Don't underestimate Fernando Alonso's desire to change the dreary nature of his current reality. Strapping into his McLaren MCL32-Honda Formula 1 car has become a downright depressing affair for the two-time world champion, and rather than chase prescriptions for Prozac chewables, the Spaniard has found something new and warm in America to alter his reality.

Even though it's only for two weeks in May at the Indianapolis 500, we should get to see the old Fernando Alonso—the smiling, boisterous version—who went missing in the latter stages of his time with Scuderia Ferrari. Leaving the Prancing Horse for his new home with McLaren only made matters worse; saddled with Honda's unwaveringly average engine and hybrid power systems, memories of the I'm-on-top-of-the-world Alonso have all but faded.

Known today as the grumpiest driver on the grand prix grid, we got a peek at the former Fernando—the cheerful killer from his title-winning Renault F1 days— last weekend in Alabama during a brief visit to the Verizon IndyCar Series race at Barber Motorsports Park.

Despite the odd setting for a world-famous driver at a relatively backwoods facility in the Deep South, Alonso wore the look of a driver who was reintroduced to the passion he's long been missing in F1. Adoring fans, enthusiastic reporters and spirited IndyCar drivers presented the 35-year-old with a rejuvenating force he clearly didn't expect to find.

"He loved it," McLaren boss Zak Brown told RoadAndTrack.com. "I've spoken with him lots of times since we got back, including just 30 minutes ago, and he was still talking about the reception he had … even from people at the airport when he was flying out. It's such a different environment than Formula 1. The fans, and even the competitors, have made him feel so welcome."

Alonso was in Barber to meet with his Andretti Autosport Indy 500 team and get to know the cadre of teammates he'll have in May, and then took part in a 30-minute press conference. The old Fernando unknowingly illustrated the difference between life in the F1 paddock and what he can expect as a temporary member of the IndyCar fraternity.

"We don't talk much there," he said with a laugh when asked what the other grand prix drivers thought of his Indy 500 plans. "It's a different world. Some of them are happy for me and happy for this thing and curious to see how competitive we can be. Some others, they are not happy with anything in life. So this was another thing for their own problems."

At a rumored salary of $40 million per year, Formula 1 is the only series where Alonso can earn meaningful dollars. IndyCar's best take home a few million at most, and the money offered by the likes of Andretti Autosport, Chip Ganassi Racing or Team Penske would not, on its own, sway Fernando to switch series. But at his age, and with the fortune he's amassed after 16 seasons in F1, I'm left to wonder if Alonso will eventually place a higher value on being happy in his chosen profession.

If and when he arrives at that realization, IndyCar is the only destination where visible joy coincides with wicked competition. In F1, it's impossible to picture Alonso being invited over to a trackside cookout by Lewis Hamilton, or Fernando, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen meeting up at Starbucks before the start of Free Practice 1. The culture of F1 keeps teams and drivers in tidy, seemingly impenetrable silos.

Counter that with the genuine camaraderie among IndyCar drivers. Tales of fierce rivals heading out for dinner and drinks—sometimes many, many drinks—are not uncommon. Loved ones, children and family members freely mingle, remembering anniversaries, sending gifts when weddings and births take place. The 20-plus full-time IndyCar drivers willingly connect to form a close-knit community. F1 has 20 communities of one.

IndyCar's younger generation, at the age where they're expected to be selfish and hate each other, showed they can come together as friends and return to their respective teams and race each other without compromise. The shot below of eventual 100th Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi playing Mario Kart with Conor Daly, Marco Andretti and Spencer Pigot depicts every nicety Alonso will never find in the cold confines of F1.

Marshall Pruett

There's obviously no comparison between the two series when it comes to size, importance, commercial activity, or any other category that can be measured. For the young world beaters like Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz Jr, it's F1 or nothing, as it should be. But in the one metric where F1 can't touch IndyCar, an older animal like Alonso could come away from the Indy 500 with a desire for more of the American open-wheel experience. Having a fair shot at winning every race would also be an uplifting change.

With his McLaren contract up at the end of the year, and looming decision on whether he wants to sign an extension or look elsewhere for a competitive drive in Season 17, the quality of Alonso's Indy 500 experience could frame his answer.

"As he said, he wants to have fun; it's fair to say he's not having fun in Formula 1," Brown said. "I think he thoroughly enjoyed seeing what IndyCar was all about last weekend. After the drivers meeting, they all came up to him, and I thought some were going to ask for his autograph (laughs).

"I think it is a refreshing environment for him; he was very appreciative of the media and could tell there was genuine excitement. He wasn't asked any trick questions, and enjoyed the fans, the media, the drivers and the race. He loves the idea of the challenge."

With nothing left to prove in F1 and a financial future that's more than secure, choosing happiness and something new in IndyCar over chasing a fading F1 dream would make for a wonderful cap to Alonso's career. The combination of his unparalleled talent and infectious personality would do wonders for the series and there's no doubt he'd be fulfilled in return.

And if he's looking for some real competition, I'm also sure IndyCar's young lions would happily slide over and make space for Fernando at the next Mario Kart battle.

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