Fernando Alonso returned to the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the rookie and refreshers test ahead of the Indianapolis 500.
The two-hour session opened practice for the Indy 500, with Alonso the quickest of the drivers taking part. A four-hour practice session followed for all cars.
Alonso’s of course missing the Monaco Grand Prix later this month to compete at the Indy 500, with Jenson Button replacing him in his McLaren F1 machine.
The Spaniard set a 40.6074 second lap with a best average speed of 221.634mph in his Andretti-run McLaren Honda entry during the rookie and refreshers segment.
He managed 36 laps in total, his best lap coming on tour number 26 of the iconic Speedway to leave him fastest by the end of the session.
The best average speed was slightly slower than the 222.548 he set during his first-ever IndyCar test earlier in May, before the Spanish Grand Prix.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s Oriol Servia, who makes his IndyCar return, was second with a 220.759mph lap. IndyCar’s only full-time rookie Ed Jones was third for Dale Coyne Racing with a best average of 219.288.
Jay Howard was fourth, ahead of the debuting Juncos Racing with Sebastian Saavedra. He clocked a 216.598mph average. Sixth was British driver and Indy 500 rookie Jack Harvey, in Andretti’s sixth entry, with a 214.353mph best lap. Zach Veach only did a warm-up run in his AJ Foyt Racing car.
For Alonso and the rest of the Indy 500 rookies, it’s the start of a long and exciting Month of May ahead of the big day on the 23rd. Who else is hyped for it? We definitely are!