Andretti sees 'the same spark' in Alonso

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Motorsport legend Mario Andretti was an attentive spectator yesterday at Indianapolis as he watched Fernando Alonso run his first Indycar laps at the daunting Speedway.

The Indy 500 winner and F1 world champion didn't miss an inch of the action and was mentally riding all day with the Spaniard as he gears up for his Indy bid at the end of the month.

"I embraced the challenges that’s why I did it because I was curious," Andretti said as he watched Alonso settle into the cockpit of the McLaren-Honda entered Andretti Autosport machine.

"Some drivers are very happy specialising. I wasn’t.

"I see the same spark in Alonso. I commend him for doing this. I know how he feels because this was always my challenge to go into somebody else’s sandbox and see if I could win at their own game.

"There’s nothing better than that."

Alonso's day at Indy: 'Faster, different and pure adrenaline'

While Andretti admitted that Alonso's rookie test was a formality, albeit one which the McLaren driver assumed with perfection, he insisted that there was still a lot to learn.

"As you get closer to qualifying then he is going to have to start flirting with the limit of the car. That’s when it gets precarious," said Andretti.

"At these speeds when you’re flirting with the limits of the car and ready to go then you have to have a pretty good feel.

"That’s when you’ve got to watch so you don’t get too spooked. A lot of elements will come into play at that point.

Andretti also underlined a key element Alonso will need to get used to, and one which differs a lot from his current field of expertise: incessant traffic!

"The single biggest difference will be being around the other cars, estimating what the closing rates are and so on, and learning how the other guys behave," Andretti said.

"The driving is quite good now in IndyCar, there's really a good crop of drivers."

Gallery: Alonso's Indy 500 challenger

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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.