.- Fernando Alonso’s second attempt to clinch the Indianapolis 500 ended today with an absolute failure when he was unable to classify his McLaren Indy for the race to be held next Sunday.
Alonso, who throughout the week had problems with the vehicle prepared by McLaren Indy, was unable to be among the first three who played today called “Last Row Shootout”, the repechage for the six drivers who yesterday, Saturday, were left out of the first 30
Alonso, with the McLaren Indy number 66, was the fourth to complete four laps at the Indianapolis Speedway Motor at an average speed of 365.469 kilometers per hour.
The American Kyle Kaiser overtook the Spanish rider and took the third place by rolling at 365,920 kilometers per hour in the four qualifying rounds.
Kaiser was accompanied by the American Sage Karam, with an average speed of 366.512 kilometers per hour in his four laps, and the Canadian James Hinchcliffe, with 366.195 kilometers per hour.
After defeating Alonso, Kaiser declared that “I do not think I can get used to the idea of ​​what I have just done”.
Local journalist Gregg Doyel said he coincided in the elevator with Alonso and his team and that the atmosphere was tense.
“I was in the elevator with Fernando Alonso and his team minutes after being out of the 2019 Indianapolis 500. He’s not happy and I do not mean just being left out, he’s had problems with how everything has happened,” he explained. twitter account.
McLaren Indy said in a message on his Twitter account that “we are tremendously disappointed not to access the next Indy 500. It has been a difficult week for the team, we felt that our fans did not have the opportunity to cheer us up at the Brickyard but thanks to all for your support”.
The elimination of McLaren Indy and Alonso of the 103 edition of the Indianapolis 500 culminates a week of mistakes and occurs despite the British team resorted on Saturday night rival Andretti Autosport to change the configuration of the car of the double champion of the world of Formula 1.
The changes not only did not help but seemed to worsen the car that throughout the week has shown signs of stability problems.
Alonso tested the configuration provided by Andretti Autosport in practice today shortly before the start of the tie for the last three places on the grid.
To the disappointment of McLaren Indy and Alonso, the number 66 was the last of the participating vehicles with an average speed in its best lap of 354,070 kilometers per hour, far from the 365,681 kilometers per hour that the two-time champion of the Formula 1 World Championship achieved. Saturday.
In his Twitter account, Alonso acknowledged that despite all the efforts, his car has not been fast enough.
“A difficult week, without a doubt, we have tried everything, even today with a totally different configuration and approach, 4 laps treading deeply but we were not fast enough”, said Alonso after his elimination.
“It’s never easy to drive here at more than 365 kilometers per hour and want more speed, we’ve tried everything and we’ve been brave at times but other people did a better job than us,” the Asturian driver continued.
“Success or disappointment only occur if you accept great challenges, we accept it, thanks for the great support we always had here and everyone at home, now total concentration on the next objective,” he concluded.
Although the elimination of Alonso is unexpected, especially due to the exceptional performance he had in 2017 during his first participation in the race, the problems have harassed the McLaren Indy team from the beginning.
In April, the vehicle already suffered electrical problems during the first contact with the circuit. The difficulties were repeated on Tuesday, the first day of official training. Problems with the alternator forced the number 66 to remain in the garage during the afternoon session.
On Wednesday, at the end of the morning session, Alonso crashed into the barriers of the circuit and although the team initially indicated that he would return to the track at the end of that day or Thursday, the team could not rebuild the car until the end of the day. Friday.
Even today, McLaren Indy struggled to get Alonso’s vehicle ready: the team showed up to practice in the morning 10 minutes after the start. (EFE)
