Button tops Japan Grand Prix practice; Vettel crashes but takes 3rd

Oct 7, 2011, 4:05 GMT

Susuka, Japan - Sebastian Vettel, who is on the brink of a second-straight world title, crashed Friday in the first practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix, while McLaren driver Jenson Button turned in the fastest time.

Vettel still managed to finish in third place for Red Bull despite taking a curve wide and leaving the track in the final seconds of practice at the Suzuka Circuit.

He ran through a bed of gravel and hit a barrier. The 24-year-old German did not appear to be hurt as he climbed out of the car, which received minor damage, to watch the salvage work.

It was an inauspicious start, but Vettel needs to finish Sunday's race with only one point - or at 10th place - to take another world championship in a season with four races remaining after Suzuka.

Button is the only driver with any kind of chance of overtaking Vettel. The Briton, who conceded that he is now battling for second place, finished the practice run at 1 minute, 33.634 seconds.

He was followed in second by teammate and countryman Lewis Hamilton, who was 0.091 seconds slower.

Vettel finished 0.456 seconds behind Button while Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was fourth and Red Bull's Mark Webber was fifth.