Alonso completes Indy 500 rookie test work

Chicago : Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso passed his Indianapolis 500 rookie orientation test program on Wednesday, taking about an hour to clear his way to drive in the May 28 race.

The 35-year-old Spaniard is skipping this year's Monaco Grand Prix, a race he won in 2006 and 2007, to compete in the 101st Indianapolis 500.

Alonso made his first IndyCar test runs at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, getting his first taste of the famed 2.5-mile (4km) oval.

"It was fun," Alonso said. "At this moment, everything looks good. Now it's time to start the real thing."

Alonso will make his IndyCar debut in an orange-painted, Honda-powered entry from McLaren, the team for which he drives in F1. The car was prepared and will be supported by Andretti Autosport, the IndyCar team owned by former F1 racer Michael Andretti.

"He gets it," Andretti said. "He's one of the best in the world and you can see why. He had a little bit of understeer in that run and he adjusted his line because of the understeer.

"He's the real deal. I think he's going to be really strong this month."

Alonso needed only 51 laps to speed through three phases of work for newcomers, showing control and comfort at ever increasing speeds until he reached a competitive level in the open-wheel vehicle.

Alonso turned 10 laps between 205-210 mph, 15 from 210-215 mph and 15 above 215 mph to demonstrate his proficiency.

"I think it's a good way to start, to build speed," he said. "It was difficult at beginning to reach the minimum speed. The next stages felt good, not because of the speed but because of the laps. You're able to fine-tune the lines: upshift, downshift, which gears to use in the corner."