Button fastest in practice for Japanese GP

Button must win Sunday8217;s race and hope Red Bull8217;s Sebastian Vettel finishes out of the points in order to keep the drivers8217; championship fight alive.

Vettel ran wide at the Degner curve near the end of the session and made contact with the barriers but was still third-fastest. Vettel climbed unhurt from his car,jogging back to pitlane while his car was lifted away with a damaged front wing.

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso was fourth followed by Red Bull8217;s Mark Webber in fifth and Jaime Alguersuari was sixth for Toro Rosso.

Ferrari8217;s Felipe Massa finished seventh,with Toro Rosso8217;s Sebastian Buemi eighth,Mercedes8217; Michael Schumacher ninth and Vitaly Petrov rounding out the top 10 for Renault.

Conditions were dry for Friday8217;s first practice session but some drivers complained about dirt on the track. Qualifying for Sunday8217;s race will be on Saturday after a second practice session later Friday.