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Alonso tries out his Indycar ride for size!

Fernando Alonso will perhaps be Indycar's most attentive visitor at today's Grand Prix of Alabama at the Barber Motorsports Park.

Just after the event's warm-up session had taken place, the McLaren driver got the opportunity to immerse himself in the world of Indycar, trying Marco Andretti's Dallara for size.

"It's been an exciting ten days since the announcement," Alonso told the media earlier today.

"For any racing driver in the world, to compete in the best races is the main goal, against the best drivers and the fastest cars in the world.

"This is what I'm trying to experience with the Indy 500 adventure. I know it's a very difficult challenge for me to get used to the car, to the super speedway, and know the techniques that you need to be on top of it.

"But I have the best team around me and amazing people that will help me to speed up this process, and it's so challenging that it's exciting at the same time."

Alonso insisted on a prevailing gradual approach to his endeavour, starting with basic simulator discovery work.

"If the race was tomorrow I would not be ready because I know nothing about it," he admitted.

"But I will go step by step, and try to be as good as anyone in the simulator first, as good as anyone on the qualifying and running alone, and then as good as anyone else in traffic when its' the time.

"On Sunday 28th, I want to be as prepared as anyone else."

Montoya : Traffic and race length to challenge Alonso at Indy

Asked what are his feelings about racing against former F1 rival Juan Pablo Montoya, Alonso delivered a mischievous response which brought the house down.

"I don't know if he will be at the front!"

"This is great," he continued more seriously.

"To race against the best drivers in the world, that's' the main theme. I take Juan Pablo like one of the best drivers in the world, one of the most talented drivers of my era.

"To come here and to drive together in the super speedway will be a massive thing for me. Hopefully I will learn as quick as I can.

"I'm watching a lot of his onboard cameras because I think he's one of the best out there. So I'm really looking forward to talking with him also. Any tips will be very welcome from him."

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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.