World champion Fernando Alonso won the season-ending Chinese Grand Prix yesterday to clinch his Renault team's first-ever Formula One constructors' title.
Starting from pole position, Alonso held off McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen to take his seventh title this season and eighth overall.
Raikkonen began closing in the final laps but could only settle for second place, four seconds behind the Spaniard. Toyota's Ralf Schumacher came third.
Alonso slowed on the final lap to allow Raikkonen to get within four seconds but it was not that close.
The drivers championship ended with Alonso amassing 133 points for the season and Raikkonen with 112.
A reground surface plus inadequate tires plus the decision to let race car drivers compete with both equaled one of NASCAR's least proud moments on Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Just ask Tony Stewart. Running off with the points lead and the UAW-Ford Quality 500 on Lap 216 of 334, he became the biggest name in a who's-blew list as a reworked racing surface and tires unable to handle its speed made a mockery of the fifth of 10 Chase for the Championship races.
But Jimmie Johnson did his best to return order, taking the lead from Ricky Rudd with 15 laps left, then holding off Kurt Busch by .309 seconds in a green-white-checker finish to win for the fourth straight time and fifth in six at Charlotte.
Amazed, Johnson chuckled over his radio to his crew, "Unbelievable man. Never quit."
World MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi won his fifth consecutive Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, easing ahead of pole winner Nicky Hayden of the US with nine laps to go to claim his 11th victory of the season.
It was Rossi's seventh win in eight years on the 4.448km Phillip Island circuit, having won two 250cc class races ahead of his move into 500cc and MotoGP.
Rossi needs just one more victory in the season's last two races to equal Australian Mick Doohan's record of 12 wins in one season, set in 1997.
Hayden stayed right on Rossi's tail for most of the 27-lap race to earn second, a second behind, with Carlos Checa of Spain in third.
Hayden moved into second place in the championship standings, level with Italy's Marco Melandri on 150 points each. American Colin Edwards is in fourth place overall with 162 points, followed by Italy's Max Biaggi with 159.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely