James Hinchcliffe, Graham Rahal fire back at Lewis Hamilton's IndyCar derision

Jim Ayello | IndyStar

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DETROIT – If Formula One star Lewis Hamilton ever decides to cross the Atlantic and try his hand at the Indianapolis 500, safe to say his reception in the Verizon IndyCar Series won't be as warm as the one F-1 comrade Fernando Alonso received.

While Alonso showed nothing but respect for the quality of racers he competed against in Indianapolis, the three-time world champion Hamilton saw Alonso’s success as a sign that IndyCar was lacking.

“I took a look at the qualifying results,” Hamilton said recently, according to L’Equipe. “Fernando, in his first qualifying, came fifth. Does that say something about (the level) of IndyCar? Great drivers, if they can’t succeed in Formula One, look for titles in other races, but to see him come fifth against drivers who do this all year round is…interesting.”

More: Bruised, battered Scott Dixon bounces back — as always — with podium finish

Graham Rahal backs up talk, wins IndyCar Dual I at Detroit Grand Prix

Coincidentally, IndyCar drivers found Hamilton’s comment … interesting.

“It's funny hearing comments about the depth of our field from someone that only has to race three other cars,” James Hinchcliffe said Saturday after the first of two races at Detroit.

Hinchcliffe, who finished third, was taking a jab at Formula One’s lack of competition. A little bit later, Detroit winner Graham Rahal did the same.

“When I saw Lewis Hamilton's comment, you guys know me, it took everything I had in my body not to say something. Legitimately, in Formula One, over his entire career, it's been a two-car race, four max, max. .... IndyCar racing, this is the seventh race, seventh different winner. That doesn't happen in other motor sports. Period. So no matter what anybody wants to say, it's a great form of motor sports.

"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.”

Then Rahal put the cherry on top of the sundae.

“Look, the 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.”

Follow IndyStar Motor Sports Insider Jim Ayello on Twitter and Instagram: @jimayello