Indy 500: Another door has closed for Fernando Alonso

By Asher Fair | Feb 13, 2020

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 09: Fernando Alonso of Spain and McLaren F1 looks on from the pitwall during practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 9, 2018 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images) /

Another door has closed for Fernando Alonso regarding this year’s Indy 500, as Ed Carpenter Racing have ruled out fielding a fourth entry for him.

Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso appeared to be set to make his return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 this May behind the wheel of an Andretti Autosport Honda.

But at the last minute, Honda Japan came in and rejected the deal, leaving the 38-year-old Spaniard without a ride for this year’s running of the 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) Brickyard oval in Speedway, Indiana.

During Honda’s recent three-year stint with McLaren in Formula 1 from 2015 to 2017, their relationship with McLaren and Alonso turned sour, and evidently they still aren’t over some of the criticism directed their way, most notably Alonso’s infamous “GP2 engine” remark in the Japanese manufacturer’s home race in 2015.

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Alonso is seeking to become just the second driver to win all three races of the Triple Crown of Motorsport. Only Graham Hill has ever won all three, and Alonso is a two-time Monaco Grand Prix winner and a two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner.

He previously attempted the Indy 500 in what was his IndyCar debut back in 2017 for McLaren with Andretti Autosport in a Honda-powered car and failed to finish due to an engine failure with 21 laps remaining after starting in fifth place and leading 27 laps. He returned to the race in 2019 and failed to qualify driving a Chevrolet-powered car for McLaren with Carlin.

With Honda having shut the door on a return this May, that left only Chevrolet options open for him. Team Penske, the most attractive Chevrolet option, have already ruled out fielding a fifth car. Arrow McLaren SP, which previously offered Alonso a seat, may no longer be an option either since McLaren and Alonso officially cut ties last month.

Among the highly competitive Chevrolet teams, that left only Ed Carpenter Racing. But now that option is out the window.

Team owner Ed Carpenter hinted that this would be the case when he stated that 2020 wasn’t the right time to add a fourth entry for two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, who has also confirmed interest in competing in the race.

Now Carpenter has made it official, stating the following, according to NBC Sports.

"“There is one person that has reached out to me about it, but it wasn’t Alonso or anybody that works for him. It’s been surprisingly quiet. I think it’s because they know we are not positioned to run more than three. We are a two-car team. If we doubled the size of our team for May, it wouldn’t be good for everybody.”"

Carpenter is set to compete in the Indy 500 behind the wheel of the #20 Chevrolet, which he is slated to drive in each of the oval races on the schedule for the seventh consecutive year, alongside full-time driver Rinus VeeKay behind the wheel of the #21 Chevrolet. The team are set to enter a third entry for Conor Daly, their full-time road and street course driver. They have never before fielded four cars.

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As for Fernando Alonso’s chances of getting back into the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” this year with another one of IndyCar‘s Chevrolet teams, it is highly unlikely that Carlin would even be remotely attractive for him after what happened last year, and A.J. Foyt Enterprises have already added an Indy 500-only entry. All of the other Chevrolet teams are part-time operations.