MONTMELO, Spain -- McLaren has encountered an immediate setback in its pre-season plans after Fernando Alonso crashed out on the opening morning of the first test.
Alonso was about to complete his sixth lap of the morning when the right rear wheel came off his MCL33, pitching him into a spin into the gravel at the final corner. McLaren is investigating the incident but confirmed it will take at least a couple of hours before the Spaniard is able to get back out on track.
The incident will have been a blow to McLaren, having set itself the goal of completing at least 100 laps a day.