Shocker: Fernando Alonso heads to the Indy 500!

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In a shock announcement, McLaren's Fernando Alonso will contest this year's Indy 500, and will therefore miss the Monaco Grand Prix.

Alonso will race a McLaren entry run by Honda-powered Andretti Autosport, the Indycar outfit owned by Michael Andretti.

"I'm immensely excited that I'll be racing in this year's Indy 500, with McLaren, Honda and Andretti Autosport," said Alonso.

"The Indy 500 is one of the most famous races on the global motorsport calendar, rivaled only by the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Monaco Grand Prix, and it's of course a regret of mine that I won't be able to race at Monaco this year.

"But Monaco will be the only 2017 Grand Prix I'll be missing, and I'll be back in the cockpit of the McLaren-Honda MCL32 for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal in early June."

The announcement is a major marketing coup for Indycar and the Indianapolis 500, although a major surprise given Formula 1 teams' completel reluctance to allow a driver to race in a different category, let alone in a form of specific racing as the Indy 500.

But the endeavour also serves as a reminder of McLaren's heritage at Indy, with the team having won the prestigious event twice, in 1974 and '76 with Johnny Rutherford, while Roger Penske's private McLaren entry won with Mark Donohue in 1972.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.