LAS VEGAS (AP) — Zak Brown earlier this year teased he was working on a “mega” signing for McLaren's fourth Indianapolis 500 seat and that it was up to the mystery driver if he wanted to enter the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Valentino Rossi, the nine-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing champion, ultimately passed on the opportunity. The seat instead went to Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indy 500 winner, in a deal announced last week.

Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, told The Associated Press on Friday he had multiple conversations with the Italian and that Rossi “absolutely loves and respects the Indy 500” but ultimately decided he had to focus on his current job racing in the World Endurance Championship. The superstar commonly referred to as “The Doctor” currently races a BMW for Team WRT

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