By CHRIS LINES
AP Auto Racing Writer
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Organizers will be watching the skies, rival teams will be eyeing the Ferraris and fans will be cheering on their new team at this weekend's Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix.
The main talking point in the F1 paddock at Sepang is the chance of rain, after last year's tropical downpour forced the race to be abandoned after an hour, with only half the usual points awarded.
That abandonment forced a change of the start time, with the race moved ahead from 5 p.m. to 4 p.m local time. That will lessen the chances of getting caught in the rain, which tends to come in the late afternoon. It also allows for a restart if the race is stopped. Last year, by the time the storms had passed, it was too dark.
Rain and scattered thunderstorms are forecast starting on Friday, which makes it difficult to predict which team will thrive in the conditions. The last round in Australia had some light rain, but the cars have not been tested in wet conditions with the heavy fuel loads required this season.
Should it remain dry, Ferrari looks the team to beat, based both on performance this season and precedent in Malaysia.
After two races, Fernando Alonso leads the championship with 37 points, ahead of Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa at 33.
Alonso's total would have been higher if not for being spun in contact at the first corner in Australia and having to fight his way through the field from last to finish fourth.
After some lean times with Renault, Alonso is getting back the feeling when he won two world titles.
``I want to be world champion at the end,'' Alonso said Thursday. ``Every time I get in the car, my head is on November, and having the trophy.''
He still considers the Red Bulls, McLarens, Massa, and even the struggling Mercedes cars as having the potential to deny him that third crown.
``For the championship right now, the eight drivers are all contenders and all in the fight,'' Alonso said.
Ferrari has an enviable record in the 11 years of the Malaysian Grand Prix, with five wins and seven pole positions. Alonso also has some history of his own here, winning in 2007 for McLaren.
It's not just the leading teams that will be the focus of attention in Malaysia, but also newcomer Malaysian-run Lotus.
The team has modest goals for the opening stage of the season _ finish races and outperform fellow newcomers Virgin and Hispania. It is about two seconds per laps off the top teams.
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