World champion Michael Schumacher swept back to the top of the time-sheets in the penultimate practice session for the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis today.
Schumacher, who was displaced from top spot by McLaren's Mika Hakkinen in yesterday's final session, re-asserted his superiority on the Motor Speedway.
The Ferrari driver, who needs to win the last two races of the season to set a record of 10 wins in a campaign, finished almost 0.3 seconds quicker than the Williams-BMW of younger brother Ralf.
Brazil's Rubens Barrichello, hoping to snatch second place overall in the drivers' standings from David Coulthard, was just fractions back in third spot.
Hakkinen dropped from his overnight position to fourth just ahead of Coulthard - who only leads Barrichello by three points - in the other Mercedes-powered McLaren.
Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya, who scored his maiden win at the last race in Italy, was sixth quickest and would probably have been closer to his Williams team-mate had he not spun late in the session.
Eddie Irvine, fifth fastest yesterday and hoping to stay there today, instead plummeted to 16th on the time-sheets.