Fuji, Japan - Timo Glock of Germany led the way for home
team Toyota in Friday's free practice for the Japanese Formula One
Grand Prix.
Glock clocked 1 minute 18.383 seconds in the day's second session
on the 4.563-kilometres course at the foot of Mount Fuji.
The Singapore GP winner Fernando Alonso came second in a Renault
in 1:18.424, followed by the world title rivals Lewis Hamilton in a
McLaren-Mercedes (1:18.463) and Felipe Massa in a Ferrari (1:18.491).
Hamilton had won the morning session in 1:18.910 from Massa
(1:19.063).
With three races left in the season, Hamilton is at the top of the
standings with 84 points for a seven-point lead over Massa, who has
77 points. BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica (64) and Ferrari's defending
champion Kimi Raikkonen (57) also have a mathematical title chance.
Hamilton won a wet Japan GP last year before blowing a 12-point
lead in the final two races of his rookie season in 2007.
Another win would suit him fine as the pressure mounts of Ferrari
in the closing stages of the season, with the Chinese and Brazilian
GP the remaining races after the japan event.
Hamilton came third on September in Singapore to increase his lead
over Massa, who finished outside the points in 13th place after a pit
stop disaster, driving away with the fuel hose still attached to his
car.
Ferrari are playing it safe this time around, by binning its
electronic pit release system and replacing it with the traditional
lollipop man.
Hamilton is bidding to become the yougest F1 champion at the age
of 23 while Massa would be the first Brazilian since Ayrton Senna to
win the championship.
The Japan GP weekend continues with a final practice round and
qualifying on Saturday. The 67-lap race is on Sunday.
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