Alonso to miss Monaco GP to race at Indy 500

Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso will race for McLaren at the Indianapolis 500 on May

28 in a surprise switch that will see the Spanish driver miss the Monaco Grand Prix on the same day.

It will be Alonso’s first drive in the biggest car race in the United States as he steps up his bid to win what he regards as the “Triple Crown” of motor sport: the Monaco GP, the Indianapolis 500 and the Le Mans 24 Hours race. Alonso

“It’s a tough challenge,” said the 35-year-old Alonso, who has twice won in Monaco and hasn’t competed at Le Mans. “But I’m up for it.”

McLaren made the announcement on Wednesday, saying the Monaco GP will be the only Formula One race that Alonso will miss. The British-based team hasn’t announced who will replace Alonso for the most glitzy race on the F1 calendar.

McLaren will be racing in the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 38 years. Its entry will be a Dallara DW12 chassis, run by the Andretti Autosport team headed by Michael Andretti - a former IndyCar champion who raced in Formula One for McLaren in 1993.

Alonso will fly to Indianapolis immediately after the Spanish Grand Prix on May 14 to get in two weeks of IndyCar practice.

“I’ve never raced an IndyCar car before, and neither have I ever driven on a super-speedway, but I’m confident that I’ll get to grips with it fast,” he said.

“I’ve watched a lot of IndyCar action on TV and online, and it’s clear that great precision is required to race in close proximity with other cars on the far side of 220 mph.”