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IndyCar: Fernando Alonso responds to Alexander Rossi

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 26: Fernando Alonso of Spain, driver of the #29 Chandon Honda prepares to drive during Carb day for the 101st Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 26, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 26: Fernando Alonso of Spain, driver of the #29 Chandon Honda prepares to drive during Carb day for the 101st Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 26, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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Alexander Rossi recently stated that he believes Fernando Alonso would be challenged and happy in IndyCar. Here’s how Alonso responded.

Fernando Alonso made international headlines earlier this year when he decided to forgo the opportunity to race in the Monaco Grand Prix so he could make his first career IndyCar start in the “Greatest Spectacle Racing”, the Indianapolis 500.

McLaren made its return to IndyCar after a 38-year absence this season. Alonso, who drives for the McLaren-Honda team full-time in Formula One, made his Indy 500 debut in the #29 Honda for Andretti Autosport. He qualified 5th for the race and led 27 laps, but an engine failure forced him to finish in 24th place.

With all of the rides with top-tier Formula One teams taken next season, namely with Ferrari and Mercedes, there has been talk of the 36-year-old two-time Formula One world champion possibly coming to IndyCar as a full-time driver for Andretti Autosport.

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Skeptics have claimed that such talk is only so Alonso can have leverage in order for him to get the Formula One ride he wants. However, with all of the top rides taken for 2018, this explanation no longer holds water.

If Alonso was only using IndyCar has leverage, that clearly would have failed. Yet the Alonso to IndyCar talks are as hot now as they have ever been. So him staying put next year would only tell Formula One teams not to take him seriously if he tried to use IndyCar as leverage in 2019, when there actually may be top rides available. Therefore, the possibility of him coming to IndyCar next season is, without a doubt, a real one.

Andretti Herta Autosport driver and 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi offered up his thoughts on Alonso potentially coming to IndyCar full-time in 2018.

"“I think that Fernando wouldn’t have any struggles adapting. We saw that at Indianapolis, but I think what he would be continually surprised by, as I was, was just how good the guys in this championship are and how one tiny mistake – whether it’s from driving or setup direction – could cost you a tenth (of a second) and could literally be the difference between (running) fifth or 12th. We see that every single session, every single weekend and I think that’s pretty crazy.”“I think it would be massive for the championship. “We saw the response that we got from him coming to the 500 and obviously there’s more of a global reach that race has versus (other races on the schedule)."

Alonso responded to IndyCar’s Tweet of the article with a GIF.

Put into words, it looks like things may get even more interesting than they already are this silly season. Alonso is certainly in play for a full-time IndyCar ride in 2018.

Next: IndyCar driver power rankings

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