Alonso: "I'm going to try to win the Indy 500"
Fernando Alonso is enjoying the learning process in Indianapolis, and the camaraderie that doesn't exist in Formula 1 teams. He has set his sights on victory.
The jetlag is the only constant, and that is fading. For Fernando Alonso, the difference between the Indy 500 and Formula 1 is vast. Not least in terms of the team spirit.
Alonso values Indy 500 team
“It’s the first night that I have more or less slept well, without too much jetlag. I’m feeling better all the time, both physically and in the car. Of course, as I complete more laps, I feel better. But there are six drivers in the team with a lot of experience, and we share our feelings. I want to keep on learning from them.”
The Asturian was speaking in a press conference alongside his fellow Andretti drivers, but the majority of the questions were aimed at Fernando Alonso.
F1 drivers should have the same chance
He started by discussing his reasons for taking part in the Indy 500: “Having the opportunity to experiment with this event is something that any racing driver must have the chance to feel. I have the opportunity to be able to do that with McLaren and Honda, and so here I am, and I’m going to try to win.”
Alonso also spoke of the training tactics that he and his team-mates adopted.
“Tuesday was a great learning experience with the group, but it’s not about the races. You learn and you try to gain a feel for the car, for driving behind another car, and how close you can be to other cars on the corners.”
The former-F1 world champion also revealed his training on a day-by-day basis: “I’m in the simulator in the morning and in the car in the afternoon. I’m not ready yet, but I think I will be for qualification and the race.”