Confirmed: Fernando Alonso to skip Monaco Grand Prix to contest Indianapolis 500

It was confirmed of Wednesday (12/4/17) Fernando Alonso will contest this seasons Indianapolis 500 in late May, will therefore skip the clashing Monaco Grand Prix, which takes place on the same weekend..



Alonso, who has never competed on ovals, will attempt to race at the iconic venue next month with a one-car entry submitted by McLaren, which will be run by the Andretti Autosport team, and powered by Honda engines.



Alonso becomes the first full-time Formula 1 driver to compete at Indy in the same season since Mario Andretti in 1981 and also the first Formula 1 driver to skip the Monaco Grand Prix to contest Indianapolis 500 on the same weekend since Jim Clark in 1965 (which he won Indy 500 for Team Lotus).



The main reason for Alonso to compete in the Indy 500 is his desire to achieve motorsport's 'Triple Crown': victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500 and Le Mans 24 Hours (only Graham Hill has only achieve this in history).

While, McLaren themselves has triumphed twice at Indianapolis as a manufacture/team, with Johnny Rutherford winning the 500 race for McLaren in 1974 and 1976, while a Penske-run McLaren took victory in 1972 with Mark Donohue.



In my opinion, I have no problem Fernando Alonso or McLaren themselves competing in the Indy 500. But, when the Indy 500 is clashing against the Monaco Grand Prix, where McLaren have won more than any other team and also will more than likely score the most points of the season due to not relaying on the disadvantage of the Honda power-units power output and focus more on how great the driver and chassis. This decision is basically a complete dumb decision from McLaren to let Fernando Alonso race at Indy.

Also, lets just say Alonso crash heavy in practice or in the race and out for the rest of the season or retire altogether from Formula 1 and it could happen with the extremely high speeds of Indy; its a extremely high gamble for McLaren to let Alonso to race at Indy.



McLaren are yet to decide who will replace him in Monaco that weekend, but Jenson Button is a strong possibility.



The 2009 world champion has retired from F1 but is contracted to McLaren as an ambassador/reserve driver. It is not known whether the former world champion would want to come back to drive an uncompetitive car.

Can't help but think that if either former F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone or former McLaren team owner Ron Dennis still held their former positions this decision wound never happen a year ago.