Highlights

Schumacher edges Alonso in free practice

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-10-21 16:05

 

 

Michael Schumacher completed the last Friday free practice session of his Formula One career by lapping quicker than Renault rival Fernando Alonso at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Schumacher, retiring after Sunday's race at the Interlagos circuit, was sixth fastest with a lap of one minute 13.713 seconds in the afternoon session despite a spin off on to the grass.

Alonso, who has a 10-point lead in the championship and need only finish eighth to seal his second successive title, was 10th on the timesheets after setting no time in the morning.

The 25-year-old Spaniard had a precautionary engine change before the start of the day's opening session but escaped a 10 place penalty on the starting grid because he had not yet used the one originally in his car.

Schumacher also sat out the opening session, with McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen fastest in front of largely empty stands on an overcast day, to save his engine for Saturday's qualifying and the race.

The 37-year-old Schumacher can win a record eighth championship only if he takes his 92nd career victory on Sunday and Alonso fails to score. Both have won seven races this year.

Austrian Alexander Wurz, the Williams test driver, was quickest overall in 1:12.547 seconds. Briton Anthony Davidson was second for Honda, as he had been in the morning, 0.106 seconds behind.

German teenager Sebastian Vettel, confirmed on Thursday as BMW Sauber's reserve driver for 2007, ended the day third fastest.

Raikkonen, Schumacher's successor at Ferrari next season, set the pace of 1.13.764 in the first session.

The Finn has been runner-up at Interlagos for the past three years and is chasing his Mercedes-powered team's first win of the season.