Indy 500: Another unexpected twist in the Fernando Alonso-Honda saga?

According to Spanish media, Honda’s rejection of Fernando Alonso’s Indy 500 deal with Andretti Autosport is not definitive and could still be reversed.

Just last week, it was slated to be announced that two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso would be back at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to compete in the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 this May behind the wheel of a Honda-powered car for Andretti Autosport.

Alonso made his IndyCar and Indy 500 debut in the 101st running of the 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) superspeedway oval in Speedway, Indiana driving the #29 Honda for the team back in 2017 via a partnership with McLaren, his Formula 1 team at the time.

He returned to the race in 2019 with McLaren, but after their three-year stint in Formula 1 together came to a bitter end after the 2017 season, a stint that notably included Alonso’s infamous “GP2 engine” remark in the Japanese manufacturer’s home race in 2015, Honda refused to supply engines and McLaren were forced to go with Chevrolet.

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Instead, they formed a technical alliance with Carlin and Alonso ultimately failed to qualify for the race driving the #66 Chevrolet, placing 34th out of 36 cars in qualifications with only 33 open spots in the field.

However, as far as Alonso, with whom McLaren officially cut ties just over two weeks ago, is concerned, this tension with Honda appeared to be water under the bridge with his Andretti Autosport deal having been lined up.

But RACER revealed Sunday that at the last minute, Honda Performance Development could not get final clearance from Honda headquarters in Tokyo, effectively meaning that Alonso is still no longer welcome to represent the manufacturer even several years removed from the end of their Formula 1 relationships.

With the landing spot that was considered almost a certainty now seemingly out of the picture, his options became extremely limited due to a lack of open seats at the top-tier Chevrolet teams, namely Team Penske and Ed Carpenter Racing.

But now, according to Spanish media, this may not be the end of the story.

Mundo Deportivo has reported that Honda Japan have only “paralyzed the situation” and that the “no” that has been issued thus far is not definitive.

"“Apparently, Honda Japan would not have vetoed. It is a word too strong and that speaks of a decision already made. Instead, the term ‘paralyzed’ should be used, since the Japanese would have stopped negotiations between Honda United States, Andretti Autosport and Fernando Alonso, three parts that were very close to reaching an agreement for the Spaniard to compete in the next Indianapolis 500.“But we repeat: nothing was closed before, nor is it now. Despite the alarming news, everything remains open. There is nothing in particular, just an unexpected ‘stop’ that Andretti and Honda United States. They will try to save so that the Spaniard can finally run with them in the mythical race."

What happens next remains anybody’s guess at this point as Alonso seeks to become just the second driver to win all there races of the Triple Crown of Motorsport. The Indy 500 is the only one of these three races that he has not won, as he is a two-time winner of the Monaco Grand Prix and a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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When the month of May ultimately rolls around, will Fernando Alonso be on the Indianapolis 500 entry list? If so, with which team will he be slated to compete, and what will Andretti Autosport’s driver lineup look like?

The 104th running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” is the sixth of 17 races on the 2020 IndyCar schedule and is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 24. NBC is set to broadcast this race live from Indianapolis Motor Speedway beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET.