/world sport
MONZA, Italy -- McLaren and Ferrari shared the honors after Friday's two practice sessions at Monza ahead of Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.
Alonso (left) and team-mate Hamilton dominated second free practice at Monza.
World champion Fernando Alonso of Spain boosted his morale with a blisteringly fast one minute 22.386 seconds to head the afternoon session, some eight tenths of a second quicker than team-mate Lewis Hamilton who was second best.
Alonso, who had to sit out most of the morning session with a technical problem, showed his intent as he bids to close a five point gap on championship leader Hamilton.
Ferrrari's duo of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, who had occupied the two fastest times in the morning, with Hamilton and Alonso third and fourth best, could only manage sixth and eighth in the afternoon.
Italy's Giancarlo Fisichella, who is seeking a new deal with Renault, was third fastest in the afternoon with fourth place going to BMW's Robert Kubica, ahead of Nico Rosberg.
Earlier, Raikkonen had shone with a lap of one minute 22.446 seconds in perfect conditions on the famous old circuit to head the morning practice.
Hamilton leads the race for the world title by five points from Alonso with Massa a 15 points back and Raikkonen a further point adrift.
Final qualifying on Saturday will determine the grid positions. E-mail to a friend 
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