2017 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
“I’m immensely excited that I’ll be racing in this
year’s Indy 500, with McLaren, Honda and Andretti
Autosport,” Alonso said in a statement.
“The Indy 500 is one of the most famous races
on the global motorsport calendar, rivalled only by
the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Monaco Grand Prix.
It’s of course a regret of mine that I won’t be able to
race at Monaco this year.”
“But Monaco will be the only 2017 Grand Prix
I’ll be missing, and I’ll be back in the cockpit of the
McLaren-Honda MCL32 for the Canadian Grand Prix
in Montreal in early June.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown commented, “As an
American, albeit one who fell in love with Formula 1
at a very young age, I’ve always regarded the Indy
500 as a fantastic motor race.
“For that reason I’m particularly delighted to have
been able to bring McLaren back to Indianapolis in
my very first year as McLaren’s Executive Director.”
“Michael [Andretti] is an old friend of mine, and a
man I respect enormously, and his Andretti Autosport
organisation is one of the best in the business.
Michael is a winner – indeed his team won the Indy
500 last year with Alexander Rossi, who will be one
of Fernando’s team-mates at Indy next month – and
I couldn’t be happier that Fernando will be making
his IndyCar debut in one of Michael’s cars,” added
Brown.
ESPN report that “Alonso will fly to Indianapolis
from Barcelona immediately after the Spanish Grand
Prix, where he will spend two weeks practicing with
the car before the race.”
McLaren have said they will confirm his
replacement “in due course” but it is expected that
their former driver, turned ambassador and reserve,
Jenson Button will be lining up for the team for the
Monaco Grand Prix weekend.
GPI