McLaren’s Jenson Button set the pace as title rival Sebastian Vettel crashed out on his last lap in first practice for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Button has to win in Suzuka and hope Red Bull’s leader fails to score if he is to keep his title hopes alive.
Vettel was 0.456 seconds behind Button in third when he lost control and beached his car into the gravel.
Lewis Hamilton was second fastest with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso fourth ahead of Red Bull’s Mark Webber fifth.
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Vettel’s crash at the second Degner provided some late drama in an otherwise fairly sedate session at the challenging circuit.
The defending champion added to the drama by running along the track rather than waiting to be picked up by the marshals. BBC Sport
Vettel’s incident provided a talking point from the session but his pride was more dented than the car, which no more than nudged the tyre barrier.
Winner from pole at Suzuka for the past two years, the German has a 124-point lead over Button with only 125 still to be won.
Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari was a strong sixth for Toro Rosso, with Japan’s sole driver Kamui Kobayashi in 13th place for Sauber.
Indians Karun Chandhok and Narain Karthikeyan each took part in practice for Team Lotus and HRT respectively, with both having an eye on returning to racing at their country’s inaugural grand prix later this month. Vancouver Sun
Besides Vettel, Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado was the only other driver to run off-track and finished the session in 18th place, completing just eight laps in all.
The 26-year-old Williams rookie, a first-time visitor to Suzuka, ran wildly off the circuit at turn six midway through the 90-minute session and was forced to park the car beside the track.
German Timo Glock also had his session curtailed; the Virgin driver managed just 13 laps and finished 21st after spending much of practice in the pits with gearbox problems. Times of India
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