MONTREAL -- Its been seven years since Fernando Alonso ruled Formula One, but the two-time world champion from Spain is back in the race this year. Alonso posted the quickest lap in his Ferrari on a chilly, damp day of practice at the Canadian Grand Prix on Friday, although he wasnt going to get excited about being fastest in the 22-car field in a mere practice. Especially since his lap time held up mainly because a sprinkle of rain slowed cars through the final 15 minutes of the 90-minute afternoon session, just when most drivers are ready to make their fastest laps. "It depends on which moment you do your lap and the conditions on the circuit whether you are quickest or not," Alonso said. "The most important thing was to evaluate some new parts we brought here, and the new tires that Pirelli brought as well. Some of it we managed to do." Alonso navigated the 4,361-kilometre Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which is slick even when it doesnt rain, in one minute 14.818 seconds, just ahead of defending Canadian Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamiltons Mercedes in 1:14.830. Romain Grosjean, who finished second here last year, was third-quickest for Lotus followed by Mark Webbers Red Bull, Nico Rosbergs Mercedes and Felipe Massa in a Ferrari. Alonso won world championships in 2005 and 2006 for Renault, but the 31-year-old was unable to catch Sebastian Vettels Red Bull as the German won championships the last three years. But he is making a case with two wins in the opening six races this season, the same as Vettel, who leads driver standings with 107 points. Lotus veteran Kimi Raikkonen is second with 86 and Alonso third with 78. When asked who he expected to be his chief competition this weekend, Vettel didnt overlook Ferrari. "On one lap, if you look at the time sheet, the Mercedes again looked very quick," he said. "The Ferrari looked competitive in both long and short runs. "So I think those will be the main rivals. But never forget the Lotus. They could be a surprise in the race." There is one more practice session on the schedule before qualifying on Saturday afternoon, when more damp weather is forecast. The sun is expected to appear for the race on Sunday. It complicates all the teams experiments with tires, car set-ups and other factors ahead of the race on what is considered one of the more difficult tracks in Formula One. Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is known for being tough on brakes and tires with its long straightaways leading into tight corners and chicanes. The asphalt is slippery because it is only used once a year for racing. Any grip-enhancing rubber laid down in practice may be washed away by rain. It was not ideal for tire supplier Pirelli either. The Italian firm brought its new, more durable tires for use in practice for the first time, but due to the conditions teams could only use them for about five laps. The new tires, reinforced with Kevlar rather than steel to reduce degradation, were supposed to go into full use at the British Grand Prix in two weeks, but that may now be delayed. "We did what we could," said Vettel. "It was a bit tricky to test different things because it was so slippery, but it was the same for everybody." Rosberg, coming off a victory at the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks ago, will be gunning for a fourth straight pole position. Hamilton is looking for a fourth Canadian Grand Prix victory. The Briton posted his first F1 win in Montreal in 2007, and also won in 2010 and last year. But they were all for the McLaren team, and he now races for Mercedes. Vettel, meanwhile, has never finished better than second at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. "No extra pressure because of that," Vettel said. "I like coming here despite the fact we havent won. "Today was a good day, but slippery. (Saturday) the weather is again going to be a factor. Then well see on Sunday." With Hamilton gone, the McLarens have slipped on the grid, leaving their top driver Jenson Button 10th in drivers standings with only one top-5 finish this year. Button won the Canadian race in 2011, and hopes the unpredictable conditions will help him this week, even if he is not even thinking about winning. "We all think we have a chance of winning in different conditions, but the reality is that its going to be very difficult for us," he said. "Thats why we go racing, but we know realistically its not going to happen. "So our aim is to get some good points in. Im not hoping for a certain position. I just hope we make improvements and get closer to the front." Times in the afternoon session were about seven seconds faster than in the morning, when Paul Di Resta of the Force India team led at 1:21.020. The late rain led to some slipping and sliding, including a near-crash between Webber and Grosjean. Kimi Raikkonens Lotus also went for a slide. Pastor Maldonado hit a wall late in the morning session and damaged the front wing on his Williams, while Jules Bianchis Marussia stopped on a slip road after 41 minutes, ending his session. Several others, including Button and Hamilton, had minor slides but kept going. "Its been a fun day of weather," said Button, who was ninth-fastest. "Weve had dry, wet, in the middle. "Its a pity at the end that we had a gearbox issue, so I didnt get a long run, which would have been quite useful, especially around here. But theres still a lot of data to go through." Roy Halladay Blue Jays Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Richard Urena Blue Jays Jersey . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/456h-vladimir-guerrero-jr-jersey-blue-jays.html . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. Kelvim Escobar Blue Jays Jersey . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. Wholesale Blue Jays Jerseys .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. While a few metres away Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb collected their bags for the very first time as Australian Test cricketers, Callum Ferguson reflected on how he had been picked and discarded in the space of a single week.The scenes at Adelaide Airport - apart from the scuffle between South Africas support staff and an eager television reporter - reflected these strange and tumultuous times for Australian cricket. Handscomb and Matthew Wade arrived from Melbourne a few minutes before Renshaw and Usman Khawaja jetted in from Brisbane.They were accompanied by the South Australian side that failed by 12 balls to eke out a draw against Queensland in the Sheffield Shield match at the Gabba. After the travails of the past two weeks it isnt hard to imagine numerous figures at Cricket Australia hoping the Test team can be that competitive against South Africa this week.The last man out at the Gabba, Chadd Sayers, wandered through the arrivals hall in an Australia team polo Ferguson had donned only a few days before. Though he had every reason to be upset, even bitter about his treatment, Ferguson put on a commendably brave face, befitting the even temperament of a man who has retained his perspective and hunger to perform even in the face of two knee reconstructions.Asked whether he was confused by how he had been dumped so rapidly, Ferguson did not bite: Just disappointed at this stage, as you are whenever you get left out of a team. It is disappointing anytime you get left out of a side, so its back to the drawing board. Make runs for South Australia, win games and hhopefully fight my way back in.dddddddddddd.It was certainly a really exciting week but a disappointing one. We had a really tough week on the field. Im backing the Australian side to bounce back after this, it has been a tough few months but certainly theyve got the quality in the side so I think they can bounce back.The interim selection chairman Trevor Hohns had offered Ferguson a slight glimmer of hope for the future when informing him that his services were no longer required - there has been talk of taking him to India. I spoke to Trevor the other day and he said the door is certainly not shut, he said. Get out there, make runs and certainly youve got an opportunity to get back in there if you do put them on the board.The sheer turnover of Australian players was not lost on Josh Hazlewood, formerly a young bowler in the team yet now one of the more senior members. I think with such a young group, it is exciting, he said. We get to build something together. I think there is not as much pressure because its everyones first game. We need to start from a point moving forward and hopefully this group gets an opportunity to do that, not only in one game but over a period of time.Later in the afternoon, Renshaw trained at Adelaide Oval for the first time, and in practice occupied the first slip post that had until last week belonged to Adam Voges. All connected with Australian cricket, even Ferguson, will hope the revolving door stops here. ' ' '