Fernando Alonso has rejected the idea of contesting a full season of IndyCar racing in 2020, insisting any undertaking of the Indy 500 would remain a one-off.
Alonso's first visit to Indianapolis back in 2017 saw the Spaniard race competitively at the front of the field at the wheel of a McLaren-entered Andretti Autosport-run car.
But Alonso's involvement in McLaren's independent effort at the Brickyard last month resulted in a resounding debacle with the two-time F1 world champion failing to make the 33-car grid.
While Alonso is hopeful of a return to Indy next year, he has ruled a full season of racing in the US.
"If I do Indy, a one-off will be the approach again," he said. "To do the full season at the moment is too much of a commitment in terms of races.
"If you go there you should be in contention, you are not a tourist."
McLaren boss Zak Brown, who made no excuses for the team's botched attempt at making the gird this year, alluded to the possibility of running in a few preparation races in 2020.
©McLaren
However, even if Alonso and McLaren decide to return to the Brickyard together in 2020, the Spaniard sees no point in a few of IndyCar's early-season events.
"To do four or five races as preparation doesn't make sense because Indy is the first oval of the championship," he added.
"There are no other oval races you can do before to prepare — a one-off is enough, I think."
In any case, Alonso is keeping his IndyCar options open for next years and suggested that there were no guarantees that he would return to Indy with McLaren.
"I will have to see what the possibilities there are," he said.
"If I go back to Indy I will explore whatever possibilities there are and then choose the most competitive one."
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