The news that Fernando Alonso will race in the 101st Indianapolis 500 with McLaren, Honda and Andretti Autosport is perhaps one of the most shocking bits of news in recent open-wheel racing history, on par only with when Nico Rosberg dropped the mic in December after winning last year’s Formula 1 World Championship.
Unsurprisingly, reactions that have followed this morning have largely been to the degree of “is this real?” “are we being punked?” “did April Fool’s come 11 days late?” before the realization yes, this in fact is real and yes, this is in fact happening.
The social roundup of this bit of news, then, takes on a few elements.
Here’s the official tweets from Alonso, Zak Brown, McLaren, Andretti, Honda, F1 and IMS announcing the news:
Exited. I love RACING. I'm just a RACER. Indy 500 here we come!!! 💪💪💪 #mclaren #honda #14 #f1 #indy pic.twitter.com/1LZ50FqSiC
— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) April 12, 2017
We're going back to the #Indy500. Hear from Fernando and @ZBrownCEO on their excitement to go @IndyCar racing. #McLarenIndy pic.twitter.com/tiqonmYqyV
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) April 12, 2017
McLaren returns to Indianapolis with Honda & Andretti Autosport. Fernando will drive in #Indy500: https://t.co/LLKMVlJfcc #McLarenIndy pic.twitter.com/2CSc3vnFHC
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) April 12, 2017
Happy Wednesday! We have some BIG news for you this morning. Welcome to our #Indy500 family @McLarenF1 @McLarenIndy & @alo_oficial! https://t.co/lvnNDNN8IY
— Andretti Autosport (@FollowAndretti) April 12, 2017
@alo_oficial & @McLarenIndy welcome 2 the @FollowAndretti family! Can't tell u how excited I am!We are going to have some fun!#indy500#honda
— Michael Andretti (@michaelandretti) April 12, 2017
HPD Statement on @alo_oficial & partnering with @McLarenF1 & @FollowAndretti for the 101st #Indy500 in May! pic.twitter.com/rmWqN3Wri8
— HPD-North American Motorsport (@HondaRacing_HPD) April 12, 2017
BREAKING
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 12, 2017
Fernando Alonso to race at 2017 #Indy500
McLaren to announce replacement for #MonacoGP in due course >> https://t.co/ozbJ7nZU6V pic.twitter.com/sRCVBVCBqE
So is anyone else a little excited that @alo_oficial will compete in May's #Indy500? Thought so. #IsItMayYet #GreatestDriversInRacing pic.twitter.com/VqAA7EJw6b
— Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@IMS) April 12, 2017
McLaren has also launched a separate IndyCar account, linked below.
Follow @McLarenIndy for the latest info and updates on our entry into the 101st #Indy500 with Honda and @FollowAndretti. pic.twitter.com/qRa2K8swHN
— McLaren Indy (@McLarenIndy) April 12, 2017
Here’s Stefan Wilson’s tweet, with Wilson having been a key part of this deal happening himself. Sources had indicated Wilson was the front-runner for another Honda-powered Andretti entry within the last week or so. Wilson probably won Twitter as a result of this...
Sooo....what I miss? pic.twitter.com/WgrC3ybOG2
— Stefan Wilson (@stef_wilson) April 12, 2017
And now, the rest of the Twitter/Instagram social media sphere:
"This is not fake news." Here @IMS, Hulman Co. President & CEO Mark Miles welcomes @alo_oficial to @IndyCar & the #Indy500! pic.twitter.com/LaKYeqA4ae
— Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@IMS) April 12, 2017
Did the earth just shift on its axis making 16th and Georgetown the center of the universe? @alo_oficial @IMS @IndyCar
— Bryan Herta (@BryanHerta) April 12, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSygh5lDj0W/
Welcome to the crew @alo_oficial. Look forward to working with you next month... 👌🏼👊🏼 #101 #indy500
— Alexander Rossi (@AlexanderRossi) April 12, 2017
Welcome to the team @alo_oficial!! The epitome of a true racer. Huge undertaking, big crossover taking it head on. Look fwd to working w/you
— Ryan Hunter-Reay (@RyanHunterReay) April 12, 2017
Who is taking @alo_oficial to Long's Bakery first? #Indy500 #tradition
— Conor Daly (@ConorDaly22) April 12, 2017
Fantastic news this am! Excited to race @alo_oficial & @McLarenF1 in #indianapolis500 with @FollowAndretti this year! #alonsoinindy
— Simon Pagenaud (@simonpagenaud) April 12, 2017
.@ZBrownCEO is a marketer & innovator. Passionate about the #Indy500 & #F1, Im sure did everythin he could to make @alo_oficial deal happen!
— Graham Rahal (@GrahamRahal) April 12, 2017
🇺🇸This is awesome news @alo_oficial! Looking forward to having you at the #Indy500 🇧🇷 Boa notícia essa do Alonso correndo as 500 Millhas
— Tony Kanaan (@TonyKanaan) April 12, 2017
Welcome @alo_oficial and @McLarenF1 to the greatest race in the world. #Indy500 https://t.co/jup0ssfpvZ
— Josef Newgarden (@josefnewgarden) April 12, 2017
Between news of @alo_oficial running the #Indy500 and all the United Airlines memes, the internet is pretty awesome today.
