IndyCar test 'not important' for final decision on 2019 – Alonso

Fernando Alonso insists he is yet to make a final decision about his racing plans for 2019 and added his maiden IndyCar road test was not an “important” factor.

Alonso took part in his first IndyCar test on a road course at Barber last week as he continues to assess his options for next year after confirming he will quit Formula 1 to pursue other challenges.

The Spaniard labelled the test as “special” and is considering a full-time switch into the Verizon IndyCar Series, which includes the Indy 500 and the final stage remaining on Alonso’s quest to achieve the ‘Triple Crown’ of motorsport.

But speaking ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, Alonso said the test played no role in deciding which category he wants to compete in next year.

“The reason to do the test was not to make the final decision,” Alonso explained. “But as usual, I talk, and what I tell is never written. You do your own interpretation. I said that this test was not important, and apparently this test was definitely the right moment and the decision was made after this test, and it’s not true.

“I said that in Monza I stopped Formula 1 because I think this is not the place to be, and Formula 1 right now cannot offer anything exciting. And the reason is that I stopped Formula 1 is that I could not find a competitive seat.

“So what I tell is never written. The test was not important last week, and the test is not important right now, what I did in Barber. It was exciting, it was different, it was definitely more challenging, physically demanding. Outside Formula 1, there is a very big world.”

Alonso said he is still weighing up his options but singled out the end of October as an ideal timeframe for coming to a final decision.

“I’m thinking,” he said. “I’m checking a couple of things and hopefully by October or something like that, in one month's time, I hope to get everything done and say to you.”

Alonso and NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson appeared to tease a possible crossover in a video shared on McLaren’s social media accounts on Wednesday.

When asked if NASCAR might provide the next chapter of his career, Alonso replied: “Not really. It’s definitely another series that is attractive, as all the motorsport series, they have their good things and their bad things and their appeal sometimes.

“We know NASCAR is one of the great series in motorsport. Obviously I never tested the car. I have zero information about the championship, the rules, so it’s a very difficult thing to judge. Let’s see what will happen there.

“[The Daytona 500] is one of those iconic races that definitely they are great and they are very important in motorsport. There is appeal in all of these kind of events.”