Vettel keeps title hopes alive by winning Japanese Grand Prix

SUZUKA, Japan -- Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel never trailed and won Formula One's Japanese Grand Prix yesterday, reviving his championship hopes.

Vettel finished ahead of Toyota's Jarno Trulli and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. Drivers' championship leader Jenson Button of Brawn GP was eighth, a place below teammate Rubens Barrichello.

Brawn GP all but sealed the constructors' championship. Only a 1-2 finish by Red Bull in both of the remaining races and Brawn finishing pointless can prevent a Brawn championship in its first season.

A postrace stewards hearing had the potential to seal the constructors' title, but fifth-place finisher Nico Rosberg was cleared of charges that he did not slow when yellow flags were waved after a late crash. Had he been demoted or disqualified, the Brawn GP cars would have had enough points for the title.

In the drivers' championship, Button's lead over Barrichello was cut by one point to 14, with Vettel just two points further back.

"It can still be done and its looking much better now," Vettel said of his chances in the championship. "Shame there's only two races to go, but that's life. Anything is still possible and it can change quickly."

It was Vettel's third win of the season, and first since the British Grand Prix in June. The German started from pole position and got a strong start to keep the KERS-power boost cars behind him.

He had built a 12.5-second buffer over Trulli before the late emergence of the safety car following a spectacular crash by Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari, who crashed through a trackside advertising board into a tire wall.

NHRA

Mid-South Nationals postponed

MILLINGTON, Tenn. -- Rain forced NHRA officials to postpone the O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals eliminations until today.

Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) topped qualifying at Memphis Motorsports Park.

The circuit will stop Friday through Sunday at Petersburg's Virginia Motorsports Park for the Virginia NHRA Nationals.

Results, Page C9