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Opening day practice report

7 March 2023 12:44 (UTC)

OPENING DAY PRACTICE REPORT: INDY 500

Fernando completes 36 laps on his first day of practice

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  • McLaren RacingIndycar - 2017 - Opening-day-practice-report - Opening day practice report: Indy 500 Fernando completes 36 laps on his first day of practice - 8

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Monday 15 May

FERNANDO ALONSO, McLaren Honda Andretti driver

Day: 1 

Top speed: 223.587mph 

Laps: 36  

"It was good. Good day. I will a little bit concerned about the conditions, about the temperature, much hotter today than the test we did here on the 3rd (of May). But no, the car felt good, felt as good as in the test, and I was able to make some setup changes, without, as I said, losing the confidence in the car. Everything went very smooth.

“The last half an hour maybe we had some issues with the rear suspension, and we could not complete the program that we were planning to run a little bit in traffic at the end of the day, so we missed that part, but overall it was an amazing day. Happier than the first day with the car because I was able to feel some of the setup changes that we were planning in the morning, and I feel good.

“Not much running in traffic, so still the thing that I need to go through in the next couple of days, so that is something we need to chase tomorrow in the program. But I did two or three laps behind some cars that were going out of pit lane, and it was good fun, so I'm looking forward, and running along is enough.”

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