Alonso changes race number for Indy 500 return

Fernando Alonso will switch to #66 as his racing number for the 2019 Indianapolis 500 as he returns with McLaren this year.

The two-time F1 world champion made his Indy 500 debut in 2017, missing the Monaco Grand Prix as a result, and ran with the #29 number as IndyCar regular Carlos Munoz was already using Alonso’s favoured #14.

This year Tony Kanaan has the #14 with Alonso going for #66 for his second Indy 500 appearance which honours McLaren’s first victory at the iconic race achieved by Mark Donohue when he used the number on his Penske-run M16 in 1972.

Alonso and McLaren return to the Indy 500 after a one-year absence running its own team with Chevrolet power, while in 2017 the team ran a joint McLaren-Honda-Andretti effort for the Spaniard.

The 2019 Indy 500 takes place on May 26 with the first full test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway scheduled for April 24.

Alonso’s next competitive outing is also on American soil when he returns for Toyota Gazoo Racing with the 2018-19 World Endurance Championship resuming at the 1000 Miles of Sebring on March 15. Alonso will then take part in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (May 4) in WEC before turning his attention to the Indy 500.

The Spanish driver has the opportunity to seal the Triple Crown having already claimed victory at the Monaco Grand Prix (2006, 2007) and Le Mans 24 Hours (2018).