Mind Games Begin at the F1 2006 Japanese Grand Prix

Michael Schumacher claimed the psychological advantage in his World title battle with Fernando Alonso.

The German clocked a faster time than the Renault driver in the second session of free practice ahead of Sunday's 2006 Japanese Grand Prix.

However, it seems it was the day of the no.2 drivers as Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella recorded the quickest time of the afternoon with Ferrari's Felipe Massa just seventh hundredths of a second adrift.

Michael Schumacher was third and Fernando Alonso fourth.

As far as the rest of the F1 field gos, Honda test driver Anthony Davidson recorded the fifth fastest time, with BMW Sauber's Sebastien Vettel in sixth and Jenson Button seventh.

With the track drying after a wet start to the day, there was a busy end to the session as the drivers sought to run on the Suzuka circuit on grooved rather than wet-weather tires.

Davidson set the early pace in the wet again, following on from his showing in the first practice session, where the Honda driver was the quickest of the 11 drivers who took to the track.

The Briton recorded the fastest time in the opening half-hour of the second session before being surpassed by Fisichella and, as the track dried, the times came down dramatically.

Can Michael Schumacher win the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix? Here are some odds from Bodog.

Michael Schumacher 10/11

Fernando Alonso 9/5

Kimi Raikkonen 6/1