McLaren racing director Eric Boullier, who offered Button the one-off return, is "truly delighted" the 2009 world champion will be back in the auto for the sixth round of the championship.
With Alonso missing the Monaco Grand Prix to take part in the Indy 500, it didn't take long for McLaren fans to ramp up the speculation of a possible Formula 1 return for 2009 champion Button.
The switch has been made easier by McLaren's lack of competitiveness in Formula One, with the once-great team now last in the championship without a point after two races and Alonso clearly frustrated with the situation.
The team announced Button's one-off return on Friday - which would have been in time for him to drive the vehicle at Bahrain's post-race test - but McLaren racing director Eric Boullier said the team decided with Button to limit his preparation to simulator work.
Button has competed in 305 grands prix - third only to Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher in the all-time list - and won 15 races.
Alonso took the racing world by surprise when he announced Wednesday he will race in the Indy 500, leaving many speculating whether Button or test driver Oliver Turvey would fill in for him in Monaco.
Meanwhile Button, the last driver to win a race for McLaren in 2012, insisted it would not take him long to get used to the feeling of being in the cockpit of a Formula One auto once again.
Button, however, is hopeful his years of experience around Monaco can provide McLaren with a much needed lift on a track where raw power is not crucial.
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Racing Director, Éric Boullier, adds: "Jenson is a superb driver and he won't have lost any of his competitive edge over the past few months".
"I'm looking forward to pitting myself against the unique racing challenge that is the Monaco Grand Prix", he said.
"I hope Jenson comes back, it would be great for the sport to have Jenson back", said Hamilton, who was Button's team-mate at McLaren from 2010-12.
In fact Boullier reckons in general Alonso's Indy drive, coupled with Jenson Button's one-off comeback at the Monaco GP, all plays into the bigger picture. "I've watched a lot of IndyCar action on TV and online, and it's clear that great precision is required to race in close proximity with other cars on the far side of 220mph".
Sporting-political bombshells seldom come bigger, and McLaren's announcement that it would be releasing its talismanic driver from his F1 duties on the biggest weekend of the year sent the sport into meltdown.
"I would have said wait until your contract finishes and then you can do what you like but you are in the middle of Formula One and you are a Formula One driver".
"He's always been good at Monaco".
"I've never raced an IndyCar auto before, and neither have I ever driven on a super-speedway, but I'm confident that I'll get to grips with it fast".
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