Alonso puts Hamilton in shade

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Alonso, beaten last time out by Hamilton in Canada, set the fastest time during the first practice session as Nick Heidfeld relegated Hamilton to third quickest.

Alonso clocked one minute 11.925 seconds around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as preparations began in earnest for Sunday's US GP.

The Spanish double world champion was 0.466secs faster than BMW Sauber driver Heidfeld, who had claimed second place in Canada last week behind McLaren rookie Hamilton.

Heidfeld split the McLarens with Hamilton, who had never seen the track before Thursday, managing a best lap of 1:12.628 from his first 21 laps on the famous circuit.

There was more bad news for Ferrari, trailing McLaren in the constructors' championship by 28 points.

Both Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa were outpaced in the opening session by Sebastian Vettel, the 19-year-old BMW Sauber test driver who will make his GP debut on Sunday.

The German teenager is a replacement for Robert Kubica, who was on Thursday stood down by Formula One and race doctors following his spectacular accident in Montreal last Sunday.

Vettel clocked 1:12.869, the fourth fastest of the session, with Raikkonen the quicker of the two Ferraris with 1:12.966, 1.041secs slower than Alonso.

Massa, disqualified last week in Canada for jumping a pit lane red light, managed seventh fastest in 1:13.040, 0.02secs behind the Williams of Nico Rosberg.