Alonso pines for Indy 500 return

Fernando Alonso has admitted he regrets not taking part in this year's Indianapolis 500 as his bid for the 'Triple Crown' of motorsport ramps up a notch in 2018. McLaren star Alonso has said his focus for this year is firmly on winning the Le Mans 24 Hours as his Formula 1 team struggle to make an impact at the front of the grid.

Alonso's step into the World Endurance Championship with Toyota will give him two bites at the Le Mans cherry in the 2018-19 schedule.

The Spaniard has made an impressive start to life in WEC and was handed pole position for his maiden race at the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

With two Monaco Grand Prix wins under his belt, Alonso is one third of the way to matching Graham Hill's unique achievement of winning in Monte Carlo, Le Mans and Indy.

And having just fallen short in his first taste of IndyCar last year, Alonso has a hankering to return to the American series.

"I miss being there, to be honest," he told reporters.

Read more: Alonso gets WEC debut pole
Read more: Alonso prioritising WEC over F1

"I will watch the race closely. I follow every session they do, every test. I have a lot of friends there, I have close contact again with engineers.

"Everyone is telling me that the new aero package really works. When they test now with the new aero package and things like that, you watch on television and you would like to do one lap, you know?

"So definitely I want to test again. I miss being there [but] it's difficult for me to think of extra races right now."