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Fisichella keeps Ferraris off top

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SUZUKA, Japan -- Italian Giancarlo Fisichella kept Renault's title rivals Ferrari off the top of the timesheets with the fastest time in practice for the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on Friday.

Fisichella, who will be expected to play a supporting role to team-mate Fernando Alonso on Sunday, lapped the Honda-owned circuit in one minute 34.33 seconds on a drying track after morning rain.

Ferrari's Brazilian driver Felipe Massa was second quickest, 0.07 slower, while championship leader and Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher was next.

World champion Alonso was fourth after completing just five laps, half the number done by Schumacher -- the man he must beat on Sunday.

Schumacher leads Alonso 7-6 on race wins after pulling level on 116 points with two rounds of the championship remaining. He can clinch a record eighth title on Sunday if he wins and the Spaniard fails to score.

Otherwise the drivers' title will be decided in Brazil on October 22. Champions Renault lead Ferrari by one point in the constructors' battle.

The second session finally gave the crowd some big names to watch after a wet morning stint, dominated by unsung third drivers who will not race on Sunday.

Honda test driver Anthony Davidson was quickest in the morning as Schumacher and Alonso, gearing up slowly for the big weekend clash, stayed out of sight. The Briton was fifth quickest in the afternoon.

Spaniard Alonso completed an installation lap without setting a time in the morning while neither Schumacher nor Massa went out at all.

"This was a normal Friday for me," Alonso told reporters. "We did very little running because of the conditions but the R26 (car) felt good although there was a bit too much understeer everywhere."

Schumacher, six times a winner at Suzuka in the past, took comfort from a weather forecast that suggested clear conditions for the weekend.

"The team is in very good spirits, concentrating on our work, and everything seems to be going well," the German said.

"As for qualifying, I think we will be fighting Renault for the top places on the grid."

The fastest race driver in the morning was Toro Rosso's American Scott Speed in sixth, with Spyker MF1's Dutch driver Christijan Albers following behind.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, Schumacher's replacement next year at Ferrari and last year's winner in Japan from 17th on the starting grid, was 10th fastest, with Spanish team mate Pedro de la Rosa eighth.

"Nothing really happened due to the wet weather conditions," Raikkonen said.

"There was no use doing anything other than some set-up and tire evaluation work as the track conditions were not ideal for detailed results."

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