NASCAR-BRICKYARD
It’s ‘Jeff Gordon Day’ at IMS for record 5th time
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β With a fifth Brickyard 400 victory on the line, Jeff Gordon looked like the driver he was 20 years ago.
Gordon nailed the final restart of the race to pass Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne with 17 laps remaining in Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was no given because restarts have been Gordon’s Achilles heel for several years.
But he slid past Kahne and easily pulled away for a NASCAR-record five wins at historic Indy. This victory comes on the 20th anniversary of Gordon’s win in the inaugural Brickyard 400, and on “Jeff Gordon Day” as declared by the Mayor of Indianapolis.
The win moves Gordon into a tie with Michael Schumacher, whose five Formula One victories at Indy had been the gold standard.
NASCAR-BRICKYARD 400-PENSKE
Penske’s Indy struggles continue in Cup series
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β Juan Pablo Montoya and Brad Keselowski came to the Brickyard 400 to finally put Roger Penske in Victory Lane.
Instead, Team Penske left Indianapolis frustrated and empty-handed. Again.
The tag-team tandem of 2000 Indy 500 winner Montoya and 2012 Cup champ Keselowski never made a serious run at the leaders. Keselowski overcame a frustrating day to finish 12th.
Montoya, making his second NASCAR start of the year after returning to IndyCar, started eighth, lost nine spots in the first 10 laps and never seriously challenged again. He ended up 23rd.
And now the 2.5-mile oval that once seemed to be Penske’s personal proving ground has turned into a place of pure agony.
PANTHERS-MOVES
Panthers sign Nelson to add depth at safety
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) β The Panthers announced they have signed free agent Tom Nelson, giving them added depth at safety.
Nelson, 27, has played in 24 regular season games during his career and has 36 tackles and one interception. He has not played in an NFL game since 2011.
Nelson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and played two years with the Bengals. He has also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears. He attended training camp with the Bears last summer but did not make the 53-man roster.
The Panthers needed some help at safety with rookie Tre Boston on the active-PUP list with a sports hernia.
The move leaves the Panthers roster at 90 players.
PANTHERS-WHARTON
Former Panthers lineman Travelle Wharton to retire
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) β Former Carolina Panthers and Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Travelle Wharton is retiring after 10 NFL seasons.
There will be a retirement news conference Tuesday at Wofford College, where the Panthers are training. He is the fourth Panthers offensive lineman to retire this offseason, joining Jordan Gross, Geoff Hangartner and Jeff Byers.
The 33-year-old Wharton played in 115 games and started 111.
A third-round pick out of South Carolina in 2004, Wharton played with the Panthers until 2011 before signing as a free agent with the Bengals. He returned to Carolina last season following a slew of injuries.
Wharton tells The Associated Press that “it’s time. He adds: “I thought it might have been time last year. It’s just hard to just say it.”
CANADIAN OPEN
Tim Clark rallies to win Canadian Open
MONTREAL (AP) β Tim Clark rallied to win the Canadian Open on Sunday, birdieing five of the last eight holes for a one-stroke victory over Jim Furyk.
Clark closed with a 5-under 65 at rainy Royal Montreal for his second PGA Tour victory. The 38-year-old South African player also won the 2010 Players Championship.
Furyk, the two-time Canadian Open champion who took a three-stroke lead into the final round, finished with a 69. The 44-year-old American matched Clark with a birdie on the par-3 17th and a par on the par-4 18th.
Clark had a 17-under 263 total.
Justin Hicks shot a 64 to finish third at 13 under.
