Red Bull's title challenger Sebastian Vettel was quickest in second free practice for Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix.
Vettel has a distant chance of claiming the title, trailing leader Jenson Button by 26 points with 40 available for the rest of the season.
Renault driver Fernando Alonso put in a scorching lap late on to go second, in Renault's first race since Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds left the team after the race-fix scandal.
Button was fifth fastest in his Brawn, with team mate and closest title rival Rubens Barrichello in 11th.
The only other driver with a chance of the title Mark Webber was sixth fastest, despite the fact he had to sit out the second half of the session after spinning his Red Bull at the first corner. The session was held up as a result of his off.
In the earlier session, Barrichello had set the pace but the session was also held up after an off by Renault's Romain Grosjean. His spin was at turn 17, the same corner where Renault asked Nelson Piquet Jr to deliberately crash at last year.
Times taken from second free practice session:
1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:48.650
2. Alonso Renault + 0.274
3. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes + 0.302
4. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber + 0.448
5. Button Brawn-Mercedes + 0.661
6. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 0.667
7. Rosberg Williams-Toyota + 0.683
8. Glock Toyota + 0.692
9. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 0.708
10. Kubica BMW-Sauber + 0.959
11. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes + 0.966
12. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 1.060
13. Trulli Toyota + 1.145
14. Raikkonen Ferrari + 1.291
15. Nakajima Williams-Toyota + 1.373
16. Fisichella Ferrari + 1.603
17. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1.877
18. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes + 1.955
19. Grosjean Renault + 2.322
20. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 2.773
All timings unofficial
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