This year’s Indy 500 is fast approaching but the campaign hasn’t got off to a great start for fan favorite Fernando Alonso.
During day 2 of practice at the circuit, Alonso ran wide in his #66 McLaren Racing-Chevrolet and slammed into a wall. The impact pushed him skidding across the track and into the inside wall before he again ricocheted across the track and came to a rest next to the concrete barriers.
Footage of the incident reveals that the crash caused extensive damage to the sides and rear of the race car.
“It was just pure understeer on the car. Even if I lifted the throttle on the entry to the corner it was not enough. I lost completely the front aero there. The wall came too close and too quickly,” Alonso told NBC. “Unfortunately, it happened today and we will lose a little bit of running time again. I’m sorry for the team. We’ll learn and come back stronger tomorrow.”
Alonso managed to turn in 50 laps of running during the first day of practice before his car suffered an electrical issue. Prior to his crash on day 2, he had run 46 laps in the first 90 minutes of practice, Motorsport reports.
The popular Spanish racing driver is chasing motorsport’s ‘Triple Crown’ at this year’s Indy 500 and with wins at the Monaco Grand Prix and 24 Hours of Le Mans already under his belt, is just one step away from joining Graham Hill as the second racer to win the Triple Crown.
This year’s Indianapolis 500 takes place on Sunday May 26, 2019.