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WORLD SPORT

Davidson fastest at Indianapolis

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Pacesetter Davidson will not take part in Sunday's race.

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Formula One made an incident-free return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday with Honda test driver Anthony Davidson dominating free practice for the U.S. Grand Prix.

Back on the track for the first time since last year's fiasco, when a tire controversy led to just six cars starting the race, drivers received a muted welcome from a small crowd sprinkled across the cavernous main grandstands for both sessions.

The uneventful start to the weekend was in sharp contrast to a year ago, when spectacular tire failures during practice led to the Michelin-equipped teams pulling out of the race.

Davidson, who will not race Sunday, set the early pace, clocking a time of one minute 12.083 seconds, ahead of Ferrari's seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher under a blistering sun in the morning session.

The Briton returned under grey threatening skies in the afternoon and continued to lead the way clocking 1:12.013 ahead of BMW Sauber's Polish test driver Robert Kubica.

Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella was third quickest in the second session followed by Ferrari number two Felipe Massa.

Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso, who has yet to reach the finish line in four previous visits to the Brickyard, did not take part in the morning session and produced only the ninth best effort in the afternoon.

The 24-year-old Spaniard, has said he expects the U.S. Grand Prix to provide his toughest test of the season.

Schumacher, a four times Indy winner, left it late to get out on track for the morning session but immediately posted the second best time of 1:12.458 before spinning off and finishing the session with his car deep in the gravel.

With Germany's World Cup quarter-final decided to his satisfaction, Schumacher was able to give the second session his full attention but was unable to improve on his opening effort returning the sixth quickest time.

Throughout the day, the World Cup proved a major distraction, with team members huddled around screens in the paddock and garages.

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