The duel indicated virtually no difference between the two as the calendar counted down toward Sunday's final race of the Formula One season and Schumacher's career.

Kimi Raikkonen, runner-up in Brazil the past two years, was fastest in the first practice session, driving his McLaren around the 4.31-kilometre Interlagos circuit in one minute 13.764 seconds. Neither Alonso, who leads the championship standings by 10 points over Schumacher, nor his German rival posted a time.

But by the afternoon session, Schumacher was sixth fastest in 1:13.713 while Alonso had the 10th-best lap of 1:13.820, both more than a second slower than McLaren test driver Alexander Wurz's leading 1:12.547.

Another practice session is set for Saturday morning, with qualifying for the 71-lap feature set for Saturday afternoon.

Alonso is seeking his second straight Formula One title and another constructor's crown for Renault. Schumacher hopes for an eighth title for himself and/or 15th for Ferrari.

Any place in the top eight will clinch a second straight title for Alonso _ or Schumacher finishing anywhere off the top step of the podium.

Alonso will be driving his last race before moving to McLaren. Schumacher wants to leave Formula One with another team title for Ferrari. He's already discounted his chances of an eighth driving title.

``I don't come here thinking so much about my own title, but the constructors','' Schumacher said.

Alonso clinched last year's title in Brazil when it was the third-to-last race of the season. The Spaniard said he and his team are no less prepared this time.

``The team is ready for this last battle. I am ready as well, and we arrive in a good position,'' Alonso said.