Auto Racing
IndyCar adds extra power for road courses in ’16
INDIANAPOLIS – IndyCar Series drivers will have more horsepower on road courses next season.
The series announced Tuesday that a total of approximately 60 additional horsepower will be available for push-to-pass activations during the 11 road- and street-course races in 2016, nearly doubling that in 2015.
The move was the first on-track change by Jay Frye, IndyCar’s new president of competition and operations. Frye succeeded Derrick Walker, who stepped down at the end of the season.
Cycling
Olympic cyclist Bobby Lea acknowledges doping test
COLORADO SPRINGS – Two-time Olympian Bobby Lea of the United States was suspended 16 months for doping Thursday after returning a positive test during the track cycling national championships earlier this year.
Shortly after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency revealed the suspension, Lea said in a letter posted on his website that had taken the prescription painkiller Percocet to help him sleep. He did not realize it contains the substance oxycodone, which is banned during competition.
Lea competed in the points race and Madison at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the omnium at the 2012 London Games. He had hoped to compete in the omnium again at next year’s Rio Olympics.
Lea is planning to appeal the suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
MLB
Ryan sent to Cubs by the Yankees to complete trade
CHICAGO – The Yankees sent infielder Brendan Ryan to the Chicago Cubs as the player to be named in last week’s trade that brought second baseman Starlin Castro to New York for right-hander Adam Warren.
The 33-year-old Ryan hit .229 this year, when he was limited to 47 games due to strains of a calf and his back. Ryan, who has a $1 million salary next year, has a .234 average in nine big league seasons.
To clear a roster spot, Chicago designated right-hander Yoervis Medina for assignment on Thursday.
NFL
Austin, Gurley lead Rams past Buccaneers, 31-23
ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Rams saved some of their best for last.
Tavon Austin scored twice, Todd Gurley topped 1,000 yards rushing and the Rams beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 on Thursday night in what could be the franchise’s final game in St. Louis.
The 31st-ranked offense had an inspired effort in front of another half-filled but spirited Edward Jones Dome crowd, rolling to a 21-3 halftime lead behind Case Keenum’s two touchdown passes.
Fans chanted “Keep Our Rams! Keep Our Rams!” and carried signs, one of them reading “We Don’t Need Kroenke, We Just Want our Rams.”
Owner Stan Kroenke, who wants to move the Rams (6-8) to Los Angeles, attended the finale but kept a low profile.
The team announced 51,295 tickets had been distributed for the 66,000-capacity dome.
Up 31-13, the Rams became conservative and Jameis Winston took advantage with two touchdown passes in a big fourth quarter. He had just 125 yards passing the first three quarters, but finished with a career-best 363, his first 300-yard effort, for Tampa Bay (6-8).
Gurley needed 25 yards to become the first Rams rookie to rush for 1,000 yards since Jerome Bettis and didn’t get it by much, gaining 48 yards on 21 carries.
Austin is the first player since Gale Sayers in 1965 to score at least four rushing touchdowns, five receiving touchdowns and one touchdown on a punt return in a season. He leads the Rams with 10 total TDs.
Associated Press
