Dixon wins IndyCar title

Scott Dixon captured a fourth IndyCar championship by winning the season finale Sunday in Sonoma, Calif., to snatch away the title from Juan Pablo Montoya.

Montoya led the points from the season-opening race right until the final lap Sunday. But he finished the race in sixth, which allowed Dixon to tie him in the standings.

Dixon was awarded the title based on wins; Sonoma Raceway was his third victory; Montoya had only two.

Montoya’s day was made difficult on lap 39 when he hit Team Penske teammate Will Power. It sent him to pit lane for repairs and he was mired in the middle of the pack for the bulk of the race.

Although he picked off a few positions, his hard charge to move up to fifth fell one position short.

More auto racing

Scott Bloomquist became the first five-time winner of the Pittsburgher 100 late Saturday night at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Bloomquist held off Jonathan Davenport for the $20,000 win in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Seriessanctioned event.

Wrestling

Belle Vernon wrestler Jarod Verkleeren won a United World Wrestling Cadet championship in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzogovina. Verkleeren won the title 138.75 pound title with an 11-0 technical fall over Khayrula Nuradinov of Russia.

Soccer

Obafemi Martins scored his 10th goal of the season and Brad Evans converted a disputed penalty kick just before halftime as the host Seattle Sounders (12-13-2) beat the Portland Timbers (11-9-7), 2-1, in MLS play. … Bradley Wright-Phillips had two goals and an assist to lead the New York Red Bulls (12-7-6) past visiting D.C. United (13-10-5), 3-0.

Pro basketball

Odyssey Sims scored 30 points, converting six free throws in the final 19 seconds, and the host Tulsa Shock (15-14) held off the Indiana Fever (1712), 76-70, to secure the franchise’s first WNBA playoff berth since 2009. … Jantel Lavender scored a season-high 24 points and the Los Angeles Sparks (12-18) kept the San Antonio Stars (7-23) winless on the road, 60-52. … Maya Moore scored 28 points to help the host Minnesota Lynx (20-10) beat the Phoenix Mercury (17-13), 71-61. … Kelsey Bone scored 25 points and the visiting Connecticut Sun (13-17) kept its slim playoff hopes alive by beating the Chicago Sky (18-12), 72-68.