Fermando Alonso to drive the Indy 500
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Former Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso is to race in the Indianapolis 500.
The McLaren driver will miss the Monaco Grand Prix.
Zak Brown crafted Alonso's Indy 500 deal, but one Indycar driver also had to make way for the Spaniard… https://t.co/uoNsM1NUqx pic.twitter.com/oPex0WiZhY
— F1i (@F1icom) April 12, 2017
The manufacturer has yet to decide who will replace the Spaniard in Monaco, though Jenson Button is in the frame.
Button has retired, but works as an ambassador for McLaren.
Alonso will race for the McLaren branded, Honda-powered Andretti team on 28 May.
The Spaniard has long held a desire to race on a super-speedway.
He will return to McLaren’s F1 outfit after the race and drive for the rest of the season, despite the disappointing package.
Papaya-orange #McLaren driven by Johnny Rutherford won #Indy500 in 1974 & 1976,
alo_oficial</a> will try to do the same practising since May15 <a href="https://t.co/76htPm1NR4">pic.twitter.com/76htPm1NR4</a></p>— Petr Hlawiczka (hlawiczka) April 12, 2017
He follows in the slipstream of US driver Johnny Rutherford won the race in 1974 and 1976 driving a McLaren.
199.071 in 1973……almost the first to break 200 mph! Johnny Rutherford. pic.twitter.com/50lkYCxuTg
— Steve H. Shunck (@SHUNCK) April 3, 2017