Fernando Alonso has an open invitation to return to the Indianapolis 500 each time he’s prepared, courtesy of McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
The Spanish driver, who’s at the moment making ready for the 2026 Formulation 1 season with Aston Martin and its new energy unit associate Honda, hasn’t competed at Indy 500 since 2020, which was held behind closed doorways and delayed till August because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All three of his earlier makes an attempt got here in a McLaren-supported effort, which noticed him qualify twice. Undoubtedly, his greatest 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, has usually expanded its programme to help Indy 500 makes an attempt since Alonso’s efforts, working former Indy 500 winners Juan Pablo Montoya (2021-22) and Tony Kanaan (2023), together with two-time NASCAR Cup Collection champion Kyle Larson (2024-25).
This yr is not any completely different, with 2014 Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay coming onboard in a one-off effort alongside full-time drivers Pato O’Ward, Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel.
Throughout Wednesday’s opening of the McLaren Racing Heart, the brand new house for Arrow McLaren, Autosport requested Brown concerning the prospects of reuniting with Alonso for an additional Indy 500 effort.
Fernando Alonso, Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet
Picture by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Photos
“Beginning with Ryan, [I am] very comfortable to have Ryan within the automotive this yr,” Brown stated. “He is undoubtedly able to successful the Indy 500, so I feel our odds have gone up by placing Ryan within the automotive.”
Brown then added his ideas on Alonso, who’s now 44 and within the final yr of his present take care of Aston Martin.
A two-time Formulation 1 world champion and two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner, Alonso wants solely an Indy 500 win to finish racing’s Triple Crown – a feat solely the legendary Graham Hill has completed.
“However submit that and submit when Fernando stops in F1, that is his final contractual yr, does not imply he will not proceed, however I speak to him about it like each time I see him,” Brown stated.
“I feel we have got a automotive that may win the Indy 500. And I feel he is very able to successful the Indy 500. I totally loved racing with him right here. He loved all of it however one of many years, however beloved the primary yr. I imply, it was magic.
“I might like to see Fernando again on the Indy 500 with us. That’s one thing I will proceed to bug him about.”
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