SEPANG, Malaysia (AP) The skies over the Malaysian Grand Prix practice session Friday were blanketed in smoky haze as authorities rushed in reinforcements to fight nearby peat fires.

Fires also were raging on more than 1,000 acres of forest in four states in peninsular Malaysia, triggered by a prolonged drought that is expected to continue until next month.

The gray pall was fed by peat fires burning in the oil palm plantations and scrub land between the track and Kuala Lumpur, 45 miles away.

Rosnani Ibrahim, director-general of the Department of Environment, said that the fires had not adversely affected air quality at the circuit and the nearby Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

She said the air quality was moderate, "which is quite normal."

"There are no problems with the air quality in Sepang or the airport," Rosnani told The Associated Press. "I have checked. It does not affect the race in any way."

Race organizers hope that the Malaysian Grand Prix, the second race of the Formula One season, will attract about 100,000 fans Sunday.

McLaren's duo led the way in Friday's free practice, but Michael Schumacher was regarded as the man to beat - even to those who finished ahead of him.

Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard posted the fastest times ahead of Schumacher - Ferrari's ace driver, four-time world Formula One champion and winner of the last two races here.

"I think that Ferrari are still very strong, and that we shouldn't be misled," Coulthard said. "We need to try and take as much as we can off them."

Schumacher, who has helped Ferrari take five of the top six spots in the first three editions of the Malaysian Grand Prix, was fastest in the morning practice, but had to settle for the third-fastest time in the second session.

Being behind didn't bother him.

"I am pretty optimistic for the rest of the weekend," Schumacher said. "I am not worried about the gap to the quickest runners. We expected the others to be fast here, but we have to remember that Friday's times do not always give a clear indication of the real situation."

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