Auto Racing
Rahal narrows IndyCar gap to 9 points with Ohio win
LEXINGTON, Ohio – Graham Rahal won the IndyCar race Sunday in his home state of Ohio and in the process made up considerable ground on series leader Juan Pablo Montoya with two events remaining in the season.
Rahal held off Justin Wilson on the final restart on the 84th of 90 laps in the 203-mile race at Mid-Ohio. Wilson ended up finishing second, 3.4 seconds behind. Simon Pagenaud was third, followed by pole winner Scott Dixon. Montoya, who came into the race with a 42-point lead over Rahal, finished 11th.
Rahal now trails by only nine points.
Rahal is a native of New Albany, which is about 45 miles south of the Mid-Ohio course. This was the third IndyCar win of his career and second of the season.
Cycling
BMC slams Spanish race and UCI after incident
SANTA ROSA, Calif. – BMC Racing Team is blamed organizers and the sport’s governing body after cyclist Greg Van Avermaet was taken out by a race motorbike while leading the Clasica San Sebastian.
The Belgian rider had attacked on the final climb of the Spanish one-day race when a motorbike plowed into him from behind. Van Avermaet had opened a sizeable gap on the field, but the accident spoiled his chances of holding on for the victory.
Adam Yates attacked moments later and went on to win.
Horse Racing
American Pharoah wins his eighth race in a row
OCEANPORT, N.J. – American Pharoah turned on the speed in the stretch and easily won the $1.75 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday in his first race since sweeping the Triple Crown.
With a large crowd cheering him on at Monmouth Park, American Pharoah came around the final turn and then took off from the field and cruised to a 2 1/4-length victory under jockey Victor Espinoza without any urging.
American Pharoah swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. After a 57-day break, the 3-year-old colt looked better than ever in winning his eighth consecutive race.
Golf
Merritt closes out Fowler with 4-under final round
GAINESVILLE, Va. – Troy Merritt won the Quicken Loans National on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title, closing with a 4-under 67 for a three-stroke victory over Rickie Fowler.
The victory came a day after Merritt soared to the lead with a tournament-record 61 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. He won in his 96th career start on the tour, finishing at 18-under 266.
SANTO DA SERRA, Madeira Islands – Roope Kakko earned his first European Tour victory Sunday after shooting a flawless 9-under 63 to win the Madeira Islands Open by three strokes.
The 33-year-old Kakko had eagled the par-4 10th and had seven birdies to finish at a tournament-record 24-under 264. Scotland’s Scott Henry was second after a 66.
TURNBERRY, Scotland – Top-ranked Inbee Park shot a 7-under 65 in the final round to win the Women’s British Open by three shots Sunday, becoming the seventh female player to capture four different majors.
Park has won six of the last 14 majors.
BLAINE, Minn. – Kenny Perry breezed to his second consecutive victory in the Champions Tour’s 3M Championship, shooting a 4-under 68 on Sunday for a four-stroke victory over Bernhard Langer, Scott Dunlap and Kevin Sutherland.
Associated Press
