Greater Noida, Oct 26 (IANS) Defending champion Sebastian Vettel topped both practice sessions at the Formula One Indian Grand Prix here Friday as his Red Bull team dominated the proceedings in the afternoon.
Vettel went almost one and a half second faster than his morning time to set 1:26.221 at the Buddh International Circuit. The German won the inaugural race from pole position.
Mark Webber was a fraction slower than his teammate Vettel with the best time of 1:26.339 in the 33 laps. Vettel was out on track for 35 laps.
Vettel's championship rival Fernando Alonso was third fastest through the day in his Ferrari.
While the morning went fairly smooth, the second practice session saw cars spinning off the track.
Alonso's teammate Felipe Massa could do only 23 laps after spinning twice, ending 15th in the timesheet.
Nico Rosberg was fourth in the Mercedes while Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus), Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button (McLaren), Nico Hulkenberg (Sahara Force India), Romain Grosjean (Lotus) and Bruno Senna (Williams) completed the top ten.
Dirt on the track was a concern on the opening day last year but the situation seemed better Friday.
"It was a brand new surface last year. The asphalt looks more stable. That is all I could make out after the opening day," said Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicalli.
Paul di Resta in the second Force India was 11th fastest, a position higher than the morning session.
HRT's Narain Karthikeyan, the lone Indian on the grid, suffered hydraulic issues after doing 20 laps. He finished 23rd, two spots behind team mate Pedro de la Rosa.
Sergio Perez, who missed the morning action owing to flu, came back to do 39 laps in the afternoon, finishing 12th. Esteban Gutierrez took the Mexican's place in the morning session.
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