McLaren has vowed not to buy a place for Fernando Alonso on the 2019 Indianapolis 500 grid after the team failed to qualify for this year’s race.

Setting the 31st-fastest time during Saturday’s qualifying meant Fernando Alonso had to take part in the Last Row Shootout on Sunday, where the two-time world champion was narrowly bumped by the final run of the session by Juncos Racing’s Kyle Kaiser.

With McLaren having directed considerable resources toward its one-off Indy 500 program, sporting director Gil de Ferran was asked if he would comment on speculation the team could attempt to purchase another entry.

“Yes, I can comment on that,” de Ferran said. “We will not do that. We want to earn our place in the field.”

De Ferran’s remarks came after Ricardo Juncos was asked how he’d respond if McLaren approached him about purchasing his entry, to which he replied: “We’re racing next weekend. That’s it.”