Sweeping to three wins in a row at Homestead-Miami Speedway is fine, but Dan Wheldon had barely climbed out of the cockpit after his season-opening victory on Saturday night before he started thinking about another race he wants to win.
"This is step one toward the Indianapolis 500," said Wheldon, who won both the 500 and the IndyCar Series championship in 2005. "I'm all about the Indianapolis 500; nothing else matters to me. But to get three consecutive wins on the same speedway is a big deal, too."
The Englishman, who started from the pole, fought off an early challenge from Sam Hornish Jr., another three-time Homestead winner, and easily overcame a bad pit stop to drive away with the 12th victory of his career.
PHOTO: AFP
"It's a great way to open up the season," said Wheldon, who won here in 2005 with Andretti Green Racing and then again last year in his first race with current team Target Chip Ganassi Racing.
"We worked very hard over the winter to improve on what we started last year. I think I underestimated how difficult the transition would be," he said.
Wheldon has led 345 of the last 600 laps on the 12.4km Homestead oval. It's the first time in the 12-year history of the IndyCar Series that a driver has won three straight races at the same track.
A crash involving Jeff Simmons, Kosuke Matsuura and A.J. Foyt IV brought out the last of three caution flags of the night on lap 92 of the 200-lap race. On the ensuing pit stops by the leaders, a crewman on Wheldon's No. 10 Ganassi team dropped a lugnut and the car came down on the speed gun.
By the time Wheldon got back on track, he had fallen from the lead to ninth, but he knifed through traffic after the green flag waved again on lap 109.
He picked his way past the cars in front of him and regained the lead for good on lap 120.
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