IndyCar: Five possible replacement candidates for Takuma Sato in 2018

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MAY 28: Fernando Alonso of Spain, driver of the #29 McLaren-Honda-Andretti Honda (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Fernando Alonso

Takuma Sato is leaving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Andretti Autosport sticking with Honda came a surprise to many, as the whole idea behind Sato needing to leave in the first place is so he can stick with a Honda team. So because these things are both happening, that may mean a large amount of money has been poured into the team from an outside source.

And that outside source may just be two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso and the McLaren-Honda Formula One team. McLaren has been largely uncompetitive in Formula One over the past few years. In 48 races with the team, Alonso has finished no higher than 5th place in a race. So far this season, the lack of reliability from Honda has caused Alonso to fail to finish seven of his 10 races. McLaren is second to last in the constructor standings, with only Sauber trailing them.

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Alonso’s lone IndyCar start came at this year’s Indianapolis 500, when McLaren returned to the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” after a 38-year absence. The #29 Honda was run by Andretti Autosport, which further makes Alonso driving for the team in IndyCar next season an interesting possibility. Unfortunately but fittingly, his chance at winning the race came to an end late thanks to an engine failure.

The idea of Alonso using IndyCar as leverage to get the Formula One ride he wanted made sense for a while. However, at this point, it doesn’t. Why? Because as far as 2018 goes, the rides with top-tier Formula One teams appear to be taken. The lineups of Mercedes and Ferrari in 2018 appear as though they will match their lineups from this season.

If Alonso ends up staying in Formula One with McLaren, it will show that he really never intended to come to IndyCar. So even if he used IndyCar as leverage in 2019, he may not be taken seriously, and would once again be left without a ride with a top team. At that point, even if he was serious about coming to IndyCar in 2019, why would he be serious about it then but not in 2018 when there is no chance he lands a Formula One ride with a top team anyway? The bottom line is that Alonso is a legitimate option of filling Sato’s seat at Andretti Autosport.

Next: IndyCar driver power rankings

Who, if anybody, do you think will replace Takuma Sato at Andretti Autosport in the 2018 IndyCar season? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow along with Beyond the Flag for the latest news, opinions and analysis stemming from a number of different motorsports series. You don’t want to miss any of it. Also be sure to follow Beyond the Flag on both Instagram and Twitter.