Fernando Alonso has an open invitation to return to the Indianapolis 500 every time he’s prepared, courtesy of McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.
The Spaniard hasn’t competed at “The Biggest Spectacle in Racing” since 2020, which was held behind closed doorways and delayed till August because of the COVID pandemic. All three of his makes an attempt got here in a McLaren-supported effort, which noticed him qualify for the sphere of 33 twice. Undoubtedly, his finest outing was the debut in 2017, incomes high rookie honors after qualifying fifth, main 27 laps and being within the combine for victory till his engine expired whereas working seventh with 21 laps remaining.
Arrow McLaren, the IndyCar arm of McLaren Racing, has repeatedly expanded its program to assist Indy 500 makes an attempt since Alonso, working former ‘500’ winners Juan Pablo Montoya (2021-22) and Tony Kanaan (2023), together with two-time NASCAR Cup Collection champion Kyle Larson (2024-25).
This 12 months is not any completely different, with 2014 Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay coming onboard in a one-off effort for the Month of Could festivities, alongside full-time drivers Pato O’Ward, Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel.
Throughout Wednesday’s grand opening of the McLaren Racing Heart, the brand new dwelling for Arrow McLaren, Motorsport.com requested Brown throughout a media roundtable on the prospects of reuniting with Alonso for one more Indy 500 effort.
“Beginning with Ryan, (I’m) very pleased to have Ryan within the automobile this 12 months,” Brown stated. “He is positively able to successful the Indy 500, so I believe our odds have gone up by placing Ryan within the automobile.”
Brown then added his ideas on Alonso, now 44 and within the final 12 months of his present cope with Aston Martin. A two-time System 1 world champion and 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Alonso wants solely a win within the Indy 500 to finish racing’s ‘Triple Crown’ – a feat solely the legendary Graham Hill has achieved.
“However publish that and publish when Fernando stops in F1, that is his final contractual 12 months, does not imply he will not proceed, however I speak to him about it like each time I see him,” Brown stated.
“I believe we have a automobile that may win the Indy 500. And I believe he is very able to successful the Indy 500. I completely loved racing with him right here. He loved all of it however one of many years, however liked the primary 12 months. I imply, it was magic.
“I might like to see Fernando again on the Indy 500 with us. That’s one thing I am going to proceed to bug him about.”
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