Kubica fastest in final practice for Brazilian GP

Robert Kubica of Renault was fastest on a wet track in the final practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix, ahead of Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.

Renault's Robert Kubica led the field in the final practice session at a wet Interlagos.

SAO PAULO // Robert Kubica of Renault was fastest on a wet track in the final practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix, ahead of Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull-Renault and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, the championship leader, was fifth, and Mark Webber of Red Bull was only 11th.

Kubica had a fastest lap of 1 minute and 19.191 seconds at the 4.3-kilometre Interlagos track, 0.309secs in front of Vettel and 0.345secs ahead of Hamilton.

Felipe Massa was fourth, 0.544secs behind Kubica, and Alonso fifth with a time 0.600secs slower than Kubica's.

It was the last practice before qualifying later today.

Five drivers are still in contention for the Formula One title with two races to go, but only Alonso can clinch the championship in Brazil. Webber, Hamilton, Vettel and Jenson Button are trying to extend the title race into the season-finale on November 14 in Abu Dhabi.

Webber, trailing Alonso by only 11 points, ran only six laps, the fewest among the title contenders in the one-hour practice under light rain. His time was more than a second slower than Kubica's.

Button was ninth with his McLaren, 0.973 behind the fastest time.

It rained overnight and all morning long in Sao Paulo. The rain stopped at times during the session but it was not enough to dry the track, although it improved significantly toward the end of the practice, allowing for quicker times.

Hamilton went wide exiting a corner at the end of the back straight but was able to continue, and Bruno Senna of Hispania and Jaime Alguersuari of Toro Rosso also had close calls under slippery conditions but were able to stay on the track without losing control.

The Red Bulls had set the pace in the first day of practices with Vettel leading Webber in both sessions in dry conditions. Their rivals had been hoping for rain today to try to reduce the Red Bull's advantage and even the field a bit going into qualifying and the race tomorrow.

Red Bull have won the pole 14 times in 17 races so far, nine with Vettel and five with Webber. The team have not been able to translate their dominance into the races, however, thanks to driver mistakes and mechanical failures. Vettel has won only three times this season and Webber four.

Rain caused havoc in last year's qualifying session at Interlagos, sending top contenders to the back of the grid. Button had to start in 14th place, with Vettel in 15th and Hamilton in 17th.

To win his third F1 title in Brazil, Alonso needs to win tomorrow's race and hope Webber finishes fifth or worse. The Spaniard can also secure the title if he finishes second and Webber places eighth or worse, Hamilton is fourth or worse and Vettel second or worse.

The drivers' championship has been decided at the Brazilian GP in the last five years. Button won it with Brawn GP in 2009, as did Hamilton with McLaren in 2008 and Kimi Raikkonen with Ferrari in 2007.

It was at Interlagos that Alonso won his first two titles, in 2005 and 2006, with Renault. He is debuting with Ferrari after a disappointing year with McLaren in 2007 and two seasons with Renault before replacing Kimi Raikkonen in the Italian team.