Force India’s Adrian Sutil was fastest in a rain-affected second practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on Friday ahead of Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.
The German driver, a noted wet-weather specialist, emerged on top after a frantic last 10 minutes of a session held mostly in appalling conditions.
His lap of 1 minute 47.261 seconds was quicker than compatriot Vettel, with Sutil's team-mate Vitantonio Liuzzi coming third.
Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton of McLaren and local lad Kazuki Nakajima of Williams rounded out the top five. Three drivers, including Brawn GP team-mates and main championship rivals Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, didn't even turn a wheel in the 90-minute session, opting to stay in their garage.
Button, who leads Barrichello by 15 points in the drivers' championship standings, needs to score five more points than his team-mate this weekend to secure his maiden F1 crown.