Indy 500 closed to fans
Roger Penske has reversed course and decided not to allow fans at the Indianapolis 500 later this month. The 104th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will be the first without spectators, who showed up at Indianapolis Motor Speedway every year, even during the Great Depression.
It was a flip for Penske, who purchased the iconic speedway in January and has spent every day since upgrading his new showplace to prepare for his favorite race. The pandemic forced the race to change dates for the first time, from Memorial Day weekend to Aug. 23.
Penske had initially said he wouldn’t run the 500 without fans. But cases have continued to rise – steadily in Indiana and specifically in Marion County, where the speedway is located – and Penske said the reversal on the spectator policy was “the toughest business decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
BASEBALL
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina said he’s one of the players on the team who tested positive for COVID-19.
The nine-time all-star revealed his results Tuesday in a Spanish-language Instagram post. Soon afterward, the Cardinals issued a release naming six of the players who have tested positive.
The others are infielders Paul DeJong, Edmundo Sosa and Rangel Ravelo along with pitchers Junior Fernandez and Kodi Whitley.
AUTO RACING
Chip Ganassi Racing has made a crew chief change for the No. 42 driven by Matt Kenseth, with engineer Phil Surgen taking over for the remainder of the season.
Surgen has been with the Ganassi organization since 2016. He replaces Chad Johnston, who had been the crew chief for the No. 42 team since 2016.
Kenseth was hired in late April after Kyle Larson was fired for using a racial slur while participating in an iRacing event.
Kenseth finished 10th in his debut with the team in May at Darlington but has had one top-10 finish since, a runner-up showing at Indianapolis last month.
TENNIS
Defending champion Rafael Nadal will skip the U.S. Open because of the coronavirus pandemic, putting on hold his bid to equal Roger Federer’s men’s record for Grand Slam titles.
The 34-year-old from Spain called sitting out the tournament scheduled to begin Aug. 31 in New York “a decision I never wanted to take,” but added that he would “rather not travel.”
PREP BASKETBALL
Racine St. Catherine’s guard Tyrese Hunter became the latest boys basketball player from the join the ranks to Iowa State when he announced he has verbally committed to the program.
Hunter, a 6-1 point guard, helped lead the Angels to an undefeated record and top ranking in the state when the 2020 season was canceled in March. Hunter averaged 21.3 in his junior season.