IndyCar: Newgarden wins pole
TORONTO — Josef Newgarden took advantage of a rapidly drying track Saturday afternoon to earn the pole position for today’s IndyCar race on the street circuit at Exhibition Place. The Tennessee driver passed Scott Dixon by just 0.1964 seconds after gambling on a slow start in the final qualifying run. A light drizzle made it seem like he had miscalculated with Dixon getting a sizable lead, but the rain let up and the 27-year-old Newgarden found his tires gripping better. As the last car left on the course, Newgarden pushed his car to the limit to knock Dixon off on his final lap. “It was very thrilling from my side; it was a fun session to try and do something like that,” said Newgarden, who won here in 2015 and 2017. “I was sweating in the car, like, ‘This is amazing! I don’t know how this is going to turn out.’” Newgarden finished the final qualifying segment in 59.4956 seconds, followed by Dixon (59.6920) and Simon Pagenaud (59.7630) to take the first three spots on the starting grid. Rain between practice and qualifying left the track in downtown Toronto slick, forcing many drivers to switch to softer red tires during the qualifying laps. As a street course, drivers have to adjust quickly to different textures on the road.
BASEBALL
› HOUSTON — Supermodel Kate Upton and Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander are expecting their first child. Upton announced the pregnancy Saturday on Instagram in a post with the hashtag “pregnant in Miami.” The picture of her in a red, high-waisted suit and white top revealed a slight baby bump. Verlander, who was selected to his seventh All-Star game last Sunday, reposted her post later Saturday with the caption: “You’re going to be the most amazing Mom!! I can’t wait to start this new journey with you! You’re the most thoughtful, loving, caring, and strong woman I’ve ever met! I’m so proud that our little one is going to be raised in this world by a woman like you! I love you so much.” Upton is 26 and Verlander 35. They married last November in Italy, just after Verlander helped the Astros win their first World Series title.
FOOTBALL
› FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — University of Arkansas freshman receiver Michael Woods was arrested late Friday night and charged with driving under the influence and being a minor in possession of alcohol. According to a preliminary arrest report by Fayetteville police, the 18-yearold Woods was pulled over after nearly hitting a police car driving in the opposite direction. The report said Woods smelled of alcohol and was given a field sobriety test, then was arrested. The report said Woods had a blood-alcohol content of .071 and is scheduled to appear in Fayetteville District Court on Aug. 27. The 6-foot-3 receiver signed with the Razorbacks in December. Arkansas coach Chad Morris said in a released statement that he would make a determination about Woods’ status after reviewing all the information about the arrest.
BASKETBALL
› CHICAGO — Jabari Parker and the Chicago Bulls agreed Saturday to a $40 million, two-year contract, bringing the talented and oft-injured forward to his hometown team. Mark Bartelstein, Jabari’s agent, confirmed the deal shortly after the Milwaukee Bucks rescinded their qualifying offer. That made Parker an unrestricted free agent, clearing the way for him to join the rebuilding Bulls. Parker, 23, led Chicago’s Simeon Career Academy to four state championships and starred for one season at Duke University before the Bucks drafted him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2014. The Bulls are banking on him to stay healthy after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee twice in four seasons with Milwaukee. Parker has averaged 15.3 points and 5.5 rebounds for his NBA career. His best season was 2016-17, when he averaged 20.1 points in 51 games before tearing his ACL a second time. He played 31 games last year, averaging 12.6 points and 4.9 rebounds.