Trulli on top in final Japan practice

FORMULA ONE: SUZUKA, Japan, Oct 3, 2009: Toyota's Jarno Trulli topped the timesheets in the third and final practice for the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday, edging impressive Toro Rosso youngster Sebastien Buemi.

Trulli's lap of 1 minute 31.709 seconds was 0.062secs quicker than surprise packet Buemi, who led the hour-long session from one-third distance until the Italian's last-gasp lap.

Nico Rosberg was third for Williams, while Red Bull's championship contender Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, in his last Japanese race for the team, rounded out the top five.

World championship leader Jenson Button was ninth for Brawn GP, with team-mate Rubens Barrichello in seventh position.

Button leads Barrichello by 15 points in the drivers' championship with three races remaining, with the Englishman needing to outscore the Brazilian by five points this weekend to secure his maiden Formula One crown.

Vettel is 25 points adrift of Button, and remains a slim chance to take the title with a maximum of 30 points available in the remaining races. Dry conditions greeted the teams after a rain-affected Friday, and 15 drivers formed a queue at the end of the pit lane as they impatiently waited for the session to commence.

Trulli was the early pace-setter before Renault's Fernando Alonso briefly took control at the top of the times.

Buemi then edged ahead after 21 minutes, and repeatedly lowered his lap times to remain at the top until the final seconds.

In an encouraging showing for the Toro Rosso team, Buemi's teammate, young Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari, finished in 10th place.

Red Bull's Mark Webber ended in 19th position after crashing at Turn 9 with seven minutes of the session remaining.

The Australian, who lies fourth in the drivers' standings, ran wide on his fastest lap and nosed the car into the wall, ensuing his mechanics will have a busy two hours before Saturday afternoon's qualifying session.McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who won in Singapore last weekend, could only manage 16th.

Japanese Grand Prix qualifying times

Qualifying Q1:

1. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull-Renault 1:30.883 (Q), 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren-Mercedes 1:30.917 (Q), 3. Jenson Button (GBR) Brawn-Mercedes 1:31.041 (Q), 4. Jarno Trulli (ITA) Toyota 1:31.063 (Q), 5. Sebastien Buemi (SWI) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:31.196 (Q), 6. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:31.228 (Q), 7. Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Brawn-Mercedes 1:31.272 (Q), 8. Nico Rosberg (GER) Williams-Toyota 1:31.286 (Q), 9. Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India-Mercedes 1:31.386 (Q), 10. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Renault 1:31.401 (Q).

11. Robert Kubica (POL) BMW Sauber 1:31.417 (Q), 12. Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.499 (Q), 13. Nick Heidfeld (GER) BMW Sauber 1:31.501 (Q), 14. Timo Glock (GER) Toyota 1:31.550 (Q), 15. Jaime Alguersuari (ESP) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:31.571 (Q), 16. Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA) Ferrari 1:31.704.

17. Kazuki Nakajima (JPN) Williams-Toyota 1:31.718, 18. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Renault 1:32.073, 19. Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) Force India-Mercedes 1:32.087, 20. Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull-Renault.

* Webber did not start after crashing in Saturday morning practice. AFP)