Alonso unhurt after crash at Indy 500 practice

World
Europe

Spaniard Fernando Alonso escaped injury when he crashed during an Indianapolis 500 practice run on Wednesday after his car lost traction in the middle of Turn 3 and made contact with the wall three times.

The double Formula One world champion's No. 66 McLaren Racing Chevrolet slid into the wall on the exit of Turn 3 before skidding across the track and into the interior barrier and striking the outside barrier again.

When his car came to a stop, the 37-year-old managed to get out unassisted and was later checked, cleared and released from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Infield Medical Center.

“It was understeer on the car, and even if I lifted the throttle on the entry of the corner, it was not enough, and I lost completely the front aero,” Alonso said.

“The wall came too close and too quickly. Unfortunately, it happened today. We will lose a little bit of running time again. I'm sorry for the team, but we will learn and hopefully we will come back stronger tomorrow.”

McLaren's Spanish driver Fernando Alonso at the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, November 25, 2018. /VCG Photo

McLaren is back at Indy as an independent entrant for the first time since the 1970s, when it won three Indy 500s in 10 appearances before returning to England with a dedicated focus on Formula One.

McLaren's return, along with the wildly popular Alonso, has been closely followed but the first two days have been terrible.

Alonso, who retired from F1 at the end of last season after 17 years, will try to join Graham Hill on May 26 as the second driver to achieve the “Triple Crown of Motorsport” by adding an Indy 500 win to his triumphs at the Monaco Grand Prix and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

It will mark the second time Alonso has taken part in the race, which he led in 2017 before retiring with an engine problem.

(With inputs from Reuters and AP)

(Cover: Fernando Alonso during a race at IndyCar Series in Indianapolis, U.S., May 28, 2017. /VCG Photo)