Double world champion Fernando Alonso will miss this year’s Monaco Grand Prix to be able to perform at the legendary Indianapolis 500 race.
After secret talks between Alonso, McLaren and Honda, an agreement was reached according to which the Spaniard can compete in America while his Formula 1 team is in Monaco, the most prestigious race in the calendar.
Alonso has long been saying that we want to try to race in other racing series like WEC and participate in the race 24 hours of Le Mans, which was won by Nico Hulkenberg i 2015. and his participation in the Indianapolis 500 is the beginning of a new, exciting chapter in his racing career.
- DRIVERS PROFILE: Fernando Alonso
“I’m incredibly excited that I will race in this year’s Indy 500 with McLaren, Honda and Andretti Autosport,” said the delighted Alonso.
“Indy 500 is one of the most famous race in the global motorsport calendar, with 24 hours of Le Mans and Monaco Grand Prix and of course I regret that I will miss Monaco.”
“But Monaco will be the only event he will miss this year and I’ll be back in the cockpit McLaren Honda MCL32 at the Canadian Grand Prix in early June.”
Alonso’s contract with McLaren expires at the end of this year and will miss the race where McLaren due to the deficit of power Honda engine has the greatest chance of a good result.
Racing at the Indianapolis 500 will be the first appearance on the oval track for Fernando Alonso while McLaren won this legendary race twice, in 1974 and in 1976.
The last driver who raced in F1 and at the Indy 500 was Nigel Mansell who drove four races for Williams in 1994.
The three biggest races in motorsport are Indy 500, Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which together make up the Triple Crown. Only driver who won Triple Crown is Graham Hill.
Hill won the Monaco Grand Prix five times (1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969), Indy 500 win in 1966 and Le Mans 24 hours in 1972.
