Indy 500 – Alonso: experience will be lacking at key moments

Fernando Alonso made an impression last Sunday by taking 5th position on the grid for the 101st edition of the Indy 500 for his first entry in IndyCar and his first race on an oval. The pilot McLaren-Honda-Andretti could have even done even better if he had not met an overboost problem during Pole Day.

Before competing in the Indy 500 this Sunday, May 28, Fernando Alonso shows humility in the face of an event where he still has many things to discover.

“Any one of the 33 drivers can win the Indy 500 because it’s an unpredictable race. You can't plan anything and you have to constantly improvise. I know I will lack experience at key moments,” admits Fernando Alonso.

Traffic management

Fernando Alonso seems to mainly dread dealing with traffic, even though the McLaren driver practiced with his teammates during testing.

“It completely changes the behavior of the car, explains Fernando Alonso. Without experience, I'm not always sure which line to take or if I'm exceeding the car's limits. I will try to compensate for my lack of experience with speed and motivation. It's difficult to make the decision to overtake because there are so many things to consider at 230mph (370km/h). You have to keep calm and be ready for the last third of the race because that's where everything happens. »

McLaren chief executive Zak Brown remains confident of Fernando Alonso's chances of victory after seeing his potential.

“I think he can win, admitted Zak Brown on Sky Sports. It's in the group of seven fastest cars and they shouldn't be beaten in pure speed. There are still 5 drivers who can win with strategy and five others who can take advantage of an unforeseen event. That makes a total of around fifteen contenders. »

The drivers will complete a final test session during Carb Day on Friday May 26 before the start of the Indy 500.