The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Button makes last-lap pass to win Canadian GP
- Rohit spurs India to clinch Test series
- Jamaican edges Gay in a photo-finish to win 100m gold
| Button makes last-lap pass to win Canadian GP Posted: 12 Jun 2011 05:42 PM PDT MONTREAL (AP) - Jenson Button took advantage of a last-lap slide by Sebastian Vettel and passed the runaway points leader on the final trip down the backstretch to win the rain-soaked Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday. Jenson had fallen to 21st in the field after being penalized for a speed limit violation, but he worked his way through the field and sat less than 1 second behind Vettel entering the final lap. The rear of Vettel's Red Bull slipped out from under him on the second half of a chicane, and Button sped past him to take the checkered flag for McLaren. It was the first victory this season and the 10th of his career for Button, who finished second in Montreal last year. Vettel had won five of the first six Formula One races this season, and he led almost all of the 70 laps at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit. Mark Webber was third in the other Red Bull car, and six-time world champion Michael Schumacher was fourth. Schumacher narrowly missed out on his first podium finish since coming out of retirement last year, sitting second behind Vettel near the end before he was overtaken by both Button and then Webber. The race started under a slight drizzle, but the rain grew heavier and by the 25th lap it was a full-fledged downpour that drenched the track and made driving treacherous. Although the wet track caused some problems, the visibility was what drivers complained about and what brought out the red flag. After a delay of 2 hours, 4 minutes, the cars were back on the track with mandatory wet weather tires. It was the first time this year that Formula One drivers have had to drive in the rain, and the first time they have done so since the circuit switched from Bridgestone to Pirelli tires. Many teams went with the full "wet" tires early, but others gambled on an intermediate set that seemed to pay off before the race was red-flagged. Vettel started from pole and early on was challenged only by the weather, which kept the safety car on the track at the start and again several times in the race as the drivers tried to contend with the wet track and poor visibility. Button, who started in the fourth row, dropped to the back of the pack because of two minor collisions and a penalty for a speed limit violation. But, with the intermediate tires, he quickly moved up to 10th before racing was suspended. Lewis Hamilton, who had won two of the last three races here - there was no event in 2009 - was knocked out after trying to pass Button near the start-finish line in the early part of the race. With the poor visibility, Button did not see him and he squeezed Hamilton into the wall. Hamilton, who entered the day in second place in the championship standings, trailing Vettel 143-85, received zero points and fell further behind in the points race. Fernando Alonso followed him to the garage in the 38th lap, tapping tires with Button and spinning backward toward the wall. His car was hung up on the curb and a brief effort was made to push it back onto the track before a track worker waved his arms; Alonso, who is fifth in the championship standings and second on the starting grid, was out of the race. Canadian Grand Prix Results 1. Jenson Button, England, McLaren, 70 laps, 2:04:39.537, 46.518 mph. 2. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Red Bull, 70, 2:04:42.246. 3. Mark Webber, Australia, Red Bull, 70, 2:04:53.365. 4. Michael Schumacher, Germany, Mercedes, 70, 2:04:53.756. 5. Vitaly Petrov, Russia, Renault, 70, 2:04:59.932. 6. Felipe Massa, Brazil, Ferrari, 70, 2:05:12.762. 7. Kamui Kobayashi, Japan, Sauber, 70, 2:05:12.807. 8. Jaime Alguersuari, Spain, Toro Rosso, 70, 2:05:15.501. 9. Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Williams, 70, 2:05:24.654. 10. Sebastien Buemi, Switzerland, Toro Rosso, 70, 2:05:26.593. 11. Nico Rosberg, Germany, Mercedes, 70, 2:05:29.991. 12. Pedro de la Rosa, Spain, Sauber, 70, 2:05:43.144. 13. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Italy, HRT, 69, +1 lap. 14. Jerome d'Ambrosio, Belgium, Virgin, 69, +1 lap. 15. Timo Glock, Germany, Virgin, 69, +1 lap. 16. Jarno Trulli, Italy, Team Lotus, 69, +1 lap. 17. Narain Karthikeyan, India, HRT, 69, +1 lap. 18. Paul di Resta, Scotland, Force India, 67, +3 laps, Retired. Not Classfied 19. Pastor Maldonado, Venezuela, Williams, 61, Retired. 20. Nick Heidfeld, Germany, Renault, 55, Accident. 21. Adrian Sutil, Germany, Force India, 49, Retired. 22. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Ferrari, 36, Accident. 23. Heikki Kovalainen, Finland, Team Lotus, 28, Retired. 24. Lewis Hamilton, England, McLaren, 7, Accident. Drivers Standings (After 7-of-20 Races) 1. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Red Bull, 161 points. 2. Jenson Button, England, McLaren, 101. 3. Mark Webber, Australia, Red Bull, 94. 4. Lewis Hamilton, England, McLaren, 85. 5. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Ferrari, 69. 6. Felipe Massa, Brazil, Ferrari, 32. 7. Vitaly Petrov, Russia, Renault, 31. 8. Nick Heidfeld, Germany, Renault, 29. 9. Michael Schumacher, Germany, Mercedes, 26. 10. Nico Rosberg, Germany, Mercedes, 26. 11. Kamui Kobayashi, Japan, Sauber, 25. 12. Adrian Sutil, Germany, Force India, 8. 13. Sebastien Buemi, Switzerland, Toro Rosso, 8. 14. Jaime Alguersuari, Spain, Toro Rosso, 4. 15. Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Williams, 4. 16. Sergio Perez, Mexico, Sauber, 2. 17. Paul di Resta, Scotland, Force India, 2. Constructors Standings 1. Red Bull, 255 points. 2. McLaren, 186. 