Rosberg tops shortened practice 3
| By Simon Strang |
Saturday, October 17th 2009, 15:03 GMT |
 Nico Rosberg stamped emphatic authority all over a shortened final free practice session for the Brazilian Grand Prix on a soaking wet Interlagos track.
The German's 1m23.182s put him fastest ahead of Williams team-mate Kazuki Nakajima, with world championship leader Jenson Button third.
The 60-minute session was reduced to about 10, after a huge tropical storm covered the circuit with rivers of water and the accompanying mist prevented the medical helicopter from taking off.
Finally, the track was opened with 16 minutes left on the clock and Rosberg's Williams, along with the McLarens of Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton setting the pace initially.
More and more drivers joined them on track, with several aquaplaining and spinning on the exit of Turn 5, including Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen.
Romain Grosjean also went off there, getting momentarily airborne before thumping in to the barrier head on. The Frenchman was okay, but his Renault was not and the session was red flagged early.
The order at the point the session was stopped was Rosberg, Nakajima, Button, Alonso, Adrian Sutil and Grosjean.
More heavy rain is forecast for qualifying. Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:23.182 + 9
2. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:23.832 + 0.650 7
3. Button Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:24.122 + 0.940 6
4. Alonso Renault (B) 1:24.125 + 0.943 5
5. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:24.149 + 0.967 4
6. Grosjean Renault (B) 1:24.389 + 1.207 5
7. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:24.443 + 1.261 5
8. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:24.859 + 1.677 5
9. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:24.867 + 1.685 5
10. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:25.440 + 2.258 5
11. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:25.508 + 2.326 4
12. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:25.685 + 2.503 5
13. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:26.224 + 3.042 6
14. Barrichello Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:26.530 + 3.348 4
15. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:27.047 + 3.865 4
16. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:27.341 + 4.159 4
17. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:27.798 + 4.616 4
18. Fisichella Ferrari (B) 1:29.285 + 6.103 4
19. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:29.895 + 6.713 3
20. Kobayashi Toyota (B) 1:30.259 + 7.077 4
All timing unofficial
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