Villeneuve slams Alonso's Indy 500 critics

Spain - Jacques Villeneuve has hit out at drivers critical of Fernando Alonso's decision to tackle the Indy 500 next month.

Some of Alonso's rivals - notably Romain Grosjean and Nico Hulkenberg - questioned the wisdom of Spaniard Alonso taking on the dangerous and fabled American oval race with little preparation.

READ: McLaren's Alonso to miss Monaco GP for Indy 500  

Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion and a past Indy 500 winner, told the Spanish daily AS: "I've already said that I think what he's doing shows that he's a real driver.” 

Asked what he means by 'real driver', the French Canadian explained: "Well, all you have to do is listen to what other drivers have said about his decision.

READ:Button returns to F1 for Indy 500-bound Alonso in Monaco 

"I heard Nico Hulkenberg and Romain Grosjean giving their opinion about what Alonso is doing - Hulkenberg said it's dangerous, that he wouldn't do it, that he did Le Mans because it was different.

"It sounds like excuses." 

Villeneuve concluded: "I think there are two classes of drivers. You're either an Alonso or you're a Rosberg. And Hulkenberg is a Rosberg."