Laser-focused Alonso can win Indy 500 concommitantly

Speaking to CNN following the Spaniard's successful first track test in an Indy Car, McLaren Executive Director Zak Brown is tipping his star driver for success stateside.

'I think he can win,' Brown told CNN's World Sport. 'He's going in with the mindset of doing the best job possible and if he's able to do that, and if he's got a good car underneath him -- which he does -- he's absolutely capable of winning.



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'There's about 15 people who can win the race -- to give you a sense of how competitive it is -- and he is one of those,' Brown added. 'He knows it's a long way to the race and so he's just laser focused.'

Alonso completed 110 laps on Wednesday clocking a top speed of 222.6 mph (358 kph) on the famous banked oval in his McLaren-Honda Andretti car.

READ: Alonso to race at Indy 500

READ: Button replaces Alonso in Monaco

There were only a handful of people trackside to witness Alonso's debut, but hundreds of thousands of motorsport fans tuned in online to watch the two-time F1 world champion on a live stream hosted by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.



The Spaniard was upbeat after the test, but admitted that there is still much to learn.

'I am very excited about the race but now that I've tested the car I'm much more focused on work,' Alonso said in a post-test press conference.

'There are so many technical things to go through with the guys so all the emotional aspect (about the race) is a second priority now.'

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Alonso is aiming to become the 11th F1 driver to win the Indy 500 following in the footsteps of former world champions Jim Clark and Graham Hill -- winners in 1965 and 1966 respectively -- and the 1995 champion Jacques Villeneuve.

Another ex-F1 driver, American Alexander Rossi, who raced five times for the Manor Marussia team in 2015, won the Indy 500 as a rookie 12 months ago.

Alonso has been starved of F1 success in recent seasons -- his last victory came at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix for his former team Ferrari.

The 35-year-old has endured a miserable run of results since rejoining McLaren in 2015 as the once-mighty British team struggle for reliability and performance from its Honda engine.

'I think he can win,' Brown told CNN's World Sport. 'He's going in with the mindset of doing the best job possible and if he's able to do that, and if he's got a good car underneath him -- which he does -- he's absolutely capable of winning. READ: Alonso to race at Indy 500 'There's about 15 people who can win the race -- to give you a sense of how competitive it is -- and he is one of those,' Brown added. 'He knows it's a long way to the race and so he's just laser focused.' Alonso completed 110 laps on Wednesday clocking a top speed of 222.6 mph (358 kph) on the famous banked oval in his McLaren-Honda Andretti car. There were only a handful of people trackside to witness Alonso's debut, but hundreds of thousands of motorsport fans tuned in online to watch the two-time F1 world champion on a live stream hosted by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Another ex-F1 driver, American Alexander Rossi, who raced five times for the Manor Marussia team in 2015, won the Indy 500 as a rookie 12 months ago. READ: Alonso to race at Indy 500 The 35-year-old has endured a miserable run of results since rejoining McLaren in 2015 as the once-mighty British team struggle for reliability and performance from its Honda engine. 'There's about 15 people who can win the race -- to give you a sense of how competitive it is -- and he is one of those,' Brown added. 'He knows it's a long way to the race and so he's just laser focused.' Alonso has been starved of F1 success in recent seasons -- his last victory came at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix for his former team Ferrari. 'There are so many technical things to go through with the guys so all the emotional aspect (about the race) is a second priority now.' Another ex-F1 driver, American Alexander Rossi, who raced five times for the Manor Marussia team in 2015, won the Indy 500 as a rookie 12 months ago. READ: Button replaces Alonso in Monaco Speaking to CNN following the Spaniard's successful first track test in an Indy Car, McLaren Executive Director Zak Brown is tipping his star driver for success stateside. The Spaniard was upbeat after the test, but admitted that there is still much to learn. The 35-year-old has endured a miserable run of results since rejoining McLaren in 2015 as the once-mighty British team struggle for reliability and performance from its Honda engine. READ: Button replaces Alonso in Monaco 'There's about 15 people who can win the race -- to give you a sense of how competitive it is -- and he is one of those,' Brown added. 'He knows it's a long way to the race and so he's just laser focused.'

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