— James Hinchcliffe (@Hinchtown) April 12, 2017
World-class driver w/@FollowAndretti who lit it up last year @IMS 500 - what's not to like; Good to have @McLarenF1 at a true Global Event https://t.co/u099jxMa1e
— Mike Hull (@IndyMHull) April 12, 2017
Welcome to @IndyCar & the #Indy500 @alo_oficial. We hope you roll your rrr's like @OriolServia 🙏🏻🏎🏁#TeamHonda @HondaRacing_HPD pic.twitter.com/98RsdwRaQQ
— Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (@RLLracing) April 12, 2017
Welcome to the fastest motor race in the world @alo_oficial!
— M A X Chilton (@maxchilton) April 12, 2017
Great to have a world champion on the grid.
👍🏼🏁 pic.twitter.com/a4crrLNCli
Woo. I get to race against @alo_oficial now that is cool.
— Sage Karam (@SageKaram) April 12, 2017
Another legend in the 500 this year. This will be epic https://t.co/hhzGXeZ3Yj
— Gabby Chaves (@GabbyChaves) April 12, 2017
Looking forward to having @alo_oficial join me in rookie orientation for our first #Indy500's.
— Zach Veach (@ZachVeach) April 12, 2017
Well that's some serious news. Welcome to the #Indy500 @alo_oficial!!! Hats off to @stef_wilson @ZBrownCEO @McLarenF1 @Honda So cool to see.
— Matt Brabham (@MattyBrabs) April 12, 2017
Fernando Alonso trending Worldwide. #Indy500 #IndyCar #F1 pic.twitter.com/i5vHnzfYKS
— Matt Archuleta (@indy44) April 12, 2017
So this is awesome and apparently a real thing that is happening!!! #Indy500 https://t.co/b6SrTNBL2r
— Aaron Telitz (@AaronTelitz) April 12, 2017
Attempting to put my pieces of my brain back together this morning #Alonso #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/yP41lBIVtG
— Tony DiZinno (@tonydizinno) April 12, 2017
I JUST DID. WHAT. https://t.co/gy7DIbb67G
— Tony DiZinno (@tonydizinno) April 12, 2017
Fernando Alonso (R) is a thing. https://t.co/aqUvPr27WS
— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) April 12, 2017
Maybe I should do a Monaco one-off?
— Townsend Bell (@townsendbell) April 12, 2017
It's been three hours since Alonsogate... It's safe to tweet again, right? pic.twitter.com/px61ewbrDe
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) April 12, 2017
Wow. Alonso misses Monaco and races Indy 500 instead!
— Martin Brundle (@MBrundleF1) April 12, 2017
As a fan, as much as I wanted to see Alonso in the second Mercedes AMG, the news of him racing in the Indy 500 is even better!! #bignews
— Tommy Kendall (@TommyKendall11) April 12, 2017
Absolutely. Fantastic news for @IMS and @IndyCar; a huge endorsement of the 500's enduring fascination and importance. https://t.co/cxLLqegcur
— Chris Dyson (@ChrisDyson16) April 12, 2017
So @alo_oficial is going to race in the #indy500.
— Fake Charlie Whiting says ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (@charlie_whiting) April 12, 2017
His Honda-powered car will have a 700HP V6turbo that revs to 12k.
Can you blame him?
I wonder if this Alonso / Indy 500 would have ever happened in Bernie's time. He surely would hated the massive free publicity for IndyCar
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) April 12, 2017
When you wake up, read news and your first thought is to triple check the date on the calendar...
— Diane Swintal (@dswintal) April 12, 2017
Some drivers and other racing folks have expressed their support for Wilson, as well:
-- wins twitter -- https://t.co/Nd0itsUIxM
— Sunday Group (@Sundaygroup) April 12, 2017
Typical @stef_wilson , a top bloke just like his big brother. I hope his generosity towards @IndyCar will be repaid. https://t.co/cRWnFYaqcs
— Dario Franchitti (@dariofranchitti) April 12, 2017
Give full credit to @stef_wilson who stepped aside to allow the Fernando Alonso @alo_oficial #Indy500 deal to happen. Incredible class. pic.twitter.com/Jaza2LexyG
— Dave Furst (@DaveFurst) April 12, 2017
Okay so @stef_wilson is a better person than all of us. Confirmed. https://t.co/kp2GV6wagR
— Devin Altieri (@DevinAltieri) April 12, 2017
We already knew @Stef_Wilson was a gentleman w/great class & to put greater good of event before self speaks volumes of character.
— Tony DiZinno (@tonydizinno) April 12, 2017
Not surprised. @stef_wilson has always been 100% class. #Respect https://t.co/KNNJ9jengA
— Matt Archuleta (@indy44) April 12, 2017
Buried in "welcome, Alonso, tweets" is this story. No surprise @stef_wilson had bigger picture, best interest of series in mind. Great guy! https://t.co/NCKnT2Onwh
— Katie Kiel (@katie_kiel) April 12, 2017
I have a feeling this is the beginning of a good karma story. Good on you, @stef_wilson. You're already the champ! https://t.co/M6mELMljSj
— 💃Katie💃 (@katdonn) April 12, 2017
Of course, this wouldn’t be Alonso without the #PlacesAlonsoWouldRatherBe meme:
#FernandoAlonsoForCarbDay #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/hViHvSQKep
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) April 12, 2017
#FernandoAlonsoForSnakePit #WhenTheBassDrops #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/QXdPhxeWuP
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) April 12, 2017
#FernandoAlonsoForBraveAndBrazenDisregardOfWhistles #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/QXJkQZW500
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) April 12, 2017
— McMike (@ItsMcMikeTime) April 12, 2017
#PlacesAlonsoWouldRatherBe pic.twitter.com/SNEfVAdjxS
— McMike (@ItsMcMikeTime) April 12, 2017