It’s no secret that completing the ‘Triple Crown’ is top of Fernando Alonso’s list of things to do and after falling short in 2017 due to reliability issues and failing to qualify in 2019. Spanish media outlet Diario AS claim an official announcement will be made this week confirming the two-time Formula One champion will partner with Andretti Autosport at the Brickyard.
Alonso’s first crack of the whip in 2017 saw an inspired drive that one would expect from someone in their twentieth-year of oval racing, not a driver making their first foray into the discipline. Perhaps that would be true if the driver in question was anyone but Fernando Alonso. Since his grand prix racing retirement, Alonso has proven his driving ability in all categories taking two Le Mans wins on his way and has also just returned from completing the Dakar Rally.
On 21st January, McLaren made a statement that Fernando had formally parted ways with the team as his ambassador role with the British outfit had not been renewed; a situation that allows the Spaniard some breathing room, free from a tight, contractual grasp holding him to another run with McLaren.
McLaren’s 2019 run at Indianapolis was as far as the team could get from their previous experience. In 2019, McLaren entered as their own entity as opposed to a satellite of the prestigious Andretti Autosport badge. The move was the fatal blow for McLaren as their incompetence showed, wasting precious hours of practice repainting the car as it was slightly the wrong shade of papaya when instead they could have been working on finding the 0.019mph needed to qualify the 500 miles.
Diario AS‘s Manuel Franco now claims that a deal between Michael Andretti and the 38-year old to drive the #29 Andretti Autosports car in May.
The partnership would see Alonso return to a Honda-powered racecar after tensions reached boiling point during his time with McLaren in F1, ultimately resulting in the divorce between the two manufacturers.