Auto Racing
From last place to the pole, Franchitti rallies in Calif.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Dario Franchitti won the pole for Sunday’s IndyCar Series race at Long Beach.
Franchitti came into the weekend ranked last in the IndyCar standings and off to the worst start of his career. But he insisted he’s not concerned about the start, then proved it with a big last lap in Saturday’s qualifying.
Franchitti’s last lap was 1:07.2379 and bounced Ryan Hunter-Reay off the pole at the last second.
Rosberg’s 2nd pole position is Mercedes’ 2nd in a row
SAKHIR, Bahrain – Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg took pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, finishing ahead of Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull and Fernando Alonso of Ferrari.
It is only the second pole of Rosberg’s career but the second in a row for Mercedes. He timed 1:32.330 to finish 0.254 in front of Vettel – the three-time defending Formula One champion – and 0.337 ahead of Alonso, who won last week’s Chinese Grand Prix.
College Football
Buffs: First Wood to injury; now Hirschman to transfer
BOULDER – Colorado junior quarterback Nick Hirschman said he plans to transfer.
Hirschman, who was competing with Connor Wood for the starting spot, said Friday it’s a personal choice to give up his final two years of eligibility.
Hirschman said he is looking to continue his football career where he can earn his graduate degree.
Colorado previously lost quarterback Jordan Webb to a season-ending ACL tear.
Soccer
Secretary general leaves the sport in a Blaze(r) of Infamy
PANAMA CITY, Panama – A report by the ethics and integrity committee of soccer’s regional governing body claims former secretary general Chuck Blazer enjoyed luxury apartments, a military-style Hummer vehicle and car insurance for a girlfriend as part of a lifestyle financed by the organization’s money.
Blazer also is accused of violating U.S. and perhaps state and local tax by not submitting tax returns for the Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean Football from 2004 to 2010, according to the report released Friday that accuses him and former CONCACAF president Jack Warner of enriching themselves through fraud.
CONCACAF and FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, have not decided what steps to take. The leader of Trinidad’s main opposition party said he’ll seek Warner’s resignation as the island’s national security minister.
FIFA elects Gulati to replace Blazer on CONCACAF council
PANAMA CITY, Panama – U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati was elected Friday to FIFA’s executive committee, edging Mexican Football President Justino Compean by one vote.
Gulati won 18-17 in a balloting at the congress of North and Central American and Caribbean Football in Panama City.
Gulati was elected to a four-year term and will join soccer’s 25-member ruling body at the FIFA Congress on May 30-31 in Mauritius. He takes the seat of fellow American Chuck Blazer, who had held it since 1997 but did not seek re-election.
Tennis
Arvidsson defeats Stephens; Williams ties Fed Cup tie
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Sofia Arvidsson gave Sweden a 1-0 lead over the U.S. when she beat Sloane Stephens 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 in the Fed Cup World Group Playoff tie at the Delray Beach Tennis Center on Saturday.
The 16th-ranked Stephens was playing her first Fed Cup singles match and clearly was nervous against the more experienced Arvidsson, playing in her 48th Fed Cup tie.
Top-ranked Serena Williams evened the score with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over 66th-ranked Johanna Larsson of Sweden in the second match Saturday.
Associated Press
