Auto Racing
Hamilton powers to a big win at Japanese GP
SUZUKA, Japan – Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday to widen his lead in the Formula One title race.
Hamilton capitalized on a strong start and surged ahead of teammate Nico Rosberg at the first corner. He led the rest of the way, crossing the finish line a comfortable 18.9 seconds ahead of Rosberg. Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel was third, 1.8 seconds behind Rosberg, who started from pole.
With five races left, Hamilton has a 48-point lead over Rosberg.
Rain hit Friday’s practice session at the Suzuka circuit but conditions were ideal for Sunday’s race.
Gordon officially the Iron Man of NASCAR racing
LOUDON, N.H. – Jeff Gordon kissed his wife and high-fived his two young children on pit road, a part of his life missing when he made his Cup debut in 1992.
What has been familiar for all 23 years of Gordon’s career was starting a NASCAR race in the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
He’s never missed one – and now he’s NASCAR’s Iron Man.
Gordon’s latest milestone in a surefire Hall of Fame career came Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway when he set the NASCAR record with his 789th consecutive start. The 44-year-old Gordon passed Ricky Rudd for the record. Rudd set the mark in 2002 when he broke Terry Labonte’s streak of 655 consecutive races.
Rudd, who once taped his swollen eyes open so he could drive, said he never thought any driver from his era would last long enough to break his record.
Cycling
After long wait, Armstrong settles lengthy dispute
AUSTIN, Texas – Lance Armstrong has settled a decade-long dispute with a promotions company that sought repayment of more than $10 million in bonuses it paid the former cyclist during a career that was later exposed to be fueled by performance-enhancing drugs.
SCA Promotions first pursued evidence of doping against Armstrong in 2005. Although the company paid Armstrong, the testimony in its lawsuit and arbitration case helped lay the foundation for later doping charges that ultimately got him banned from the sport and stripped of his record seven Tour de France victories.
The company demanded repayment in 2013 after Armstrong publicly admitted using steroids and other doping methods.
In a statement Sunday to The Associated Press, Armstrong said settlement terms were private but apologized to SCA and its chief executive Bob Hamman for “any past misconduct on my part” in the dispute.
Golf
Jaidee proved the man to beat in European Open
BAD GRIESBACH, Germany – Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee won the European Open for his seventh European Tour title, closing with a 4-under 67 for a one-stroke victory.
The 45-year-old Jaidee finished at 17-under 267 on Bad Griesbach’s Franz Beckenbauer Course.
Esteban Toledo holds off Watson at Pebble Beach
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Esteban Toledo held off 66-year-old Tom Watson by a stroke Sunday at Pebble Beach in the Champions Tour’s First Tee Open.
The 52-year-old Mexican player shot a 3-under 69, rebounding from a bogey on the par-3 17th with a par on the par-5 18th for a 9-under 206 total. He also won twice on the 50-and-over tour in 2013.
Watson was trying to break Mike Fetchick’s record as the oldest winner in tour history. Fetchick won the 1985 Hilton Head Seniors Invitational on his 63rd birthday.
Associated Press
