Auto Racing
Paging Pagenaud to the front of the field
FONTANA, Calif. – Simon Pagenaud will start on the pole Saturday night in IndyCar’s 500-mile race at Auto Club Speedway.
Pagenaud had a two-lap average of 218.952 mph on the 2-mile oval Friday to earn his second career pole. He also topped qualifying in Houston in 2014.
Helio Castroneves was right behind him, giving Team Penske both spots on the front row.
Cycling
Women’s racers to the start line, in Breckenridge
LOVELAND – Organizers announced the inaugural women’s division of the USA Pro Challenge will begin in Breckenridge.
The Loveland Reporter-Herald reported organizers announced Thursday there will be an individual time trial at Breckenridge Aug. 21. Stage 2 will go from Loveland to Fort Collins on Aug. 22. The female cyclists will test their technical circuit racing in Golden the following day on Aug. 23.
About 10 professional teams will participate, including Kristin Armstrong of Boise, Idaho, a two-time individual time trial Olympic gold medalist.
The men’s USA Pro Challenge will run Aug. 17-23 starting in Steamboat Springs.
Golf
Watsons the men to beat heading into the weekend
CROMWELL, Conn. – Bubba Watson shot a 3-under 67 on Friday to maintain a two-stroke lead at the Travelers Championship.
After opening with a 62 on Thursday, Watson had three birdies in a bogey-free morning round to enter weekend play at 11-under par. The two-time Masters champion is trying to become the first wire-to-wire winner at TPC River Highland since Peter Jacobsen in 2003.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Tom Watson withstood the scorching heat to shoot a 1-under 69 on Friday, finishing in a three-way tie atop the bunched leaderboard after the second round of the U.S. Senior Open.
Watson was joined at 5 under for the championship by Jeff Maggert and Peter Fowler.
Watson made four birdies and three bogeys to provide the drama at sun-drenched Del Paso Country Club, where the temperature soared above 100 degrees again. Watson is trying to become the oldest winner of the event, the oldest to win a senior major and the oldest to win on the Champions Tour.
MLB
Sandberg leaves a no-win situation with Phillies
PHILADELPHIA – Ryne Sandberg resigned as Phillies manager in his third season as Philadelphia struggles with the worst record in the major leagues.
Sandberg quit Friday with a 119-159 career record over parts of three seasons leading Philadelphia. His only full season was in 2014, when the Phillies finished with a 73-89 record.
The 55-year-old is a Hall of Fame second baseman, having played 15 seasons with the Cubs and one with the Phillies. Philadelphia was his first management job.
Soccer
Blatter defiant, but FIFA says he will step down
ZURICH – FIFA said President Sepp Blatter has not made a U-turn on his plans to leave office.
FIFA responded to The Associated Press after a Swiss newspaper reported comments made by Blatter late Thursday to construction workers at FIFA’s new museum in Zurich.
Blatter told the workers that he technically had not resigned June 2 but had pledged to lay down his mandate when an election congress could be called.
In his speech June 2, Blatter also pledged he would not be a candidate at the next election.
Associated Press
