Dixon breaks Indy record
Six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon knocked teammate Alex Palou out of the top spot in the lineup for the 106th Indianapolis 500 with a record run in qualifying run Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Dixon's run averaging 234.046 eclipsed the pole record speed of 233.718 set by the late Scott Brayton in 1996 and is second-fastest behind Arie Luyendyk's four-lap run of 236.986 set a day after Brayton's. Under the format in place then, the pole was determined the first day of time trials.
Dixon, a 41-year-old New Zealander, moved to second on the all-time Indy pole-winners list, one behind Rick Mears, with his fifth. The winner of the 2008 Indy 500, Dixon became the first repeat pole winner since Ed Carpenter in 2013-14.
Sharing the front row with Dixon next Sunday will be Palou, one of his four Chip Ganassi Racing Honda teammates, and Rinus VeeKay in the No. 21 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing.
Ganassi put all five of its drivers in Sunday's top-12 shootout during first-day trials Saturday, and four advanced to a second competition for the fastest six under a new format launched this year. Marcus Ericsson will start fourth, Tony Kanaan sixth and Jimmie Johnson 12th.
“Hard work and people,” Dixon said in his television interview, “that's what it takes.”
Johnson, the seven-time NASCAR champion and Indy rookie, made a spectacular save in the round of 12 to avoid a crash at over 230 mph.
AUTO RACING
Max Verstappen reclaimed the Formula One points lead as the reigning world champion won the Spanish Grand Prix in Montmeló for his third consecutive victory after Charles Leclerc's Ferrari broke down while he was comfortably in front.
Verstappen needed an assist from Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez to get his fourth victory of the season, however. Pérez was leading the race after Leclerc dropped out when his team told him to let Verstappen pass on Lap 49 of 66.
NBA
The NBA fined the Dallas Mavericks for a third time in the playoffs because of violations of rules regarding their bench. The fine has doubled each time, with the latest at $100,000 after Game 2 of the Western Conference finals at Golden State on Friday. Game 3 in Dallas was set for Sunday night.
The fines have been for players and coaches standing for extended periods, straying too far from the bench and encroaching on the court during game action.
During the Warriors' 126-117 victory in Game 2, Stephen Curry threw a pass out of bounds with no teammate in the area. The pass was in the vicinity of Dallas' Theo Pinson, who was wearing a white shirt while standing and waving. Golden State was wearing its home white uniforms.
SOCCER
Manchester City clinched a sixth Premier League title in 11 seasons on Sunday by scoring three times in five minutes to come from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-2 in the finale in Manchester, England, to avoid being toppled by challenger Liverpool.
At one point even when City was losing, it was still set to defend the title as Liverpool was only drawing 1-1 to Wolverhampton in Liverpool, but Mohamed Salah then put the second-place side in front in the 84th minute, which would have taken Liverpool into first place had City not mounted its comeback. Andy Robertson then sealed Liverpool's 3-1 win.
Manchester City issued an apology for what the club described as an assault on Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen during a field invasion by celebrating City fans.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Wisconsin's 2023 football class grew with the addition of Nate White, a 6-foot, 175-pound running back from Milwaukee King, who announced Saturday he had given UW an oral commitment.
White, who rushed for more than 1,100 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, is the first in-state player and sixth overall to pledge to join UW's 2023 class. He had scholarship offers from Iowa State, Minnesota, Kansas, Purdue, Vanderbilt and Northern Illinois.
NFL
Free-agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney , who revived his career last season with Cleveland, has agreed to re-sign with the Browns, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press.
Clowney, 29, will sign a one-year contract worth up to $11 million, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the agreement.
NHL
Veteran forward Bryan Rust, who was scheduled to become a free agent this summer, agreed to a sixyear contract with the Penguins that will keep him with the club through 2028 at an average annual value of $5.125 million.