Nuerburgring: Red Bull's Mark Webber edged out Fernando Alonso and got his own back on champion team mate Sebastian Vettel by going quickest in the second practice session on Friday for the German Formula One Grand Prix.
The Australian, ordered not to overtake runaway championship leader Vettel late in the recent British Grand Prix, surged round the dry Nuerburgring in a best lap of 1:31.711 to outshine the German home favourite.
Ferrari's Alonso, who won in Silverstone, had topped the timesheets in first practice (1:31.894) and was leading in the second session before finding the gravel and later skidding when trying to overtake as Webber just outstripped him.
"So far, so good. The car feels pretty good here," Webber said. "Fernando and Seb are really quick as well and you never know when McLaren might turn up on Sunday too. I'm feeling comfortable so far."
Vettel was third fastest with Alonso's team mate Felipe Massa fourth and seven-times champion Michael Schumacher fifth, just in front of Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg.
BUEMI OFF
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton was again more than a second slower than the quickest driver for the second consecutive session with team mate Jenson Button even slower after technical issues.
The Britons had expected to be quicker this weekend than in their home Grand Prix after teams decided to revert to pre-Silverstone engine regulations after a row over the aerodynamic use of exhaust gases.
However, Ferrari remained faster even if little can be gleaned from practice with different set-ups and tyres.
"It was some action, it's good that on Friday there is some warm up," Alonso joked about his escapades around the track.
Heavy showers and even a hailstorm had hit on Thursday but despite the usual threatening clouds in the Eifel mountains, the teams were able to get through their routines undisturbed.
Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi suffered the only big incident in the first outing when he spun off and he failed to lodge a time in the second session because of engine trouble.
A decent crowd, which had earlier clogged the roads in the isolated area of western Germany, was in attendance with Force India reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg taking the first session instead of Paul Di Resta meaning seven Germans were on track.
Briton Di Resta returned for second practice as did Vitantonio Liuzzi after reserve Narain Karthikeyan had taken the Hispania car out first.
Fellow Indian Karun Chandhok battled for pace in the Team Lotus having been given the drive in place of Jarno Trulli on Thursday.
Third and final practice starts at 0900 GMT on Saturday followed by qualifying for Sunday's race. Rain is expected on and off throughout the weekend.
"It was cold out there today," Vettel said.
"The car seems OK although I'm not 100 per cent happy yet. We don't know the conditions for Saturday, rain is forecast, but it depends when and if it will come."
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