Top drivers to lead from the rear

Renault's Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso of Spain in action during the third practice session at the Japanese F1 track in Suzuka, Japan, on Saturday. The Grand Prix of Japan will take place in Suzuka today. PHOTO: EPA

There will be more interest at the back of the pack at the start of today's Japanese Grand Prix after the season's top drivers, including world champion Fernando Alonso, fell foul of heavy rains during qualifying.

Poor weather hampered the morning sessions after overnight rain soaked the track.

Conditions improved by the time the qualifying started, but with 10 minutes remaining, heavy rain returned, hampering the last four starters -- seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, new champion Fernando Alonso, McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya. The four drivers have won 16 of the 17 races this season.

They will start in the last half of the starting grid while there were surprises up front.

"The weather decided it all today," said Montoya, who has won two of the last three races but didn't attempt a competitive lap Saturday when he emerged as the last out for qualifying and came into the pits after his warmup lap.

Toyota's Ralf Schumacher had the fastest lap just before the rains came. He had 1 minute, 46.108 seconds in his Toyota for his sixth career pole and first since Canada in June 2004. In practice Friday, times were more than 15 seconds faster on the 5.8km Suzuka circuit.

"Obviously the weather worked in our favor but that doesn't happen often so I'm happy to take that slice of luck this time," Ralf Schumacher said.

Jenson Button of BAR-Honda, who came in second at 1:46.108, acknowledged he and Ralf Schumacher were fortunate.

"We were very lucky, the both of us," Button said. "It just started raining just after my run."

The weather forecast is for fair weather at Suzuka on Sunday.

Ralf's older brother Michael Schumacher, who won four of the last five races here in his Ferrari, was 14th on the grid in 1:52.676.

"The rain arrived just as I had to start my run which meant I was too late to fit the extreme wet tires," he said. "So basically all I could do was swim for home."

"This morning we were very competitive," said Michael Schumacher, who had the fastest time in the first practice before crashing out. "My accident was caused by a combination of riding the curbs and aquaplaning."

Alonso, who clinched the championship at the last race, was 16th of the 20 racers at 1:54.662.

"The circumstances were very similar to Australia where I qualified when the track was wettest," said the Spaniard said. He was among the favorites at Melbourne but started from 13th on the grid. "I just hope to do a good job like we did in Melbourne when I was able to come through the field [to finish third]."

Raikkonen finished in 2:02.309, but will start from the back of the field after a 10-spot penalty incur-red because of an engine change.

Montoya said McLaren's decision not to attempt a qualifying time was a strategic one.

"The team told me not to finish my qualifying lap as there would be more benefits from a strategic point of view by saving fuel," Montoya said.

and the race should be interesting with Alonso, Raikkonen and Montoya having the best cars and starting from the last three rows.

Renault and McLaren are fighting for the constructor's championships with McLaren ahead by two points.

"At least Alonso is at the back of the pack as well," Montoya said.

Alonso's teammate Giancarlo Fisichella was third at 1:47.276, and completed his lap seconds before the rain came for the final four drivers. Fisichella said he was prepared for the rain.

Fisichella had the pole and won that race in Australia as he too was fortunate in avoiding the rain.

The McLarens were hampered the most. Raikkonen's McLaren had yet another engine failure Friday during the first practice session, forcing another engine change and another 10-spot penalty.

"It was really too wet to do anything at all. It's a shame the team suffered so much," Raikkonen said.