Motorsport legend Mario Andretti firmly believes double Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso will easily adapt to oval racing when the Spaniard begins preparing for the 101st Indianapolis 500 in May.
In a decision which shocked the motorsport community, Alonso has decided to miss the Monaco Grand Prix in favour of competing in the Indianapolis 500.
The Spaniard will join forces with current F1 team McLaren, engine supplier Honda and full-time IndyCar outfit Andretti Autosport.
“I think he’s going to adapt to this style of racing, I suspect he’s going to be right there, top 10 or top 12 for most of the race and then toward the end he’ll be really finding his way,” explained Andretti in an interview with Motorsport.com.
“I think he’s got a great opportunity to go home very happy.”
“Let’s face it, it’s adapting to ovals, not the cars themselves, that we need to think about here.
“A driver in a race car is looking for a feel, and the best drivers – and Fernando is one of the very, very best – will always find it.
“It may not be his regular environment, but a top driver will find a way to relate to any true race car.”
Oval racing in America is a distinctly different form of motorsport in comparison to conventional circuit racing in Europe and the rest of the world.
On ovals drivers compete at constant high speeds in excess of 220mph, therefore greatly exacerbating any mistakes made during races which usually consist of 200 laps or more.
“At Indianapolis like nowhere else he’s ever raced, it’s going to be constant high speed, and that can be brutal,” continued Andretti.
“The slightest mistake is magnified at 225mph.
“And the other thing to remind him is not to overcorrect.
“Road-racing specialists have a tendency to overcorrect on ovals – we’ve seen many examples in IndyCar in the past.
“If you feel yourself losing the back end, you almost have to let it go.
“If you put on too much opposite lock and the car then grips and follows its front wheels, you’re going head-on into the wall.”
