IndyCar President Mark Miles is hopeful Fernando Alonso will choose to race in the series full-time for the 2019 season.
Alonso has taken aim to win the 'triple crown' of motorsport, which includes the Monaco Grand Prix, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indianapolis 500, two of which the Spaniard has now conquered after his win at the Circuit de la Sarthe earlier this season with Toyota.
With just the Indy 500 left to tick off the list, the likelihood of Alonso joining the series full-time has since long been a topic of discussion and he is set to make a decision soon as to his future plans.
Alonso has today (Wednesday) tested the #29 Andretti at the Barber Motorsports Park, his first run in an IndyCar machine on a road course.
On Tuesday, Miles along with founder and chairman of the Circuit of the Americas Bobby Epstein, gave their thoughts on Alonso's potential entry.
"I know it's something that all the interested parties are working together on," said Miles
"I'm hopeful that he'll be able to join the series full-time next year.
"There isn't a deadline that I know of that's concrete. Even tomorrow I guess people know that he's going to be in an IndyCar getting comfortable with it on a road course at Barber.
"So we sure hope it happens. We're trying to be helpful to that. If it happens, I think it will be another affirming step for IndyCar in its trajectory and growth.
Epstein knows Alonso from his time racing in Formula 1 when the circuit first opened in 2012, and believes the series would benefit from having such a talent move into IndyCar on a full-time basis.
"I think from our standpoint, having Alonso would be terrific," added Epstein. "I think it speaks to the excitement the drivers have towards being a part of the IndyCar Series, the excitement of the racing, just their desire.
"He's very experienced in his career, and where he decides, What I'd like to do at this point israce in IndyCar because it's going to be something I really want to do, I think it speaks to the quality of the show and of the competition."
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