The road to Indy begins. We sat down with Fernando to find out more after our first Indy test, where the McLaren 66 took to the track.

How did it feel to be back on an oval in a Indy car after two years following your inaugural Indy 500 start in 2017?

It was great obviously. It’s only the first couple of laps with the car. We are taking care of everything slowly with the speed. I drove in Barber (Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.) last year in the Indy car, but it’s good to be back on the oval with a very specific setup.

This car that turns left self steering a little bit. So, again, some weird feeling for me to try to get used to with the speedway especially with a lot of banking on the corner, especially T3 and 4. It’s different than Indianapolis but hopefully a good preparation for us.

What can you take from this test and apply to Indianapolis?

For myself, it’s just about getting comfort in the car. Also I think it's quite important to set up everything as a team - who does what, the pit-wall, the facility, it's new for everyone at McLaren and we try to solve as many problems here and at the open test on the 24th (of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway) and getting ready for the 500.

The last time you competed in the race, you were in a manufacturer aero kit on an oval. Now you're driving with the universal aero kit. Can you notice any differences at this stage of the test?

So far it’s too early to say because I am not up to speed. I guess listening to everyone in the last year I think there will be less downforce. They can be more trickier to drive, especially following. The test was not a problem because I was alone.

Three-time Indy 500 winner Johnny Rutherford was on hand for the test. What type of advice does he lend?

He’s always taking care of us in terms of safety, that’s first, and trying to give me some advice on the bumps through T3 and 4 and getting too close to the wall at the exit of T2, because it seems like you are quite far away but eventually you find yourself very close when the banking finishes. These kind of things are all, obviously, very welcome and to have him on board always is a plus.

How do you feel this time around preparing for the Indy 500 compared to your inaugural visit in 2017?

I feel quite a lot more prepared. At least I know the race, the atmosphere of the 500, the drivers’ parade, I know the formation laps. I know a lot of things that you spend energy on your first time there because everything comes as a surprise. I think that energy I can save it now.

I know how it goes so I can go into the rhythm of the race, come into qualifying with a little bit more energy and more concentration, but I take this race as if I was starting from zero. I don’t want to take for granted anything. I want to review every single race from the past, start from zero with engineers and everything. I want to go to the simulator as I did in making the first start, any pit stop. I want to make much preparation as possible.