Triple Crown of Motorsport

Lore & Background

The Triple Crown of Motorsport has two main definitions. The traditional version consists of the Indianapolis 500 (first held in 1911), the 24 Hours of Le Mans (first held in 1923), and the World Drivers' Championship of Formula One (first held in 1950). The alternative version replaces the World Drivers' Championship with the Monaco Grand Prix (first held in 1929). Graham Hill is the only driver to have completed the Triple Crown by either definition.

Among currently active drivers, Jacques Villeneuve and Juan-Pablo Montoya have won two of three events in one version of the crown. Villeneuve won the 1995 Indianapolis 500 and the 1997 World Drivers Championship. Montoya won the 2000 Indianapolis 500 and the 2003 Monaco Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso is the only active driver to have won two of three events in both versions, having won the 2018 and 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 2005 and 2006 World Drivers' Championships, and the 2006 and 2007 Monaco Grands Prix.

McLaren is the only racing team to have completed the Crown. Equivalent concepts exist within specific disciplines of motor racing, including endurance racing, IndyCar racing, NASCAR, NHRA, American motorsport, Australian motorsport, and Japanese motorsport.

Reader's Guide

The Triple Crown of Motorsport represents a benchmark of versatility and success across different forms of racing. Graham Hill remains the sole driver to have achieved the feat under either definition, highlighting the difficulty of winning at Indianapolis, Le Mans, and either the Formula One world championship or the Monaco Grand Prix. The achievement is notable for spanning disciplines that require distinct skills: oval racing, endurance racing, and road racing or grand prix competition.

Among active drivers, Fernando Alonso stands out as the only one to have won two legs in both versions of the crown, demonstrating adaptability across Formula One, endurance racing, and the Monaco Grand Prix. The Triple Crown also extends to teams and manufacturers, with Mercedes, McLaren, and Ford having completed it in various capacities. The concept has inspired similar triple crowns in other motorsport disciplines, such as the IndyCar Triple Crown, the NASCAR Triple Crown, and the Triple Crown of endurance racing, each with its own history and list of achievers.