Alonso: Full IndyCar season would be 'too demanding'

Fernando Alonso says he felt a full-season IndyCar campaign would have been "too demanding" to attempt in 2019, but remains keen on entering the Indianapolis 500 to try and complete the 'triple crown'.

Having confirmed over the summer he would not be racing full-time in Formula 1 next year, Alonso was known to be considering a full-time move into the Verizon IndyCar Series, having completed a road course test with Andretti Autosport at Barber Motorsports Park.

However, the Spaniard confirmed over the United States Grand Prix weekend that he would not be pursuing a full-time IndyCar deal next year, with McLaren having also made official its decision not to launch a programme in the championship.

"I think in the summertime I was thinking, but it was always linked to the team, McLaren, as we talked a lot at the beginning of the year with the plans for F1 and I tried always to share my thoughts with the team," Alonso said.

"Eventually it came to my mind that it was the time to stop Formula 1, so they were the first ones to know, so they had time to do whatever plans they were thinking for the future.

"It was the same for IndyCar. I had in my mind maybe doing IndyCar, Indy 500 or something for next year. They were doing similar observations and thoughts about the future for the team so we were talking and linked all the time.

"But again eventually, one day in my case, I thought that it was too demanding next year. I am not sure about the future, but next year the commitment to 17 races was too much.

"With that dedication and that amount of work that we need to put in to be competitive in that series starting from zero I felt it was too much and I share with the team that.

"Yesterday it was public and let’s say for me it was not a surprise but it maybe was not linked."

Alonso confirmed he is still aiming to race at the Indy 500 next year, having made his debut in the race in 2017 as part of his bid to become just the second driver in history to complete the triple crown of motorsport. Alonso has completed two legs of the triple crown, which comprises the Monaco Grand Prix, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indy 500.

"It is a possibility and I would love to do it. To be honest it is a race which was magic last year and I think it still has the biggest appeal for me especially now after winning Le Mans with me being only one step away from the triple crown," Alonso said.

"I would love to do it but I don’t know if it is going to be next year or in the future but it is part of the project in next year’s calendar."