Talking to Luke Smith of Crash.net, McLaren CEO Zack Brown has confirmed that the team will begin its Indianapolis 500 testing in the month of April next year, a month before the spectacle of racing will take place.
McLaren last participated in the Indianapolis 500 back in 2017. Fernando Alonso drove the papaya orange colors car which was powered by Honda. McLaren partnered with successful and multiple Indianapolis 500 winning marque, Andretti Autosport.
For the entry in 2019, McLaren earlier confirmed that it will run its own operations and compete independent of any existing IndyCar team. The Woking based squad will be teaming up with Chevrolet to power the car while Fernando Alonso will resume to his role as the driver.
The team has a possibility of entering a second car to the 2019 Indy 500 field.
Zack Brown said, "We have ordered both our cars, and we announced our relationship with Chevrolet. We'll have our cars delivered to us sometime mid to late January,"
Brown continued, "The current plan is to bring them back here to McLaren. We'll have a car build programme done here at the MTC. Bob Fernley is our president, who has a good history at Indianapolis. We have hired our engineer, our chief mechanic. I would say we're half way through our staffing of the team. We have our trucks and trailers ready, so we are on course.
McLaren has already placed an order of two cars which will be delivered by the mid of January next year. Former Force India Team Principal, Bob Fernley will be taking the charge of the team's Indy 500 operations.
"We're excited. It will be a separate team, Bob Fernley is doing an excellent job. I'll be in Indianapolis at the end of January. Stay tuned for personnel announcements and we do have some sponsors. There have been discussions, and we expect to have a great looking IndyCar for the Indy 500." said Brown.
Upon inquiring exactly when the team will begin testing in April, Zack replied "I think we will be on the track for the first time in early April, and that’s when our testing will commence. Then, of course, we’ll do the maximum allowed within the current regulations as far as the amount of testing both at Indianapolis and away from Indianapolis."
The IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) will hold the first open Indy 500 test on April 24th.
This article originally appeared on Crash. Click here
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