Schumacher looks to ride momemtum into GP qualifying

HOCKENHEIM, Germany -- It's looking good for Michael Schumacher in what could be his last racing weekend at home.

The seven-time Formula One champion set the fastest time among race drivers in Friday's practice and left points leader Fernando Alonso 1.58 seconds behind on the 4.574-kilometer (2.842-mile) Hockenheimring circuit.

Schumacher will be trying to keep the momentum in Saturday's qualifying as he goes for his third straight Grand Prix win in Sunday's German race.

"At the moment, the situation seems pretty good," Schumacher said.

Schumacher didn't even take his Ferrari out in the morning session, before putting in a fast lap in the afternoon practice.

Alonso, third in the morning session among drivers who will race Sunday, was only 15th in the second trial.

"This is quite a short lap and there seemed to be a lot of traffic out there today," the defending champion said. "My timed laps were all compromised a little bit by this."

After 11 of 18 races, the Spaniard has 96 points and Schumacher has 79.

Schumacher, though, is riding a two-race winning run. A hat trick at the German GP would see him further cut Alonso's lead in the championship.

Schumacher's straight wins in the United States and France snapped Alonso's four-race streak. The Renault driver has won six races so far this season and has only one finish outside the top two. Schumacher has four wins.

No car apart from Renault or Ferrari has won a race this season, with one victory going to Alonso's teammate Giancarlo Fisichella.

A shower dampened the track shortly before the second session, making it slippery, Alonso said.

"The most important thing, though, was to recognize that the conditions today were quite different to what we expect for the rest of the weekend," Alonso said.