Alonso closer to triple crown after victory in Le Mans

Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso won the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday in France in his debut in the classic endurance race to move closer to motorsports’ unofficial triple crown.

The Spanish driver, together with teammates Kazuki Nakajima and Sebastien Buemi, completed 388 laps in their Toyota hybrid car, two more than Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez in the other Toyota hybrid. Alonso is out to match British driver Graham Hill’s feat of completing the triple crown, including wins at the Monaco Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500. Alonso is a two-time winner in Monaco.

“Le Mans once a year is not enough! It needs to be every three weeks,” joked Alonso, who looked to be in trouble when Buemi was penalized for speeding in a caution zone late Saturday.

Alonso’s car was left more than two minutes behind the other Toyota but he managed to rally through the night, putting Nakajima in position to retake the lead early Sunday.

It was Toyota’s first victory in its 20th attempt, and the first win for a Japanese manufacturer since Mazda’s success in 1991.

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