It is quite simply the holy grail of motorsport. As individual events, the Indy 500, Monaco Grand Prix, and the 24 of Le Mans could hardly be more different. Hence, any man or woman who does somehow manage to win all three in their career will undoubtedly go down in the history books as one of the most complete drivers of all time.
As this piece will later show, many drivers through the annals of history have attempted this remarkable feat. The likes of Mario Andretti, Jacques Villeneuve and most recently, Fernando Alonso have all came close - but only one man has actually managed it.
The skillset required for each race of the Triple Crown is uniquely diverse, making the task even more arduous, and the achievement even more impressive.
What follows, is everything you need to know about the Triple Crown - one of motorsport's most revered feats.
Only One Man Has Ever Achieved It
As was briefly mentioned in the introduction, only one man in the history of motorsport has actually accomplished the Triple Crown. That man was Graham Hill (pictured above), a driver who is mostly known for his success in Formula 1. The Brit began racing quite late, after only passing his driving test at the age of 24. However, he took to cars like a duck to water and was soon taking part in amateur track days. After rising through the ranks, Hill won his first Formula 1 World Championship in 1962 and would do so once again six years later.
During his career, he won the Monaco GP five times and was victorious in his first Indy 500 entry in 1966. Despite consistently entering the race throughout the 1960s, Hill wouldn't win at Le Mans until 1972 - in what would turn out to be his very last entry. The legendary driver tragically died in a helicopter crash just three years later, but since his death, no-one has been able to match his remarkable record.
It Involves Winning F1's Most Prestigious Race
While tracks like Silverstone, Monza and the Nurburgring all have a special place in F1 folklore, it is the Monaco Grand Prix that every driver endeavors to win above all others. No circuit is as technically demanding as Monaco, with its close barriers and bumpy tarmac - there's almost no margin for error. Henceforth, out of all the numerous tracks on the F1 calendar, it is the iconic street circuit that counts towards the triple crown - and rightfully so.
The highest honour for any F1 driver is, of course, the World Championship, but just below that, a victory at Monaco is the next best way to secure your place in the pantheon of F1 greats. Its no coincidence that legends of the sport like Lewis Hamilton, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Graham Hill have all taken the chequered flag at least three times in Monaco.
Indy 500 Brought European Drivers Stateside
In the early years of the Formula 1 World Championship, fewer commercial opportunities and fewer revenue streams resulted in many drivers competing in alternative racing series. In the 1960s, one of the most popular for European racers to try their hand at was the Indy 500. As Graham Hill attested to in a 1975 interview, the "Indy 500 produced more loot than the others". The flexibility of calendars allowed Formula 1 drivers to pursue careers on either side of the Atlantic, without fearing the wrath of thier team principles.
Formula 1's entry into the mainstream throughout the 1980s diminished the need for drivers to venture abroad, but in more recent years, the likes of Jacques Villeneuve and Juan Pablo Montoya both secured seats in F1 on the back of strong performances in Indy Car.
F1 Drivers Partaking In Le Mans Was Once Commonplace
At the same time as some F1 drivers were heading stateside for the financial allure of Indy car, others were instead turning their attention to 24 hours of Le Mans. The endurance race around the 8.5 mile Circuit De la Sarthe pre-dates the F1 World Championship, with the first edition taking place in 1923. Le Mans is won by the driver who has covered the most distance, requiring a unique set of skills when compared the raw speed needed in F1.
The nature of the race suited a certain type of driver, with type management and consistent pace being rewarded over the course of the day. Drivers such as Graham Hill, Bruce McLaren and Jacky Ickx were all victorious at Le Mans while simultaneously competing in the F1 World Championship. In more recent years, the likes of Nico Hulkenburg and Brendon Hartley have also been on winning teams at Le Mans, before returning to the F1 grid.
There Are Technically Two Versions Of The Triple Crown
Not everybody can agree on what exactly the Triple Crown encompasses. Traditionally, it did indeed require a driver to win the Monaco F1 Grand Prix alongside the Indy 500 and Le Mans. However, over the past few decades, some have questioned this, claiming that the true Triple Crown should be for those who win a F1 World Championship, rather than just a Monaco GP victory.
It should be said for posterity, that in the event of such a change, Graham Hill still remains the only man to accomplish this trinity of accolades. One of the biggest advocates for redefining the Triple Crown is Jacques Villeneuve, who, by virtue of his 1997 F1 World Title, very nearly achieved the feat. The Canadian also won the 1995 Indy 500, and over a decade later, was perilously close to clinching the all-important Le Mans winners trophy, but only managed to finished 3rd overall for the Peugeot team.
Fernando Alonso Came Close To Achieving The Feat
Speaking of coming agonisingly close to the Triple Crown - its time to discuss Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard is a two time Formula 1 World Champion, and handily, a two time Monaco Grand Prix winner - meaning he is one of the few drivers eligible to win either version of the Crown. Following a poor end to his F1 career back at McLaren, he decided to venture out into different racing series', beginning with Indy Car in 2017. His debut test in an Andretti Indy car was streamed by over 2 million people, a sign of the clamour fans still have to see a driver striving for the seemingly impossible.
The former Ferrari driver entered the 2017 Indy 500 - rather ironically having to pull out of that year's Monaco GP in order to do so. He showed some good pace, before unfortunately having his effort cut short after his McLaren Andretti Honda encountered technical issues. Following his retirement from Formula 1, Alonso took a giant step closer to the Triple Crown, winning the 2018 (and 2019) Le Mans endurance race alongside his fellow Toyota co-drivers.
With just the Indy 500 to win, expect Alonso to have a few more attempts at becoming the second man ever to the clinch the legendary triple.
Sources: The Guardian, F1.com, TopGear.com, Indystar.com, ESPN.com, Drivetribe.com.