Fernando Alonso has given the clearest indication yet that a full-time IndyCar move is on the horizon in 2019 after completing a first road course test this week.
The Spaniard, who announced his departure from Formula 1 at the end of this year last month, drove the latest Andretti Autosport chassis at Barber Motorsport Park with a full range of conditions from very wet through to bone dry.
“Yeah, it was a good day, a fun day,” Alonso commented afterwards. “I love to test new cars and to test the IndyCar on a road course is something special.
“I’ve been lucky enough to test it in wet conditions, in intermediate conditions and in dry conditions, so overall I had a good feeling on every type of track.
“The weather was good for us today, a little bit of wind in the afternoon but overall a positive day.”
In addition to completing the tradition motorsport ‘Triple Crown’ of the Monaco GP, Le Mans 24 Hours and Indianapolis 500, with the latter the last remaining piece to that puzzle, some believe Alonso now wants to target a new Triple Crown of becoming champion in F1, WEC and IndyCar.
To do that in the American series will mean mastering the art of oval racing, which he did for the first time last year at Indy, and the 37-year-old was asked which kind of track he enjoyed the most.
“Probably my instinct will tell me road course because it’s what I’ve been used to doing all my life, but the Indy 500 was an amazing experience, so 50/50,” he claimed.
“I think I love the way the car feels on a road course, but I love the way you compete on ovals, timing the tows, traffic and all the overtaking manoeuvres I think are a little bit easy on the ovals, so in terms of track action, I loved the Indy 500.”
Keeping his cards close to his chest, however, Alonso insisted the Barber test was more about the experience than any kind of 2019 preparation.
“I had some options to test the car on a road course after the Indy 500. We didn’t find the time, but this year it’s definitely happened now and I’m happy for this,” he said.
“I love being behind a steering wheel, and definitely a new car, a new experience, learning a lot of things from the team, the engineers, everyone, so a happy day.”