IndyCar to start on June 6
IndyCar has gotten the green flag to finally start its season in Texas next month with a night race without spectators.
The June 6 race at Texas Motor Speedway was the next on the series schedule that hadn’t been postponed or canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. IndyCar and track officials announced the race Thursday.
The June season opener will run a condensed schedule with practice, qualifying and the race taking place on the same day. There will be strict access guidelines limiting the number of personnel on site, with health screening system administered to all participants and personal protection equipment provided to everyone entering the facility. Social distancing protocols will be in place.
The REV Group Grand Prix at Road America on June 21 is the second race on the schedule.
AUTO RACING
Kyle Larson plans to race again Friday night in a World of Outlaws event at Knoxville Raceway.
The dirt track in Iowa will not have spectators at the event because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Larson was fired three weeks ago by Chip Ganassi Racing for using s racial slur while competing in an iRacing event. The slur went viral. Most of Larson’s sponsors bailed on him and Ganassi had to fire his star NASCAR driver.
The 27-year-old Larson is half-Japanese and rose through NASCAR’s ranks in its diversity program. He was suspended by NASCAR and ordered to complete a sensitivity training course.
TRACK AND FIELD
Distance runner Dathan Ritzenhein announced his retirement, closing a career during which he made three Olympic appearances.
Ritzenhein, 37, leaves the sport as the fourthfastest American marathoner in history; he clocked a time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, 47 seconds in Chicago in 2012. He qualified for the 2004 and ’12 Olympics in the 10,000 meters, and also earned a spot in the 2008 Olympics marathon.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Former Wake Forest center Olivier Sarr said he is transferring to Kentucky, giving the Wildcats an experienced 7-footer after the team’s entire starting lineup declared for the NBA draft.
Sarr, a 255-pound junior from France, will have one season of eligibility remaining.
Sarr was the Demon Deacons’ second-leading scorer (13.7 points per game) and top rebounder (9.0) last season.