FUJI, Japan: McLaren's Lewis Hamilton roared to the quickest time in the morning session of Friday's free practice at the Japan Grand Prix.
Formula One 2008
The Briton, who takes a seven-point lead over Ferrari's Felipe Massa into the weekend with only three races left, set the fastest lap with his Brazilian rival a close second.
Hamilton clocked a best time of one minute, 18.910 seconds over the 4.563km Fuji Speedway circuit to edge out Massa by 0.153 seconds.
Hamilton's Finnish team mate Heikki Kovalainen posted the third fastest lap, while reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen was fourth quickest for Ferrari.
Massa, who failed to finish in the points in Singapore two weeks ago following a bungled pitstop, needs teammate Raikkonen to end his recent slump to aid the Brazilian's title hopes.
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Finn Raikkonen, 27 points adrift of Hamilton and only mathematically still alive in the drivers' standings, has failed to scored a point in his last four races.
Twice world champion Fernando Alonso, a surprise winner for Renault in Singapore, again showed good speed, the Spaniard fifth quickest in brilliant sunshine.
Hamilton, who took third in the Singapore night race, won last year's Fuji race only to blow a 12-point lead in the final two races in China and Brazil.
BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica, 20 points behind Hamilton and needing a bizarre turn of events to win the world title, recorded the eighth fastest lap.
Hamilton is bidding to become Formula One's youngest world champion at 23, while Massa needs a slice of luck to become the first Brazilian champion since the late Ayrton Senna in 1991.
Hamilton won a wet race at Fuji last year but drier conditions are forecast for this weekend.
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