lingzi
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FORT WORTH, Texas—Canadas Alex Tagliani led a Honda sweep in qualifying at
Texas Motor Speedway, where drivers debated the rule package mandated by IndyCar
as the series returns to a high-banked oval for the first time since Dan
Wheldons death. Ray Rice Jersey . Theres been concern
throughout the industry in the lead-up to Saturday nights race, particularly
among drivers who are unanimously opposed to the pack-style racing that was
cited as a factor in Wheldons fatal October accident at Las Vegas Motor
Speedway. The drivers met as a group last weekend in Detroit and voted to
recommend less downforce for the cars at Texas, the first 1.5-mile banked oval
since last season. IndyCar accepted the recommendation, but the drivers were
divided on the end result Friday. “The intent is to make it safe, and for
everyones peace of mind, we need to leave here after what happened in Vegas with
a safe race, and I think thats important in the mind of everyone,” Tagliani
said. Tagliani, from Lachenaie, Que., turned a lap at 215.691 mph late in
Fridays qualifying session to bump Dario Franchitti from the top starting spot,
and become the first driver in seven races this season not from Penske Racing or
Chip Ganassi Racing to win the pole. Tagliani drives for Bryan Herta Autosport,
which sat out the race at Brazil last month while it negotiated a split with
underperforming engine manufacturer Lotus. BHA and Tagliani teamed with Honda
before last months Indianapolis 500, and the switch has shown immediate
dividends. Honda also is benefiting: Franchitti went 215.646 to qualify second,
Graham Rahal qualified third and Scott Dixon was fourth to give Honda the top
four qualifying spots for Saturday nights race. Spots two through four were
claimed by drivers from Chip Ganassi Racing, and IndyCar series points leader
Will Power of Penske Racing qualified fifth as the highest Chevrolet. James
Hinchcliffe of Oakville, Ont., qualified sixth and will start next to Power on
the third row. But who landed where was of little concern as drivers climbed
from their cars following their qualifying laps split on the rules for Saturday
night. The drivers came into Texas wanting IndyCar to mandate a formula that
would break up pack racing, and a decrease in downforce—which makes the cars
harder to drive—was decided upon. Ed Carpenter, who won on the oval at
Kentucky last year, was the first driver to attempt his lap and was visibly
upset with the current setup. He qualified 20th out of 25 cars. “Everyone is so
freaked out about pack racing that we have so little downforce,” Carpenter said.
“I feel everyone is nervous coming to the first (1.5-mile) of the year. I
understand that. I dont feel Im reckless, but we also have to put on a good race
for the fans. If we race (this) package … this will be a follow-the-leader
race and one of the most boring races we have ever had at Texas.” James
Hinchcliffe, who qualified sixth, also wanted more downforce and said the setup
used in qualifying leaned toward a spread-out field Saturday night. “Theres a
difference from breaking up pack racing and breaking up racing,” he said. The
other end of the spectrum had drivers thrilled with the setup because it made
the cars difficult to drive—thus putting an emphasis on skill as opposed to
being able to run wide open around Texas. A year ago, Dixon said he could go
about 55 laps on one set of tires. On Friday, “I did like maybe 40 laps on one
set of tires and was really holding on. “This is really about comfort levels,”
he said. “I think with more downforce its definitely easier, and so people that
are complaining about it maybe want it to be easier. But I think it should be
difficult.” So did Rahal, who stressed that breaking up the pack racing was the
most important goal for Texas. “This is what we asked for, all along weve said,
Hey, we want to drive these things again,” Rahal said. “This is probably the
first time in many years that weve had to come here and everybody has had to
drive the thing. For the race, its going to be so different because you somewhat
control your own destiny. People are hanging on and I think its going to be
awesome to see what happens, to make no mistakes over the whole race is going to
be a hard thing to do. “But thats the way it should be. Id rather have that than
sit in a pack of 12 cars and your destiny is controlled by them. At least here
youve got to drive the thing.” The drivers met Friday morning with Will
Phillips, IndyCars vice-president of technology, and it was decided the cars
could not use rear wickers this weekend. That decision was reversed after
qualifying, when IndyCar issued a technical bulletin that a rear wing wicker up
to a maximum of 1/8” height and full span may be used for the race. Now, they
wait to see what effect it will have on the race. Phillips said the wicker
should add 125 lbs of downforce to the car, so drivers can go flat-out on fresh
tires but will have a harder time with handling after the tires wear. “As tires
go off, its not going to be so easy, which is something theyve been clamouring
for, Youve got to put it back in our hands,” Phillips said. “Some drivers are
happy, some not so happy. I see it as a good compromise in trying to balance
what we think will put on the best show in the safest possible fashion.” Power,
who broke his back in the Las Vegas crash and was adamant after Wheldons death
that IndyCar must eliminate pack racing, believes the series has achieved its
goal. “Youve got to be on top of the car the entire time, its good and it is
definitely tougher right now,” Power said. “I think people are used to being
flat, running along the white line, and the car is now sliding like its never
slid before. I dont think peoples setups are suited to this, but its headed in
the right direction.” But will it be a good race? Power wryly referenced Aprils
NASCAR race at Texas, which had just two cautions for 10 laps and was the
fastest NASCAR race in track history. “NASCAR does single-file around this
