Power wins IndyCar race on road course at Indianapolis
Will Power spent this week seeking redemption.
He found it in a familiar spot — on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course.
Just six days after enduring one of the most frustrating races of his career, Power took an early lead, pulled away from the field and held on for his first IndyCar win of the season, beating Romain Grosjean to the yard of bricks by 1.1142 seconds.
“Big relief, big relief, especially for my guys on the team,” Power said. “I just told myself, ‘I’m getting this bloody restart, there’s no way I’m giving this race away.’ “
It was a milestone trip to victory lane, too. His 40th career win broke a tie with Al Unser for fifth on the series’ all-time list, and Power tied Kyle Busch’s speedway record with his sixth win at the Brickyard. Power has won five times on the road course and also was the 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner.
CINDRIC WINS SIXTH XFINITY RACE » Austin Cindric took the lead early in the third stage at Indianapolis and held on for his NASCAR Xfinity Series-leading sixth victory of the season.
He beat pole-winner AJ Allmendinger by 2.108 seconds. Justin Haley was third.
It’s Cindric’s first victory at the Brickyard — and the second straight in 3½ hours for Team Penske. Will Power won the IndyCar race earlier Saturday on the track’s 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course.
BRITTANY FORCE TOP QUALIFIER AT NHRA NATIONALS» Brittany Force took the No. 1 spot in Top Fuel qualifying for the fourth consecutive event and sixth time this year at the NHRA Nationals in Topeka, Kan.
Winless this season, Force had a 3.716-second run at 329.42 mph at Heartland Motorsports Park.
J.R. Todd took the top spot in Funny Car with his Friday night pass of 3.884 at 332.67 in a Toyota Camry. Troy Coughlin Jr. was fastest in Pro Stock with a 6.600 at 205.07 in a Chevrolet Camaro.
Golf
HENLEY MAINTAINS LEAD AT WYNDHAM » Russell Henley was grateful to get through the round with the lead at the Wyndham Championship. He hopes to hold on for 18 more holes for his first PGA Tour victory in four years.
Henley shot a 1-under 69 to take a three-stroke lead.
Henley, who tied the lowest 36hole score on tour this year, couldn’t
keep up that pace at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. Yet, he rolled in a 33-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 15th and went on to finish at 15-under 195 as he tries to win his fourth career title and first since the 2017 Shell Houston Open.
Tyler McCumber, the son of 10time tour winner Mark McCumber, shot a 66 and was at 12 under in second. He’s winless on the tour.
The group of six four shots behind at 11 under included three playoff outsiders in Rory Sabbatini, Scott Piercy and Roger Sloan now on track to tee it up in the 125-man field for the postseason that starts next week at The Northern Trust.
THREE TIED FOR LEAD AT WOMEN’S SCOTTISH OPEN » Ariya Jutanugarn bogeyed the final two holes for an even-par 72 at windy Dumbarnie Links, leaving her tied for the lead with Charley Hull (69) and Ryann O’Toole (68) in the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open in Fife.
BARRON TAKES OVER LEAD IN CHAMPIONS EVENT » Doug Barron eagled the par-5 18th for his second straight 6-under 64 and a one-stroke lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta.
Barron, 52, also had five birdies and a bogey at Canyon Meadows. He won the 2019 Dick’s Sporting Goods Open for his lone tour title.
Calgary resident Stephen Ames, Steve Flesch and first-round leader Billy Mayfair were a stroke back at 11 under. Ames and Flesch birdied the 18th for 65s, and Mayfair followed an opening 62 with a 67.
GREASER, PIOT REACH U.S. AMATEUR FINAL » Trailing on the back nine at Oakmont (Pa.) for the first time all week, Austin Greaser responded by winning four straight holes and closing out Travis Vick on the 17th hole in their semifinal match in the U.S. Amateur.
Greaser has yet to play the 18th hole in match play in five rounds.
Next up is the 36-hole championship match against Michigan State senior James Piot, who also made a big run around the turn in a 4-and-3 victory over Nick Gabrelcik.
The perks already began pouring in for the finalists, who earn exemptions to the Masters in April and the U.S. Open at The Country Club in June. The winner today also earns a spot in the 150th British Open at St. Andrews.
Colleges
TRANSFER TO START AT QUARTERBACK FOR NOTRE DAME » Wisconsin transfer Jack Coan is Notre Dame’s starting quarterback. Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly announced the choice in a Twitter post. Notre Dame opens Sept. 5 at Florida State.
Coan started for Wisconsin in 2019, leading the Badgers to the Big Ten title game. He completed 70% of his passes and threw for 2,727 yards and 18 touchdowns two seasons ago.
Coan broke his foot before last season’s abbreviated Big Ten schedule began in late October and did not play, losing the starting job to former blue-chip recruit Graham Mertz.
Coan transferred in the offseason to Notre Dame, where the Irish were looking to replace long-time starter Ian Book, who was drafted in the fourth round by New Orleans.
Tennis
PLISKOVA, GIORGI REACH FINAL IN MONTREAL » Karolina Pliskova defeated top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final of the National Bank Open in Montreal.
Pliskova will face Camilia Giorgi of Italy, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 winner over U.S. qualifier Jessica Pegula in the night match.
AMERICAN OPELKA, MEDVEDEV REACH FINAL IN TORONTO » Top-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia beat John Isner of the United States 6-2, 6-2 in the National Bank Open semifinals.
Medvedev knocked off the 6-foot10 Isner to set up a final against 6-11 American Reilly Opelka, a 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-4 winner over third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece.
Cycling
ROGLIC STARTS FAST IN SPANISH VUELTA » Two-time defending champion Primoz Roglic won the opening stage of the Spanish Vuelta.
Roglic was fastest in the short first stage in the city of Burgos, finishing the 7.1-kilometer (4.4-mile) time trial in 8 minutes, 32 seconds.
Alex Aranburu finished second, 6 seconds behind, and Jan Tratnik was another 2 seconds back in third.
Roglic had also opened with a win in 2020 en route to his second consecutive Vuelta title.