Carlin explains its Indianapolis 500 tie-up with Alonso and McLaren

Carlin confirmed the long-mooted deal in St Petersburg on Saturday morning.

McLaren personnel, including Gil de Ferran and Bob Fernley, are following his team this weekend during the IndyCar season-opener at the Florida street track.

"We're helping as logistical and operational partner on this project," said Carlin.

"It's interesting. Our team is based very close to McLaren in the UK. We have a good relationship already.

"They're good guys, they get into things at a very deep level.

"They have massive resource, a big company."

Carlin entered IndyCar for the first time last season, having initially expanded into American single-seater racing via a successful Indy Lights projects.

Its team boss believes Carlin's knowledge of what is possible in IndyCar will help McLaren adapt from Formula 1 and its greater technical freedom.

"Obviously this is a spec car, so a lot of the things they'd love to do they're not allowed to do," Carlin continued.

"We're trying to help them understand what they can and can't do. I'm sure they'll be pushing the boundaries.

"Ultimately we will benefit from what they learn with Fernando. It should be a win-win.

"We're giving them a baseline. Hopefully they'll take it forward and we'll piggyback along that journey."

Carlin said the deal had initially come about because "we're friends of McLaren" and team partner Graham Chilton is "great friends with Zak Brown".

Alonso was in Charlotte this week, and tweeted that he was on the Chevrolet simulator running laps of Indy ahead of his second attempt at the event.

He also recently had his seat fitting in the current Dallara IndyCar.

The McLaren tie-up means Carlin is involved with four Indy 500 entries.

It is already fielding three of its own cars for its full-season driver Max Chilton plus Charlie Kimball and Lights champion Patricio O'Ward - who are sharing its second entry during the rest of the championship.