Ferrari's Formula One championship leader Fernando Alonso played to the Brazilian Grand Prix crowd by saying he hoped team-mate Felipe Massa would win the last two races of the season.
While that would go down a storm at Interlagos, a circuit whose basic facilities are easily forgiven in the embrace of the most passionate crowd on the calendar, the Spaniard was also thinking of his own best interests.
Alonso is 11 points clear of Red Bull's Australian Mark Webber and 21 ahead of former McLaren team mate Lewis Hamilton.
If results go his way, he could win the title on Monday rather than having to wait until Abu Dhabi a week later.
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel is 25 points off the pace while McLaren's reigning champion Jenson Button is barely in mathematical contention, 42 behind the leader.
Massa, who has already had to let Alonso beat him for victory this season in a controversial German Grand Prix, is out of contention but always impressive in front of his home fans.
