Indy 500: Fernando Alonso kills two birds during first test in Indianapolis, happy with initial results

Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso's highly awaited debut at the Indy 500 is set to take place at the end of this month as the Spaniard looks to become only the second driver to claim the triple crown. The McLaren driver recently took part in his first ever testing session at the Indy 500 with his Andretti Autosport team and was really happy with how things went.

Alonso had to complete a mandatory 'rookie' test before he could actually start his preparation for the race. Indy 500 rules states that all drivers who race at Indianapolis for the first time are required to complete an initiation test, irrespective of their calibre or experience.

Also read: Fernando Alonso opens up about his chances at Indy 500

Alonso had to complete three phases of running — 10 laps each at an average of 205-210mph; followed by 15 at 210-215mph; and 15 at 215-220mph. He completed the requirements in just 50 laps. Speaking in a interview after his first test, Alonso said that he was really happy with the first step and after a few initial struggles he got a hang of the car.

"So far it is a good experience but now starts the real thing. It has been a very helpful day in terms of knowing all this different world and getting up to speed a little bit. There's still a long way to go but I am happy with this first step," BBC quoted Alonso as saying.

Check out Fernando Alonso testing the Indycar for the first time. 

"It is a good way to start to build the speed. It was probably a little bit difficult at the beginning to reach the minimum but then in the phases it felt good. At the beginning, the right foot has its own brain and it was not connected to my brain. I wanted to go flat-out but the foot wouldn't let me. But after a few laps it was fine."

Alonso ended his first practice session with a fastest lap of 222.548mph while last year's pole position time for the Indy 500 was 230.760mph so Alonso still has a lot of work to do to match the pace set by the other drivers. He is set to race in his home grand prix in Spain on 12-14 May before flying back to the US to start the official practice sessions for the Indy 500 the next day.

All the drivers competing have a total of 30 hours of practice over five days before qualifying weekend on 20-21 May. Michael Andretti said Alonso's first testing session was perfect and was expecting him to have a really good month.

While everything seemed everything fine on the car-testing front, Alonso did encounter a bizarre incident during testing as he ended up killing two birds that were on the track. Alonso was going at 220mph and the two birds vanished in a puff and crew members eventually cleaned the remains off the car.

"I saw one bird approaching Turn 3 in the penultimate run, and I just lift off and avoid the bird. Probably I will not do that on the race day. But today I save one life there. I didn't manage to save the other two," Alonso said.