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Ecclestone would have opposed Alonso competing in Indy 500

Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says that he thinks it's a mistake to allow Fernando Alonso to race in the Indianapolis 500.

McLaren have released the two-time world champion to take part in the world's most famous superspeedway event. Jenson Button will deputise for Alonso at the Monaco Grand Prix, which takes place on the same day.

"I would have said wait until your contract finishes," Ecclestone told reporters at Bahrain International Circuit on Friday. "Then you can do what you like.

"You are in the middle of Formula 1 and you are a Formula 1 driver," he added.

The decision to let Alonso take part in the Indy 500 wouldn't have been in Eccleston's hands. But the 86-year-old was confident that if he'd still been in charge of the sport he could have exerted some pressure.

"I think if I could have persuaded McLaren not to go I would have done it," he said.

Ecclestone 'just trying to help' F1's new owners

But from a different perspective, Ecclestone could see why Alonso was so keen to try something new at this point.

"I don’t like to see him at the back of the grid anyway," he said, adding: "I think it’s probably good for him."

Ecclestone has been given the title of chairman emeritus by the sport's new owners Liberty Media. However he says that he has little to do with the funning of Formula 1 today.

GALLERY: All the pictures from Friday in Bahrain

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.