ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Dario Franchitti is still the one to beat in IndyCar.
The two-time defending series champion was almost perfect in Sunday’s season opener, leading 94 of 100 laps on the scenic, 1.8-mile street course and beating Will Power to the finish line by more than seven seconds. It was Franchitti’s first victory and fifth top-five finish in six starts in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
“He’s like clockwork,” Power said. “He never makes mistakes.”
Franchitti grabbed the lead early on and was hardly challenged the rest of the way.
• Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel opened his Formula One title defense by driving a flawless race and beating McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton to win the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Starting from the pole, Vettel maintained his lead after the first turn and had already opened a gap of more than two seconds over Hamilton following the first lap, and the German’s lead was never seriously threatened.
Contador wins cycling event
BARCELONA, Spain — Alberto Contador won the Volta of Catalunya for his second consecutive victory since he avoided a ban after a positive doping test.
Contador, who rides for the SaxoBank team, protected the lead he had established on Wednesday’s mountain stage in Andorra, holding off runner-up Michele Scarponi by 23 seconds.
• Australia’s Anna Meares grabbed her third gold medal (in the points race), and Cameron Meyer and Leigh Howard defended their madison title and added to Australia’s gold rush on the final day of the track cycling world championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.
• Frank Schleck of Luxembourg won the two-day Criterium International race in Corsica, holding on to his lead during the 4.3-mile time trial.
Clijsters reaches milestone
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Kim Clijsters earned her 500th career victory by beating Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 at the Sony Ericsson Open.
Also, Mardy Fish, who would supplant Andy Roddick as the top-ranked American player if he wins two more rounds, beat Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-3, and second- seeded Novak Djokovic extended his winning streak to 22 consecutive matches by beating wild card James Blake 6-2, 6-0.
Cubs say so long to Silva
MESA, Ariz. — Carlos Silva was released by the Chicago Cubs, one day after they told the veteran pitcher he would not make the opening-day roster.
• The Washington Nationals traded hot-tempered outfielder Nyjer Morgan to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor-league infielder Cutter Dykstra, son of former major- leaguer Lenny Dykstra, and cash.
Swoopes returning to WNBA
TULSA, Okla. — Former WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes is expected to sign with the Tulsa Shock today.
Swoopes, who just turned 40, last played in the league in 2008 for the Seattle Storm before spending the last few years overseas.
The Associated Press
