Alonso's 'Triple Crown' dream suffers huge blow

Fernando Alonso's hopes of attempting to take out the 'Triple Crown' in 2019 took a serious blow on Friday as Zak brown confirmed McLaren will not enter IndyCar as a full-time team next year. Although an entry to the Indianapolis 500 remains possible, Alonso appears to be running low on options if he is to build momentum to the race over a full season.

Alonso's World endurance Championship ties to Toyota and historic criticism of Honda is reportedly limiting his options in IndyCar, where the Japanese marque that underdelivered with McLaren in F1 is a major engine supplier.

The two-time world champion has already confirmed that he will not race in F1 next year and undergone a road test with Andretti Autosport – who facilitated his run at last year's Indy 500.

Only the famous race at the Brickyard stands between Alonso and matching Graham Hill's unique treble of Indy 500, Monaco GP and Le Mans 24 Hours.

McLaren have talked up a potential entry into IndyCar, but it will not happen next year.

"For the IndyCar Series, we have taken a decision to not compete on a full-time basis in 2019," said Brown.

"We are simply not ready yet and we are very focused on F1. So we won't be doing that in 2019.

"We do have a desire to do it, as I have mentioned before, in the near future.

"As far as the Indy 500 is concerned it remains of interest to us and is something we will take a decision on in the off-season."

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