Schumacher crashes as Maldonado takes second practice

Michael Schumacher crashed near the end of a wet second practice for the German Grand Prix and appeared to be unhurt as he walked from his damaged Mercedes on Friday.

Pastor Maldonado of Venezuela, winner of the Spanish GP, ended with the fastest time in his Williams, with the order decided largely by who was on the track at its driest.

Schumacher, in the third and possibly last season of his comeback, lost control in bend 12, spun out and hit the tire barrier, ripping off the rear of his car and damaging the left side.

He got up and walked away, before returning to watch the marshals haul the wreck away.

The crash caused the red flag to go up, ending the session with less than four minutes remaining.

Schumacher has won the German GP a record four times and was the last German driver to win the home race, in 2006, his last season with Ferrari. Mercedes is seeking its first win on home soil since 1954.

Heavy showers drenched the afternoon session that was more than 10 seconds slower than the first morning practice that was hit by occasional rain.

Jenson Button drove the fastest lap in that session, ahead of McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton.

With light rain hitting the circuit on and off, Button set the pace with a lap of 1 minute, 16.595 seconds, edging Hamilton by .498 seconds.

Maldonado's best lap, by comparison, was 1:27.476.

Hamilton will be driving his 100th Formula One grand prix on Sunday.

Championship leader Fernando Alonso was third in a Ferrari in the morning, ahead of Schumacher.

In the afternoon, Schumacher was next-to last in 23rd, while Alonso was 20th.

Mark Webber of Australia, second in the championship, was 20th in the morning and ninth in the afternoon in his Red Bull.

Two-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel, who has yet to win a home race, was third in the afternoon in the second Red Bull, after finishing 12th in the morning.