Formula 1: Alesi clocks fastest time at Suzuka practice

Jordan’s Jean Alesi has recorded the fastest time during the opening day of practice for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

The Frenchman, preparing for the final Grand Prix of a glittering career, finished 0.5 seconds faster than Juan Pablo Montoya in the Williams.

Pedro de la Rosa was third fastest in the Jaguar, with McLaren’s Mika Hakkinen fourth, Prost’s Heinz-Harald Frentzen fifth and Jaguar’s Eddie Irvine sixth. World Champion Michael Schumacher recorded the eighth fastest time.

German driver Nick Heidfeld also survived a 150mph crash during this morning’s practice session after losing control of his Sauber on the high-speed ‘S’ curves section of the Suzuka track.

Heidfeld smashed into the tyre barrier and rebounded back onto the track, leaving his car a total wreck.

Thomas Enge also crashed his Prost into a tyre barrier this morning, while the McLaren mechanics had to put a fire in David Coulthard’s car when the tyres burst into flames while he was in the garage.