Fernando Alonso’s stunning run in the 101st Indianapolis 500 might have been in a Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, instead of Andretti Autosport, according to Chip Ganassi Racing managing director Mike Hull.

Autoweek learned that IndyCar, Honda and McLaren originally approached Chip Ganassi Racing trying to put together a deal for the two-time Formula 1 champion to run in this year’s Indianapolis 500. Ganassi turned down the opportunity and Alonso agreed to a deal with Andretti Autosport.

“They talked to us about Alonso, but we weren’t in a position to do it,” Hull told Autoweek.

With Andretti Autosport, Alonso qualified fifth and led 27 laps before his Honda engine blew up on lap 179. He finished 27th in the 33-car field but his participation in his first Indianapolis 500 was a success as evidenced by his being named Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.

Because of that initial discussion, however Hull said the team could be interested in discussing a full-time Verizon IndyCar Series ride with the driver who has struggled with the McLaren Formula One team and Honda this season. With all the big rides for next season vanishing from Formula 1, Alonso’s best opportunities may be a full-time jump to IndyCar in 2018.

If that is the case, Hull and Ganassi would be interested.

“He’s a two-time Formula 1 World Champion and he did a fantastic job at Indianapolis on a fantastic team with terrific teammates,” Hull said. “I don’t know that anyone wouldn’t be interested in him but going forward for Chip Ganassi Racing, we haven’t spoken to those guys at all about them, so he’s not on our list right now.

“They did talk to us and we weren’t in a position to do the Indy 500 with Alonso this past May so we didn’t do it.”

Hull believes if Alonso makes the jump to IndyCar, it would reinvigorate Chip Ganassi Racing and the Verizon IndyCar Series.

“Any time you hire a quality driver, it creates energy,” Hull said. “I wouldn’t say just hiring him would do it; a driver like him would do it. He represents what is important about race drivers. They remember where they came from and they get the most out of today.

“He falls into that category, no matter where he races.”

Team owner Michael Andretti told Autoweek that he is also interested in discussing a full-time deal with Alonso, providing the team can put a sponsorship package together.

Andretti firmly denied, however, that he has a deal in place with Alonso. On Friday, McLaren Executive Director Zak Brown called an Andretti-Alonso matchup “fake news.”

Are the two talking?

“No, he’s a wanker -- why would we ever want him in our fourth car ... Of course, we would!” Andretti jokingly told Autoweek. “The odds of that happening are probably pretty slim, but there is always hope. We are in constant contact with Zak Brown over there and he is keeping us abreast of what is going on.

“I don’t know where it is going to go but I’m hoping Fernando can be in our future sometime. I don’t know when -- this year, next year, three years from now. We have a great relationship with him. I love having him drive our cars. It was an honor having him drive our cars. The way he drove the Month of May was fantastic."

“Formula 1 is his first priority and he is looking for a competitive ride. Hopefully, they can figure out their McLaren because I think they have a really good race car. If they do stay with Honda, hopefully they can turn it around and give him an engine to go for the championship.”

Andretti also believes Alonso would be huge for the Verizon IndyCar Series.

“You saw what he did for the Indianapolis 500,” Andretti said. “It was huge. The following he has is huge worldwide. That would be a very big deal and gives IndyCar more credibility just like when Nigel Mansell was here in the 1990s.

“But I wouldn’t hold your breath.”

Andretti is confident he'll name the driver of his fourth car by the season’s final race at Sonoma on September 17. It would be the first time in the history of Andretti Autosport that all four drivers for the next season would be signed before the current season is over.

Care to say who it is?

“I’m not going to tell you because we are still working on it,” Andretti said. “It’s up to us to make the decision.”

Andretti is hoping to run six cars in next year’s Indianapolis 500. A fifth car is already guaranteed to Stefan Wilson, who stepped aside this past spring to allow Alonso to compete in his first Indy 500.

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