Alonso: Indy 500 assault motivated by Triple Crown bid

The Spaniard has elected to skip the Monaco Grand Prix to race an Andretti-Autosport run McLaren car in the Indy 500 next month.

Having won the Monaco GP in 2006 and 2007, Alonso hopes to follow in the footsteps of the only triple crown winner, Graham Hill, in also succeeding at the Indy 500 and Le Mans.

“I’ve won the Monaco Grand Prix twice, and it’s one of my ambitions to win the Triple Crown, which has been achieved by only one driver in the history of motorsport: Graham Hill,” said Alonso.

"It’s a tough challenge, but I’m up for it. I don’t know when I’m going to race at Le Mans, but one day I intend to. I’m only 35: I’ve got plenty of time for that.”

Testing to start after Spanish GP

Alonso says he will not begin testing at Indy until after the Spanish Grand Prix and, although he knows it will be tough adjusting to ovals, he is confident he can deliver.

“I realise I’ll be on a steep learning curve,” he said. 

“I’ll be flying to Indianapolis from Barcelona immediately after the Spanish Grand Prix, practising our McLaren-Honda-Andretti car at Indy from May 15 onwards, hopefully clocking up a large number of miles every day, and I know how good the Andretti Autosport guys are.

“I’ll be proud to race with them, and I intend to mine their knowledge and expertise for as much info as I possibly can.”