Cesare Fiorio, the sports director, gave Alonso his debut in a Formula One car at a test session at the Circuito de Jerez on 13 December 1999 as part of the Euro Open by Nissan's organising company RPM agreement to provide its champion with an opportunity to test at a higher level.
Fiorio contacted the Minardi team principal Gabriele Rumi afterwards to draft a ten-year contract for Alonso to sign.
Minardi signed Alonso as its reserve and test driver for Gene and Gastón Mazzacane for 2000.

The marketing director Massimo Rivola took Alonso to meet Rumi in August 2000.
Alonso was unhappy about this because he felt his time could be better spent elsewhere.
He then ventured to Maranello and met the Ferrari team principal Jean Todt after Todt telephoned Campos.
Alonso reached an agreement in principle with Todt and was told not to sign with another team.
The agreement was terminated when Flavio Briatore became Alonso's manager.

In December 2000, Minardi allowed Alonso to drive for Benetton in a test session at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo and accumulated enough driving time to become eligible for an FIA Super Licence.
As part of a loan agreement with Benetton, Alonso drove for Minardi in 2001.
Briatore sent Alonso to Minardi to provide him with experience of Formula One racing.
Alonso stated he wanted to drive competitively and not become pre-occupied with results: "I hope people will have patience with me because I will be starting from the back row of the grid."

He began working with the physiotherapists Edoardo Bendinelli and Fabricio Borra, who monitored his physical training and regulated his diet to ensure his weight was constant before a season and a race.
Alonso performed better than his more experienced teammate and Minardi lead driver Tarso Marques and later Alex Yoong in a non-competitive car.
He attained a season-best finish of tenth at the German Grand Prix and scored no points for 23rd overall.
Alonso adapted to left foot braking, and he matured driving-wise.
Cesare Fiorio, the sports director, gave Alonso his debut in a Formula One car at a test session at the Circuito de Jerez on 13 December 1999 as part of the Euro Open by Nissan's organising company RPM agreement to provide its champion with an opportunity to test at a higher level. Fiorio contacted the Minardi team principal Gabriele Rumi afterwards to draft a ten-year contract for Alonso to sign. Minardi signed Alonso as its reserve and test driver for Gene and Gastón Mazzacane for 2000.
The marketing director Massimo Rivola took Alonso to meet Rumi in August 2000. Alonso was unhappy about this because he felt his time could be better spent elsewhere. He then ventured to Maranello and met the Ferrari team principal Jean Todt after Todt telephoned Campos. Alonso reached an agreement in principle with Todt and was told not to sign with another team. The agreement was terminated when Flavio Briatore became Alonso's manager.
In December 2000, Minardi allowed Alonso to drive for Benetton in a test session at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo and accumulated enough driving time to become eligible for an FIA Super Licence. As part of a loan agreement with Benetton, Alonso drove for Minardi in 2001. Briatore sent Alonso to Minardi to provide him with experience of Formula One racing. Alonso stated he wanted to drive competitively and not become pre-occupied with results: "I hope people will have patience with me because I will be starting from the back row of the grid."
He began working with the physiotherapists Edoardo Bendinelli and Fabricio Borra, who monitored his physical training and regulated his diet to ensure his weight was constant before a season and a race. Alonso performed better than his more experienced teammate and Minardi lead driver Tarso Marques and later Alex Yoong in a non-competitive car. He attained a season-best finish of tenth at the German Grand Prix and scored no points for 23rd overall. Alonso adapted to left foot braking, and he matured driving-wise.
Motor racing career of Fernando Alonso