Racing News!
Fernando Alonso announces he’ll skip Monaco Grand Prix to race at Indianapolis 500 McLaren driver Fernando Alonso of Spain waits in his car during the final practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) (Rick Rycroft) PrintEmail By Molly Blue | The Oregonian/OregonLive Email the author | Follow on Twitter on April 12, 2017 at 6:54 AM, updated April 12, 2017 at 6:58 AM Fernando Alonso, a two-time Formula One champion, said in a surprise announcement on Wednesday that he’ll skip the Monaco Grand Prix and instead, make his debut at the Indianapolis 500. The events are on the same day, May 28. The Spanish racer, 35, will drive for the Andretti team in a Honda-engine McLaren car. Alonso said he’s motivated to win F1’s triple crown, which has been achieved only once, by Graham Hill in the 1960s. Two of those races are in France — the Monaco Grand Prix, which he’s won twice, and the Le Mans 24 Hours race, where he hasn’t competed. The third jewel is the Indianapolis 500. View image on Twitter Follow Fernando Alonso ✔@alo_oficial Exited. I love RACING. I’m just a RACER. Indy 500 here we come!!! #mclaren #honda #14 #f1 #indy 3:41 AM – 12 Apr 2017 5,6335,633 Retweets 9,8729,872 likes “It’s a tough challenge,” Alonso said, according to The Associated Press. “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.”