Fernando Alonso's Indy 500 adventure could herald McLaren's return to IndyCar racing and kick start talk about bringing Formula One back to the Brickyard, McLaren executive director Zak Brown said on Wednesday.
What was widely viewed as a one-off by Spaniard Alonso and his McLaren Formula One team could result in something far more substantial following what has been an upbeat homecoming to IndyCar following a 38-year absence.
With McLaren sputtering along at the back of the F1 grid, the team gave Alonso permission to skip the Monaco Grand Prix to race in the Indianapolis 500 and he has set the motor racing world buzzing by qualifying fifth fastest for Sunday's showcase.
The excitement has not been lost on Alonso's McLaren bosses, and Brown in particular who will be the busiest man in motor sport this weekend flying back and forth between Monaco and Indianapolis for two of racing's biggest events.
"North America is a very important, market for us," Brown told reporters. "We're a racing team, but also have other businesses.
"Our criteria for competing outside of Formula One is that it has to be commercially viable, we have to feel we can be competitive, it fits our brand, and it doesn't detract from our Formula One efforts.
"Indy 500 and IndyCar tick those boxes.
"It (IndyCar) is something that we're definitely going to discuss and (we) have met with IndyCar, and are certainly interested in competing in some way, shape or form in the not-too-distant future."
Share
