Button sets pace as Vettel crashes in Japan GP practice

Oct 7, 2011, 7:11 GMT

Suzuka, Japan - Jenson Button was fastest in practice Friday for the Japanese Grand Prix while Sebastian Vettel, who is on the brink of a second-straight world title, recovered from a crash.

Button set the pace in both sessions, with the McLaren driver clocking a fastest time of one minute 31.901 seconds at the Suzuka circuit.

Vettel was 0.194 seconds off Button, finishing third fastest in both sessions. The 24-year-old German showed no ill effects from a crash in the finals seconds of the opening stint when he took a curve wide, ran through a gravel bed and hit a barrier.

He was unhurt as he climbed out of the car, which received minor damage, to watch the salvage work.

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. To do that, the 2009 champion has to win each of the remaining five races and hope Vettel does not win a point.

The Briton, who conceded that he is now battling for second place, posted 1:33.634 in the first session ahead of teammate and countryman Lewis Hamilton. Vettel was followed by Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Alonso improved to second, 0.174 seconds behind Button, in the second session, while Webber was fourth and Ferrari's Felipe Massa fifth. Hamilton slipped to eighth behind the Mercedes pair Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.

Saturday's qualifying will determine grid positions for the race.