3. Ferrari, 101. 4. Renault, 60. 5. Mercedes, 52. 6. Sauber, 27. 7. Toro Rosso, 12. 8. Force India, 10. 9. Williams, 4. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Rohit spurs India to clinch Test series Posted: 12 Jun 2011 05:39 PM PDT NORTH SOUND (Antigua): Rohit Sharma's (pic) resolute 86 not out topped Andre Russell's brutal, unbeaten 92 to lead India to a series-clinching, three-wicket victory over West Indies in the third one-day international on Saturday. Sharma struck five fours and two sixes from 91 balls, and put on a crucial 88 for the seventh wicket with Harbhajan Singh to put India on course to successfully chase 226 for victory, with 22 balls remaining. The 24-year-old Sharma smoked a no-ball from Kemar Roach to the long-on boundary to usher the visitors over the line at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, after the Indians had run into trouble on 92-6 in the 23rd over. The result gave the world champions an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. "Our shot selection was wrong but credit must go to Rohit and Harbhajan because they had a good partnership that set things up," said India captain Suresh Raina. "Rohit has been consistent over the last two years. He is batting really well at the moment, and I hope he does well for us in the next two games as well." Russell smashed eight fours and five sixes from 64 balls in a dazzling display, finishing with the highest innings by a West Indies batsman at the VRCG, and helping the home team reach a respectable 225-8 from their allocation of 50 overs. His efforts with the bat, which helped earn him the man-of-the-match award, came after leg-spinner Amit Mishra followed-up on his career-best bowling in the second one-dayer with 3-28 from his 10 overs, and Munaf Patel supported with 3-60 from his 10 overs. India, choosing to field, met token resistance from the West Indies top-order before all-rounder Russell, one of three changes to his side's line-up, transformed the complexion of the innings. India seized firm control of the game, following a second-wicket stand of 65 between Lendl Simmons - with 45 off 68 balls - and Ramnaresh Sarwan - 28 off 38 balls. "This is another one that got away from us," said West Indies captain Darren Sammy. "The way Russell showed character out there, it gave us the momentum in the game and put a fighting total on the board. "During the interval, we were quite confident and we got the early wickets, but we did not find the killer instinct to wrap it up." West Indies have now lost all five ODIs they have played at the VRCG, following its inauguration four years ago ahead of the 2007 World Cup. The series continues today. – AFP Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Jamaican edges Gay in a photo-finish to win 100m gold Posted: 12 Jun 2011 05:39 PM PDT NEW YORK: Jamaica's Steve Mullings edged American Tyson Gay in a photo-finish in the men's 100m at the New York Diamond League meeting on Saturday. Both were timed 10.26s, but the review gave the victory to Mullings over the experienced American. "Sure, I thought he might have caught me – another step and he would have," Mullings said. "I know he's got that strong finish." The duel between Mullings and Gay, who train together, came a week after Gay posted the fastest 100m of the season with a 9.79 at a low-key meeting in Florida. That was the same day that Mullings clocked 9.80 to win the 100m at the Diamond League meeting on the opposite US coast at Eugene, Oregon. Chilly, rainy, breezy weather meant those times were unlikely to be challenged at the sixth meeting in the elite Diamond League series. But the meeting produced plenty of nail-biting finishes, and the men's 100m, run in a headwind of -3.4m/sec, was a prime example. Tensions rose from the start of the men's 100m as three runners were disqualified by false starts – first Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago, followed by Americans Travis Paddgett and Rae Edwards. "They are part of the game. You deal with it," Gay said of the starts. "Keep your own focus. You can't play those games any more." Mullings, the rising Jamaican sprint star who hopes to challenge compatriot Usain Bolt this World Championships season, burst out of the blocks. Gay admitted his own start was "a little sluggish" but he reeled in Mullings in the closing 50m. "I knew it was going to be close," Gay said. "I thought I might have got him, but never sure, either." Mullings certainly wasn't sure when he crossed the line. "When they gave me the flowers (presented to each winner), I guess that made it official," he said. American Danielle Carruthers won a narrow victory in the women's 100m hurdles, holding on for the victory in 13.04 with fellow American Kellie Wells second in 13.06. Britain's Tiffany Ofili-Porter was third in 13.11. Three-time world champion Allyson Felix of the United States won the women's 200m in 22.92, with Bianca Knight second in 22.96 and Shalonda Solomon third (23.03). Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the reigning Olympic and world champion at 100m, was seventh and last in 23.52. South African Oscar Pistorius, running the 400m on metal prosthetics after having his lower legs amputated when he was 11 months old, finished fifth in 45.69. Although he was still off the 45.25 World Championships standard he expects he must meet to reach next year's London Olympics, he was pleased to improve on his disappointing last-place finish at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting a week earlier. "I'm unbelievably happy," Pistorius said. "It's raining down. It's not the best conditions to run today. It's my second quickest time this year (and) in the wet. – AFP Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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