasn’t any two guys talking about random matters, this was Fernando Alonso and Jimmie Johnson, two of the best and most accomplished active drivers meeting for the first time and expressing their admiration for one another.

That Johnson was at the Charlotte, N.C., Convention Center as part of NASCAR’s annual preseason media tour on Tuesday was not a surprising occurrence. It’s something the seven-time Cup Series winner participates in each year. Alonso, however, was an unexpected visitor, which is why when Johnson saw Alonso milling about he was taken back.

Alonso was at the media tour in advance of this weekend’s Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, which the two-time Formula One champion is competing in. It is the Spaniard’s first major sports car race and a continuation of his desire to drive in various major races around the globe. Last May, he competed in the Indianapolis 500 for the first time and was in contention for the win before an engine failure sidelined him with 22 laps remaining.

How Alonso performed at Indianapolis created a stir in the racing world, leaving many impressed that someone who never before had never driven on an oval nearly won one of the sport’s signature events. Johnson was among those who were awed and he told Alonso as much Tuesday.

“I’ve been a huge Alonso fans for a lot of years,” Johnson said. “Just mentioned to him out there that the way he came and ran Indy — certainly did an amazing job in the car, but outside of the car. The friends that I have on the IndyCar circuit, said he just handled himself so well, did a great job. I think really brought a lot to the table when he raced here.”

The admiration runs both ways, Alonso said. He became a fan of Johnson’s in the early 2000s when while playing a NASCAR video game he selected Johnson’s No. 48 car because he liked the paint scheme. Since then, Alonso has followed Johnson’s career that has encompassed winning a record-tying seven Cup Series championships and 83 races, tied for sixth on NASCAR’s all-time list.

”I used to choose him, not knowing him, just because of the car,” Alonso said. “I remember playing with another friend of mine, he likes a chocolate company I will not name now, and he was choosing that car and I was choosing Jimmie’s car. That was the first time I heard of him, and obviously the success that he has in the years in motor racing, he became a legend of our sport, and massive respect.”

With Alonso in the heart of NASCAR and amidst of crossing events off his racing bucket list, naturally the topic of him one day running a stock car was broached by the media. Alonso said he was open to the idea, but because of his Formula One commitments any attempt won’t happen in the foreseeable future.

“Right now, it looks quite far because I think the driving technique and the experience that all those guys have, it’s quite difficult for me to achieve that level, but I will never know until I try,” Alonso said. “So I would like maybe one day to test the car and after that, driving the car, I would know how enjoyable it could be in racing.”