What Fernando Alonso's first day at Indianapolis will involve

Weather permitting, Marco Andretti will briefly shakedown the #29 McLaren-Honda-Andretti entry before Alonso steps in for his first laps on the iconic 2.5-mile oval.

Andretti Autosport team manager Rob Edwards, who flew straight from IndyCar's test at Gateway on Tuesday to complete last-minute preparations for Alonso's debut, told Autosport: "Marco's going to head out at 9am, weather permitting - it's going to be pretty cold overnight - and basically shake the car down. IndyCar rules allow him to do just 10 laps.

"Then we put Fernando in and make our way through the day. The intention is to actually try and pass the rookie orientation practice in this test.

"Then during the ROP and refreshers period on Monday 15 May, which runs from 12 noon to 2pm, he will be permitted two sets of tyres to do the refresher test.

"Every rookie is allowed one oval test before the practice week for the Indy 500, so that's what we're using in this first test."

The mandatory rookie orientation process can vary year to year, but for the 2017 Indy 500 drivers must complete 10 laps at 205-210mph, 15 laps at 210-215, and 15 laps over 215mph.

"Those speeds will be achievable with the downforce levels still relatively 'comfortable'," Edwards said.

"Obviously the idea is to get Fernando to a comfort level where he's just getting used to constantly driving at those speeds, so it doesn't make sense to get into a big trimming exercise on day one.

"That's particularly true if the day's cold. Cold weather is a double-edged sword - the dense atmosphere provides more downforce, but it's also difficult to get tyre temperature up to where you want it."

US racing legend Mario Andretti is sure son Michael's team will make the process straightforward for Alonso.

"He'll have some fun, he'll be fine," the 1978 F1 world champion told Autosport.

"It couldn't be a better situation. Marco is going to shake the car down, and it's going to have enough downforce that even I could get in and be on it on the second lap!

"It's going to be very easy just to be acclimatised to the line and the speed itself."

Andretti believes the biggest challenge Alonso faces over the days of practice leading up to his 500 debut will be getting used to traffic.

"The single biggest difference will be being around the other cars, estimating what the closing rates are and so on, and learning how the other guys behave," he said.

"The driving is quite good now in IndyCar, there's really a good crop of drivers."