Indianapolis – Indianapolis still wants the U.S. Grand Prix and Formula One drivers believe their series belongs in America.
Now it’s up to Tony George and Bernie Ecclestone to keep it that way.
Speedway president Joie Chitwood told The Associated Press on Wednesday that George, whose family owns the track, plans to meet with the F1 boss this week in a bid to work out a long-term deal for the U.S. Grand Prix.
“The hope is, from the dialogue we’ll have at the event, that we’ll have a result whether it’s here or not,” Chitwood said. “I think both parties would like to have some closure so we can let the fans know what’s happening.”
Sunday’s race will be the eighth on Indianapolis’ 2.6-mile, 13-turn road course.
It’s also the third straight year organizers have been peppered with questions about F1’s future at the track, which is the world’s only venue to hold races for the F1, IndyCar and NASCAR series.
WNBA
Currie scores 25 in Rollins’ first victory
Monique Currie scored a career-high 25 points, and Tree Rollins got his first victory as an WNBA coach in the Washington Mystics’ 86-69 victory over the visiting Phoenix Mercury.
Tan White scored a season-high 23 points to lead the host Indiana Fever to a 90-62 victory over the Seattle Storm.
Seimone Augustus scored six of her 28 points in overtime to help the visiting Minnesota Lynx beat the Connecticut Sun 77-73.
Taj McWilliams scored 20 points and LaToya Thomas added 16 as the host Los Angeles Sparks defeated the 0-8 Houston Comets 74-71.
BOXING
Heavyweight Toney tests positive
Three-time champion James Toney tested positive for steroids and could face a one-year suspension.
Armando Garcia, the California State Athletic Commission’s executive officer, said Toney and Danny Batchelder – Toney’s opponent in a heavyweight bout May 24 in San Jose, Calif. – tested positive for two types of steroids. They were suspended indefinitely.
Toney tested positive for boldenone and stanazolol, and Batchelder tested positive for stanazolol and oxandolone, Garcia said. If the boxers don’t appeal, they would be suspended for one year from the date of their fight.
CYCLING
Vinokourov captures time trial
Alexandre Vinokourov won the time trial and held the overall lead of the Dauphine Libere, a warm-up for the Tour de France.
The Astana rider finished in 52 minutes, 8.95 seconds over the 25.3-mile third stage around Anneyron, France. Teammate Andrey Kashechkin followed and was second overall, trailing by two seconds. American David Zabriskie was third in the time trial. The CSC rider is third overall, 32 seconds behind Vinokourov.
FOOTNOTES
Nadal advances in Wimbledon tuneup
Rafael Nadal made a successful transition to grass, defeating Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 6-4, 6-4 in the second round at Queen’s Club in London.
Nadal, the French Open champion, broke del Potro in the ninth game of the first set and then again to open the second.
Three repeat selections were among nine players chosen to fill out USA Baseball’s national team.
Long Beach State infielder Danny Espinosa, Texas Tech outfielder Roger Kieschnick and Santa Clara catcher Tommy Medica were on the U.S. team that won the gold medal at last year’s International University Sports Federation World Championships in Havana.
The United States soccer team moved up 13 spots to 16th place in the June FIFA rankings following a strong start in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
World Cup champion Italy remained No. 1 for the third straight month and World Cup runner-up France moved past Brazil into second for the first time since September. Brazil dropped as low as third for the first time since March 2002.
Defender Tyrone Marshall was traded to Toronto FC by the Los Angeles Galaxy on the same day he was suspended for three games.
Marshall, a member of the Jamaican national team, was acquired for forward Edson Buddle. Marshall was also fined $1,500 by MLS for a tackle last weekend that broke the right shin of Dallas forward Kenny Cooper.
Wofford point guard Drew Gibson withdrew from the NBA draft and will return to school for his senior season.
Brigham Young basketball player Jordan Cameron is transferring to Southern California to play football.
University of Montana cornerback Jimmy Wilson was charged with murder in Los Angeles after being accused of shooting a man during an altercation earlier this month.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have reached an agreement to trade point guard Mike James to the Houston Rockets for power forward Juwan Howard.
