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McLaren Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso concedes he cannot take too much comfort from his "easy" Indianapolis 500 simulator session ahead of his IndyCar test debut.

Alonso visited the USA between the Bahrain and Russian Grands Prix, completing initial preparation for his Indy 500 debut with Andretti Autosport.

Before he tests an IndyCar on an oval for the first time this Wednesday, Alonso visited the series' Barber Motorsports Park round, then spent time at Andretti's base and on Honda Racing Development's simulator under the watch of 2003 Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran.

Team boss Michael Andretti, who will act as Alonso's strategist, urged caution on the value of oval simulators, and the double F1 world champion agreed.

"Everything is different there," Alonso said of IndyCar.

"It was quite an intense weekend [at Barber], then from there I flew to Indianapolis for a seat fitting with the team to go through some of the stuff on preparation for the race.

"On the Tuesday I was into the simulator in the morning just for three or four hours, also to have the first touch on those cars, on the ovals.

"Of course the real car will be very different, because in the simulator it is easy to go 370km/h [230mph] and not lift in the corners because nothing will happen.

"I think the real car will be a little bit more difficult, but at least I had the possibility to see the car to see the efforts that you need to do in the corners."

Alonso's first test will be a single day, before he returns for the start of Indy 500 practice on May 15 following the Spanish GP.

"I remain very open until I test the car, I don't know exactly how tough will be the challenge to drive those cars," he added.

While F1 does not have a foothold in the USA, Alonso admitted his trip and reception he received was an eye opener.

"What is for sure is the impression of how big is the Indy 500, it has increased in my opinion after these days," he said.

"How the people get super excited about the race there, how important is the race there for everyone.

"I walked in the airport in Indianapolis, in Chicago, and everyone is stopping me and shaking my hands, wishing me good luck, so it was like being in Spain for a moment.

"Definitely a big change in America for this race. I saw also the audience on television was 50% more share on that race, so definitely a bigger impact than what I thought in the beginning.

"I am used to walking in America quite relaxed and I used to spend holidays in the US because no one recognised you and you had some privacy, and it was not like that in the airports at least."