Fernando Alonso qualifies United Autosports 13th for Daytona 24 Hours

Racing in an endurance event for the first time, Fernando Alonso steered United Autosports to 13th in qualifying for the Daytona 24 hours.

Fernando Alonso’s United Autosports team will start 13th on the grid for the Daytona 24 Hours.

Fernando Alonso of Spain answers questions at a news conference about the IMSA 24-hour auto race at Daytona International Speedway. (AP)

The two-time Formula One world champion is entering his first endurance event in the United States this weekend, and his time of one minute, 37.008 seconds was 0.952 secs off Renger van der Zande’s quickest time for Konica Minolta Cadillac.

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McLaren driver Alonso missed last year’s Monaco Grand Prix in order to race in the Indy 500, and the Spaniard has returned to America to join Phil Hanson and Lando Norris in racing the Ligier JS P217 in the prestigious event.

Speaking at a news conference after qualifying, Alonso said that a crash on Thursday – when Hanson was behind the wheel – had done little damage.

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“There was not much damage to the body work,” he said.