Palou retakes top spot in Indycar standings

Alex Palou recovered from first-lap trouble at Portland International Raceway to win for the third time this season and reclaim the Indycar points lead.

The victory put the Spaniard back on top of the standings for the ninth time in 14 races this season. The second-year Indycar driver had lost a 42-point lead in back-to-back races and came to Portland down 10 points to Pato O’ward.

The 24-year-old Palou moved back atop the standings and takes a 25-point lead over O’ward into next week’s road course race at Laguna Seca in California. The season then concludes Sept. 26 on the streets of Long Beach, marking three tracks where Palou has never raced to close the season and his first championship.

College football: Oregon and Iowa were the big movers in The AP college football poll after road wins over top-10 opponents. The Ducks’ victory over Ohio State earned them

a promotion from No. 12 to No. 4. Another impressive defensive performance by Iowa against Iowa State in the Cy-hawk Trophy game pushed the Hawkeyes from No. 10 to No. 5. Arkansas, coming off a home win over old Southwest Conference rival Texas, was rewarded with its first appearance in the AP Top 25 in five years, coming in at No. 20. Alabama remained No. 1 in the AP Top 25, which is presented by Regions Bank. The Crimson Tide received 60 of the 63 first-place votes. Georgia, which picked up the other three first-place votes, stayed at No. 2. Oklahoma was No. 3 and followed by Oregon, Iowa, Clemson, Texas A&M.

Golf: Billy Horschel became the second American, after Arnold Palmer, to win the BMW PGA Championship following a dramatic 7-under 65 final round at Wentworth in Virginia Water, England. Horschel finished at 19-under 269, one ahead of Laurie Canter (67), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (64) and Jamie Donaldson (66).