Massa fastest in final practice for Italian GP

MONZA: Ferrari's Felipe Massa, fresh from his first grand prix win, outpaced team mate Michael Schumacher in final practice for the Italian Grand Prix on Saturday.   

Schumacher, the seven-times world champion who could announce his retirement on Sunday after the last European race of the season in front of Ferrari's home fans, was third on the timesheets on a bright Monza morning.   

Fellow-German Nick Heidfeld was second quickest in a BMW Sauber, 0.387 seconds slower than Massa's lap of 1:21.665, with Polish team Robert Kubica fourth and Renault's championship leader Fernando Alonso in fifth.   

Champion Alonso leads Schumacher by 12 points in the standings with four races remaining. Renault are two clear of Ferrari in the constructors' championship.   

Massa won the last race in Turkey from pole position.   

Honda's Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello completed their first and only practice session of the weekend after being sidelined by engine problems on Friday.   

Barrichello was eighth, completing 18 laps, while Button did 15 and was 12th.