Formula 2 title hopeful Alex Dunne has completed an IndyCar test in Alabama, opening the door to a move to the USA in 2027 as he weighs up his future beyond the Formula 1 feeder series.
Alex Dunne (Credits: BBC Sport)
The 20-year-old Irishman, an Alpine junior driver, tested for Dale Coyne Racing at Barber Motorsports Park on Monday, and posted the fastest time in a morning session that included American-born Conor Daly.
Alex Dunne IndyCar test 2027 move
Dunne is in a three-way fight for the Formula 2 title in his second season in the series, which supports Formula 1 on Grand Prix weekends. He has one win and nine podiums and sits 18 points behind F1-bound leader Rafael Camara, with two more rounds scheduled in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
With seats in Formula 1 limited for 2027, Dunne is exploring his options. He has also been linked to a third season in Formula 2, but if he wins the championship he cannot return to the series next year.
That makes IndyCar a serious alternative, and his first taste of the car clearly impressed him. “The car, the track, everything. I loved it all,” Dunne told American outlet RACER.
“To be honest, the car was super cool. I think it’s definitely got quite a bit more power, a lot more downforce than what I’m used to,” he added. “To jump in and be comfortable pretty quickly, and I think I was quickest when I got out of the car in the morning, I really enjoyed it.”
Why IndyCar appeals to Dunne
IndyCar is the leading open-wheel racing series in the USA, and former Formula 1 drivers such as Mick Schumacher, Marcus Ericsson and Romain Grosjean all raced in the series last year. Its biggest race, the Indianapolis 500, takes place every May in front of more than 230,000 spectators and is considered one of motorsport’s Triple Crown events, alongside Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix and the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Dale Coyne Racing have not announced their driver plans for 2027, and American teenager Nikita Johnson tested alongside Dunne on Monday. Despite having only one morning in an IndyCar, Dunne said he “definitely likes what I’ve seen so far” and that it was a series that had always interested him.
“I think naturally, with the path that I’ve been on and what I’ve worked towards, the goal will always be to be a Formula 1 driver,” he said. “I think there comes a time when, realistically, that chance becomes more difficult, and I’ve always said that the next best option for me and the thing I’d love to do most has always been IndyCar.”
Portadown’s Adam Carroll was the last driver from the island of Ireland to drive in IndyCar, when he competed in two races in 2010. Dunne could now be the next, if his strong test turns into a 2027 seat.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
