2. JP Montoya (McLaren) - 1:12.145

3. G Fisichella (Renault) - 1:12.558

4. J Button (BAR) - 1:12.696

5. K Raikkonen (McLaren) - 1:12.781

6. C Klien (Red Bull) - 1:12.889

7. M Schumacher (Ferrari) - 1:12.976

8. J Trulli (Toyota) - 1:13.041

9. F Massa (Sauber) - 1:13.151

10. R Barrichello (Ferrari) - 1:13.182

11. R Scumacher (Toyota) - 1:13.285

12. J Villeneuve (Sauber) - 1:13.372

13. T Monteiro (Jordan) - 1:13.387

14. M Webber (Williams) - 1:13.538

15. A Pizzonia (Williams) - 1:13.581

16. D Coulthard (Red Bull) - 1:13.844

17. N Karthikeyan (Jordan) - 1:14.520

18. C Albers (Minardi) - 1:14.763

19. R Doornbos (Minardi) - no lap

20. Takuma Sato (BAR) - no lap

1744: The big two take centre stage and it is Fernando Alonso who comes out on top.

The Spaniard edges below one minute and 12 seconds to heap the pressure on Raikkonen and the Finn makes a big mistake on his lap to surrender a big advantage to his rival.

Alonso will start on pole as he bids to close out the championship.

1740: Jenson Button attacks Interlagos and is rewarded with a time of 1:12.696.

1735: The best is yet to come in this session. Kimi Raikkonen is last out and just before him will come Fernando Alonso.

1727: An amazing lap from Christian Klien rockets him into third spot. His time is about a second better than that of Red Bull team-mate David Coulthard.

1724: Next season's Ferrari driver Felipe Massa puts in a solid - if not spectacular - lap. He loses time in the last sector to end up fifth for now.

1718: Robert Doornbos spins out spectacularly. He gets the car back on track, but will start well down the grid.

1714: Former Brazilian GP winner Juan Pablo Montoya storms to the fastest time of the day, 1:12.145.

1705: Michael Schumacher hits the track much earlier than normal after his failure to finish the last race. He finishes 0.4 seconds down on Fisichella.

1702: Giancarlo Fisichella clocks 1:12.558 to set the early target. Takuma Sato is next, but he does not attempt a lap because he stands to be demoted to the bottom of the grid anyway.

1655: Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella will start off the qualifying session.

1620 BST: Drivers are making final preparations for Saturday's qualifying, with Kimi Raikkonen attempting to stop Fernando Alonso from taking pole for Sunday's race.

Alonso needs just a top-three finish to become the youngest Formula One champion in history at 24.

Jenson Button, meanwhile, will be out to impress at BAR, having cut a deal to stay at the team.