In the meantime, Andretti racing is still having a hard time having machines that will finish the race at a winning speed. I think Alonso is going to be in for a long day.

So Alonso will be right at home?

Thanks for posting that, thought the interview at the end Alonso answered every question honestly, without hint of arrogance and showed total respect for what the Indy 500 is about.

Refreshing to hear some people in his F1 team are really into what he is doing when he mentioned his strategist had put together traces for previous Indy races for him to go through.

I'm sure a lot of people at McLaren will view his Indy 500 race as just a distraction and waste of time. I've had first hand experience of this when an F1 team I was working for decided to go salt flat racing with an F1 car. I couldn't believe how uninterested some people were where I thought it was the coolest thing in the world to be part of.

Might be wrong but I'm sure McLaren are the only race team/manufacturer to have won the Indy 500, F1 Championship and Le Mans 24hrs

Given how short his days are when his F1 car doesn't make it to the starting grid of the race, he might like a long day...

JR

If he's lucky, he'll get more miles in on that one day then the entire '17 F1 season combined, LOL.

I haven't watched too many of the races since Tony George had his little pity party, but I'll probably watch this one. I have a lot of respect for Alonso's ability in a car.

I sure do hate the look of the current Indy cars, though...

JR

With you on all counts, except that I will not watch the race.

To me, this is simply the most exciting racing event of the whole year, and it's all due to Alonso.

The current set of rules creates too much parity. The top ten qualifiers are all within .1 of a second. The current format doesn't allow for enough creativity in engineering. Some would say it makes it so that the driver's skill makes the difference but more times than not (other than qualifying), its the pit stops, fuel saving, or timing of the yellows that makes the difference. Still these guys are hanging it out on the edge to max out the speed.

I do miss the cat fights between Danica Patrick and Milka Duno

Not in that car.

It will be a miracle if his F1 honda finishes the race.

It will be a surprise if it STARTS the race.

Pretty funny / stupid that he has to pass some rookie test. He is a 2 time F1 WDC. Likely better than the entire Indy grid.

It would SUUUUCK if the Indy Honda car broke down on the starting grid. I think I would just retire and drive slowly everywhere after that.

Mercedes.... 1915 Indy win!..
Sorry couldn't help myself....

I watched Alonso's test... what a fantastic addition to both Indy and F1.... adds a much needed focus of interest to the F1 circus; as Alonso is a very good driver and racer and F1 would be poorer in talent if he were to get bored and retire. I think Indy will benefit greatly to be joined by an outsider, perhaps it may inspire American drivers to have a go at F1..they are notable by their absence which I think is a shame.

I think we are beginning to see a McLaren with a different outlook, one perhaps more aligned with Bruce McLaren's view. Ron was so tightly focused on F1 over the years that it is easy to forget McLaren's earlier wider view.

Alonso back at it today and running in traffic for the first time (Live Monday practice):

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XuS6mwx6nUc?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

100% with you, the yellow's make or break winners. You could be the best driver, the best car, and having yellows at the wrong moments puts you off the lead lap at the finish.

Right now after his run he is on the pole. Incredible.

Ha! That didn't last long. :D

I'll tip my hat to Alonso for great qualifying. He looked good for a "rookie". Now we find out how he handles traffic and pit stops.

Simple....Indy cars are much faster, and less technically advanced. Schumacher said he'd never run in the 500...too dangerous for him.

Slightly off-topic: Why so few cars at Indy this year? With SeaBass' crash, there isn't even a full field?! What happened to the days of 40-50 cars vying for the 33 starting spots?