Title challenger Juan Pablo Montoya overcame rival Michael Schumacher in the battle for supremacy in final practice for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza today.
Schumacher set the pace in the penultimate session but Montoya, who was quickest in first qualifying yesterday, regained top spot in the last session before the grid positions are decided later today.
But Williams-BMW driver Montoya, who is one point behind his Ferrari foe with three races left, was just over 0.1 seconds quicker in a session which was halted after a blown engine in Olivier Panis' Toyota deposited oil on the track.
Spain's Marc Gene took third spot for Williams-BMW after the break having being called up for his first race in three seasons following Ralf Schumacher's withdrawal.
Schumacher pulled out after complaining of headaches following first qualifying yesterday and is still feeling the effects of the accident in testing at Monza last week.
Gene was 0.5secs down on his team-mate but will face a struggle in this afternoon's single-lap qualifying format. Williams are hoping he can pick up some points as they defend an eight-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors' championship.
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, just two points adrift of Schumacher, was over 0.6secs adrift in fourth spot having been third until the enforced break while the oil was cleaned up.
Brazil's Rubens Barrichello was fifth-fastest for Ferrari with David Coulthard sixth in the other McLaren.