Schumacher outpaces Alonso

Michael Schumacher claimed the psychological advantage in his world title battle with Fernando Alonso as the German clocked a faster time than the Renault driver in the second session of free practice ahead of Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.

Giancarlo Fisichella recorded the quickest time of the afternoon with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa just seventh hundredths of a second adrift while Schumacher was third and Alonso fourth.