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Former F1 driver Mika Salo has praised Fernando Alonso who announced yesterday that he would be flying to Indianapolis next month to compete in the Indy 500, consequently missing out on the Monaco Grand Prix.
McLaren is teaming up with Michael Andretti to give Alonso a shot in one of the most famous races in the world and will be driving a Honda-powered car. Salo thinks that if the Spaniard can get a good hold of the car, he could challenge for the win.
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"I think it's great that he (Alonso) is going to try it. Really great," Finn Salo, also an occasional F1 steward, told the Finnish broadcaster C More. "McLaren is not fighting for wins or good results, but now he has the chance to go where Honda is already a partner for one race," he said.
"He loses one F1 race, but after all he has no possibility to win, but if he gets to grips with the car he could win (at Indy). It's great to see guys jumping from one category to another, like the old days," Salo explained
Some also see McLaren-Honda's Indy 500 effort for Alonso as a clear sign that the Anglo-Japanese collaboration wants to keep the 35-year-old at McLaren beyond 2017: "He's won everything," Salo agrees, "and McLaren needs his experience, motivation and speed an awful lot right now."
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