Patrick sets pace at Daytona
Danica Patrick turned the fastest lap in a pair of practice sessions focused solely on qualifying for the Daytona 500. She went 196.220 mph around Daytona International Speedway in the second practice session and said she’s eyeing the top starting spot in “The Great American Race.”
Kevin Harvick won the exhibition Sprint Unlimited race by dominating the final two segments of Saturday night’s Speedweeks opener.
It was Harvick’s third win in the last five years in the non-points race at Daytona International Speedway. He held off challenges from Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle on the final lap to win in his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. It’s a strong opener for what’s going to be Harvick’s final year with RCR. Biffle finished second and Joey Logano was third in his Penske Racing debut.
A day after securing the No. 1 ranking, Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the Qatar Open final at Doha. Williams has beaten Sharapova 10 straight times. Williams will play for the title against Victoria Azarenka, whom she will replace at the top of the new rankings Monday. Azarenka beat Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-3, 6-3.
Tommy Haas reached his first final in six months, beating John Isner, 6-3, 6-4, in the SAP Open semifinals at San Jose.
He will face top-seeded Milos Raonic, who downed third-seeded Sam Querrey, 6-4, 6-2.
Bernhard Langer shot a two-under 70 to take a three-shot lead after the second round of the Champions Tour’s ACE Group Classic at Naples, Fla. Taiwan’s Chien Soon Lu and Tom Pernice Jr. are tied for second at nine-under 135.
Jiyai Shin of South Korea and 15-year-old amateur Lydia Ko each shot rounds of three-under 70 Saturday to surge six shots clear of the field heading into the final day of the Women’s Australian Open at Canberra.
Beatriz Recari of Spain had a 71 and is third. Yani Tseng also shot a 71 to finish a stroke back with a group of five players at nine under.
Bernard Lagat regained the American record in the indoor 2 miles with yet another victory at the Millrose Games in New York.
The 38-year-old Lagat finished in 8 minutes 9.49 seconds at the Armory to just barely accomplish his goal, lowering Galen Rupp’s mark by 0.23 of a second. Lagat now owns the U.S. indoor records at 1,500 meters, 1 mile, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters and 2 miles.