Fernando Alonso has had his Indy 500 drive with Andretti Autosport sensationally vetoed at the 11th hour by engine supplier Honda.
Per a report from RACER, two-time Formula 1 world champion Alonso was set to have his drive confirmed last week, before the Japanese company stepped-in from their Tokyo headquarters.
A vocal critic of Honda power when they supplied McLaren in his second stint with the team from 2015-2018, it appears his words may have come back to bite him, with his now-vacant Andretti seat being among the most desirable on the grid.
As a result, Alonso must seek a drive with a Chevrolet-powered team, or not participate in the 104th edition of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at all.
Previously racing with Andretti and Honda in 2017 in partnership with McLaren, Alonso delivered a memorable debut that saw him lead the race at several points before an engine failure. His second attempt in 2019 with McLaren and Chevy was far less successful, as he failed to qualify.
That disastrous effort precipitated the end of his racing relationship with McLaren, a move that was supposed to allow him to pursue more competitive seats elsewhere.
Now just three months out from the race, Alonso has few options, at least among Chevy-powered teams with a realistic shot at winning.