Wurz 9th in wet opening Friday Japanese practice

The opening Friday practice session at Suzuka would be run under wet conditions, and a track that was declared wet. This was a repeat of the last race in China that saw the weekend affected by rain. Neel Jani, Anthony Davidson, Sebastian Vettel, Alex Wurz and Sakon Yamamoto would leave the pit lane for their first laps. Mark Webber would also come out early in the session but most drivers would pit after an installation lap.

But Honda's Anthony Davidson would continue to start his first timed lap. Michael Ammermuller would come out in his Red Bull. Mark would have an off on his lap and would then return to his pit. Davidson's first time would be a 1m:51.6. He would improve his times to finish with a 1m:49.119. Nico would also come out for an installation lap. Scott Speed and Alex Wurz would take to the track.

Alex would set a time of his first lap that would put him ahead of Davidson, 1m:48.739. Sutil was third followed by Vettel, Ammermuller, and Montagny. Joining those who had completed installation laps were Coulthard, Kubica, Alonso, Fisichella, Raikkonen, Liuzzi, Doornbos, and Heidfeld. Davidson had pitted while Fisichella had returned to the track but would pit again. Vettel was now third, 1m:50.481. Alex would pit with just under forty minutes of the session remaining. Jani would move into third, 1m:49.732, in his Torro Rosso. Monteiro would leave the pit lane for the first time. He would be joined by de la Rosa and Albers. All three drivers would pit after their installation lap. there was now just three drivers running, Jani, Vettel and Montagny. The only race drivers yet to come out were those of Ferrari, Toyota, and Honda.

Montagny would go fastest in the first sector. He would move to the top of the times with a 1m:47.918. Only MF1's Sutil was on the track with the Super Aguri driver with thirty minutes left ion the session. Montagny's time was 0.821 seconds ahead of Alex. Ammermuller was back out joined by Davidson and Alex. Barrichello had also come out for his installation lap. Jani was also back out joining the other Friday drivers. Trulli would leave the pit lane for his first time. Montagny would pit while team-mate Sato would return to the track.

Ralf Schumacher was next to take to the track. Both Alex and Davidson were on quick laps. Davidson was fastest in sector two and Alex fastest in sector three. Both drivers would improve, Alex with a 1m:47.946 and Davidson a 1m:47.962, but remained in second and third. Ammermuller was now in fourth, 1m:48.780. Button would complete and installation lap and pit. Ammermuller would go fastest with a 1m:47.718. Davidson was now quickest in sector one. Sato was in fifth. Davidson would continue his quick lap with a fastest second sector time. Anthony would move to the top of the times with a 1m:46.042, 1.1 seconds ahead of Ammermuller.

Alex was now in fourth. Slowest at this time was Vettel, 1m:50481, but it was the first time at this circuit for the BMW driver. Neither of the Ferrari drivers had come out with fifteen minutes remaining. Davidson would improve his time with a 1m:45.652, to remain fastest by 1.510 seconds. Alex would pit. Vettel, Sato, Jani, and Ammermuller would also pit. Davidson was to improve his quickest time again, 1m:45.349. Vettel was now in fifth. Jani and Sutil would return to the track. Montagny would leave the circuit at Degner 2 and was not able to get his car out of the gravel. His car would be removed with just under ten minutes left in the session.

Davidson would pit while Alex would return to the track. Jani was now in second, 1m:46.138. Alex was now in fifth as Monteiro would again take to the track. Vettel was now fourth as Albers and Liuzzi would return to the tarck with five minutes remaining. Speed was now in eighth, 1m:48.660. Alex was now in sixth, some 2.5 seconds slower than Davidson. When Speed moved into fifth Alex dropped one place to be seventh. Albers first timed lap would see him in tenth, 1m:49.404. Only eleven drivers had set a time in the wet conditions with only two minutes remaining. Alex was now in eighth as Vettel was now in third and Albers sixth.

The rain would start to fall even harder as the session came to a close. Davidson would remain fastest but it was session that would give little indication as to any ones real form. Jani was in second from Vettel, Ammermuller, Sutil, Speed, Albers, Montagny, Alex, Sato, and Yamamoto.