joint,” he smiled. Anquan Boldin Jersey . Miguel Cabrera and
Jhonny Peralta homered, Doug Fister pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, and
Detroit beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-2 on Friday night for its sixth straight
victory. Torrey Smith Jersey . Or, at the very least,
out of answers. Dismal defending. Misfiring on attack. A cheerful coach
seemingly leading his frustrated MLS team further into the abyss. http://www.ravensproshop.com/haloti-ngata-jerseys
. “Im really excited to be back in Toronto,” said Sanderson. “The goal is to
win a championship and I want to do that for the best organization in the
league. Michael Oher Jersey . TSN Scout Craig Buttons
monthly ranking released on Wednesday has Portland Winterhawks defenceman Seth
Jones leading the pack over Halifax Mooseheads forward Nathan MacKinnon,
followed by European blue-chipper Aleksander Barkov. Ray
Lewis Womens Jersey . Or, at the very least, out of answers. Dismal
defending. Misfiring on attack. A cheerful coach seemingly leading his
frustrated MLS team further into the abyss.HOUSTON—After the Houston Astros
had four errors in an opening day loss, manager Brad Mills stressed the
importance of cleaning up their play. Since then the Astros havent had had error
and have been taking advantage of their opponents miscues. Travis Buck drove in
two runs, Justin Maxwell homered in his Houston debut and the Astros rebounded
from an early deficit thanks to sloppy defensive play by the Atlanta Braves in
an 8-3 win on Monday night. “We talked about opening day and us giving the
Rockies extra outs,” Mills said. “Its nice to see us (not make errors).” The
loss drops Atlanta to 0-4 for the first time since losing 10 straight to open
the 1988 season. The Astros are 3-1 after finishing last season with baseballs
worst record. Houston trailed 3-0 in the third before a trio of errors by the
Braves, with two from third baseman Juan Francisco, led to three unearned runs
and tied the game. “Its great to see our guys realize they can come back,” Mills
said. “We were able to string some hits together and score some runs. What a
confidence booster for this game to be able to get back into like that.” Astros
starter J.A. Happ drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the fourth
inning that made it 4-3. Pinch-hitter J.D. Martinez and Jose Altuve drove in a
run each in the sixth to stretch the lead to 6-3. After starting 0-5 last season
and losing eight in a row to start the 2010 season, the Astros are pretty
excited about their start, which is their best since 2006. “Wed like to keep
going and build off of it and try to build some momentum if we can,” Happ said.
Happ (1-0) allowed six hits and three runs with five strikeouts in six innings
for the win. Braves starter Brandon Beachy (0-1) allowed four hits and four runs
—one earned—in five innings. Maxwell, acquired from the Yankees on Sunday,
hit a two-run homer as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning. He didnt have much
time to get acquainted with his new team after arriving Monday afternoon. He
said the hardest part was learning everyones name, but not all the Astros got
his right. “Somebody called me Jason, but Ill forgive them,” he said with a
laugh. Francisco, who the Braves acquired from Cincinnati on April 1, had three
of Atlantas errors starting in place of Chipper Jones, who is on the disabled
list. “Thats not me. I dont throw like that,” Francisco said in Spanish. “The
first onne I felt got away from me, and the second I threw it down for some
reason. Dennis Pitta Jersey. quot; The Astros got
four hits and drove in two runs in the sixth inning off Livan Hernandez, who
signed with the Braves after he was released by the Astros in spring training.
Houston relievers Wesley Wright, Fernando Rodriguez and David Carpenter combined
to allow one hit in three scoreless innings. Rookie Marwin Gonzalez, who had
three hits and scored three runs, doubled in the fourth before Happ helped his
cause with his run-scoring single to right field that gave Houston a 4-3 lead.
Beachy walked Jordan Schafer with two outs in the third before Altuve reached on
a fielding error by Francisco. A second error by Francisco on the same play,
this time on the throw to third, allowed Schafer to advance to third. “I think
it was big,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of the errors. “We were playing
good baseball up to that point, and all of a sudden we mishandled some of the
plays back there, and we werent real pretty after that as a team.” Buck followed
with a two-RBI double to get Houston within 3-2. He reached third on the play
after an error by Tyler Pastornicky. Lee tied it 3-3 with single to centre field
which scored Buck. Beachy finally got out of the inning when Brian Bogusevic
grounded out. Martin Prado doubled in the third and scored on a single by
Brian McCann to push Atlantas lead to 3-0. Happ got on track after McCanns RBI,
retiring the next 11 in a row, striking out five. He didnt allow another base
runner until Matt Diaz walked with two outs in the sixth, but Francisco lined
out to end the inning. Freddie Freeman singled with one out in the second before
Matt Diaz grounded into a force out that left Freeman out at second. The Braves
then hit three consecutive singles, with the last two by Pastornicky and Beachy
driving in runs, to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead. NOTES: The Astros optioned LHP
Fernando Abad to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday to make room on the roster for
Maxwell. ... Former Astros star Craig Biggio helped Houston honour Jones, who
said he will retire at the end of this season, before the game. Biggio presented
Jones with a cowboy hat as footage of his many memorable games against the
Astros played on the video screen. Jones is on the disabled list after surgery
March 26 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, but expects to be activated
on Tuesday. ’ ’ ’
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