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Alonso chooses classic McLaren number for second Indy 500 attempt

Fernando Alonso will run the number 66 on his return to the Indianapolis 500 with McLaren this year

Alonso - who returns to complete the Indy 500 as the final part of his bid for the 'Triple Crown' of motorsport - used #29 for his debut in 2017.

He has opted to use #66 given it is the number with which McLaren took its first Indy 500 victory with Mark Donohue in 1972.

Donohue used #66 in all five of his Indy 500 appearances with Roger Penske and both of his starts with a McLaren chassis.

His only victory came in 1972 when, after a race of high attrition, he was able to lead the final 13 laps and deliver a win that included a new average speed record.

Alonso's McLaren entry for the Indy 500 will be powered by Chevrolet's twin-turbocharged V6.

Chevrolet is the defending winner of the race, having taken Will Power's Penske entry to victory last May.

Alonso starred in his first attempt on the Indy 500 in 2017, as he qualified on the second row and then led 27 laps before his Honda engine expired.

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