F1 News
Alonso fails to make automatic cut for Indy 500
- Jake Williams-Smith
Fernando Alonso failed to get into the top 30 in qualifying for the Indy 500 and will have to contend with 'Bump Day' in order to secure a place on the grid.
The Spaniard crashed heavily mid-week during practice and was forced to switch to a back-up car and has yet to find any pace in the McLaren car put together by the Carlin team.
His P31 finishing position after qualifying means he will have to fight against five other drivers to secure a position on the final row of the grid in 31st, 32nd or 33rd and last place.
Speaking immediately after the session, Alonso admitted that the team had it all to do but didn't deserve to be in the top 30 on merit.
"I think we didn't really have the speed so we are where we deserve to be and hopefully tomorrow we have another chance to be in the race.
"If we can take it ok, if we don't take it it's because we don't deserve it, so I'm happy with that anyway."
McLaren will have a lot of data to look at overnight but their driver believes there isn't much speed to find in the car ahead of a vital day in his hopes of securing a 'Triple Crown'.
"Not much to be honest. I think it has been ok the whole week. The speed is not really there probably in the car, we will not find it in one night.
"We will try to do a good and clean run and hopefully that will put us in the top three positions."