Fernando Alonso has been cleared to make his debut at the Indy 500 on May 28 after completing his mandatory rookie orientation programme at Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Rookies of the iconic oval race have to complete laps within various ranges of speed in order to compete, slowly building up before they are allowed to run at full pace. In the space of 51 laps, Alonso covered 10 laps at 205-10 mph, 15 laps at 210-215 mph and then 15 laps between 215 mph and 220 mph.
Alonso, driving in an orange McLaren-Andretti Autosport entry powered by Honda, which had been unveiled on Wednesday morning, will continue running at the circuit across lunch to finish his opening day of practice in the car.