Indy 500 – Alonso and McLaren team up with Chevrolet

Fernando Alonso will have at its back a 6l twin-turbo V2.2 created by Chevrolet to compete in the 103rd edition of the Indianapolis 500 on May 27. This is not really a surprise on the part of McLaren after the divorce between the Woking manufacturer and Honda which occurred last year in F1 to make room for the Power Unit Renault following the poor performance of the Japanese bloc.

“It will be a privilege to have the Bow Tie brand for the Indy 500. We will be in the best position to play at the front with a Chevrolet block behind our backs.”, commented Fernando Alonso.

It will also be an opportunity for McLaren and Chevrolet to come together for the first time in 47 years when the British brand competed in CanAm with V8s. A first rapprochement recently took place last November when Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet driver in Nascar, exchanged your car with the double world champion on the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.

“While it remains the winning engine, the Chevrolet puts us in a strong position for this incredible challenge ahead. We quickly established close ties with the Chevrolet team who are very professional”, added Bob Fernley, McLaren president IndyCar.

Fernando Alonso was in contention for victory in his first participation in 2016, but the Asturian retired after seeing his Honda unit fail him towards the end of the race.