LEXINGTON, Ohio — Scott Dixon became IndyCar’s career leader in victories with a commanding performance in the Indy 200 at Mid- Ohio on Sunday. The win was the 20th of Dixon’s career, breaking a tie with former series star Sam Hornish Jr.
Dixon won so easily at Mid-Ohio, he was practically posing for pictures in Victory Lane by the time the rest of the field hit the finish line at the sprawling 2.258-mile course. He took the checkered flag nearly 30 seconds ahead of pole- sitter Ryan Briscoe, the largest margin of victory in the series in a decade.
The win vaulted the defending points champion back atop the standings, the 12th time in 13 events this season that the points lead has changed hands.
The way Dixon ran roughshod over the field, he may have stamped himself as the driver to beat. Dixon heads to Sonoma, Calif., in two weeks with a three-point lead over Briscoe and a 20-point edge over Dario Franchitti.
• The NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International was postponed because of rain and rescheduled for today.
Del Potro defeats Roddick
WASHINGTON — Top-seeded Andy Roddick lost to Juan Martin del Potro in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic final, falling 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6) to the defending champion.
The winning shot came on a crosscourt forehand. The replay system on Roddick’s challenge confirmed the ball hit the outer portion of the sideline.
• Flavia Pennetta took advantage of error-prone Samantha Stosur for a 6-4, 6-3 victory in the LA Women’s Tennis Championships in Carson, Calif., giving the Italian her second title of the year.
Pennetta followed up a three-set semifinal victory over Maria Sharapova by making quick work of Stosur, an Aussie doubles specialist who has yet to win a WTA Tour singles title.
Wauters hits buzzer-beater
MINNEAPOLIS — Ann Wauters hit a jumper from the free-throw line at the buzzer to lift the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars to an 89-87 win over the Minnesota Lynx.
• Lindsay Whalen had 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the Connecticut Sun’s 96-67 victory over the Washington Mystics.
• Shavonte Zellous scored 19 points as the Detroit Shock beat the Chicago Sky 64-58.
Footnotes.
Kurt Rambis and the Minnesota Timberwolves have an oral agreement for him to become the team’s next head coach and are completing contract details.
• Houston’s Stuart Holden converted a penalty kick in the 83rd minute, and the Dynamo held off Chicago 3-2 to end the Fire’s five- match MLS unbeaten streak.
• Sensational mare Zenyatta, ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, improved her record to 12-0 with a victory in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar in California.
• Fabulous Strike, the nation’s leading male sprinter, overcame a challenge from longshot Go Go Shoot to win the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap by a length at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The Associated Press
