CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Danica Patrick could still run the Indianapolis 500 even if she makes a full-time move to NASCAR, according to The Associated Press.
Two people familiar with Patrick’s 2012 plans said she is in the final stages of a deal to run a full-time Nationwide Series schedule with JR Motorsports and limited Sprint Cup Series races with the team owned by two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart. The people spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because the deal won’t be finished until she has secured a release from Andretti Autosport.
The talks also include her continuing to run the Indianapolis 500, one person told The AP.
JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. said last weekend he wants Patrick to run a full Nationwide schedule with his team. She has driven 19 Nationwide races for his team over the last two seasons and has six more scheduled starts this year.
The potential to continue to race the Indianapolis 500 is a new wrinkle, considering JRM co-owner Kelley Earnhardt has said that it would be difficult for Patrick to run that race and compete for the Nationwide championship.
Ex-champion Pavlik withdraws from fight
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik withdrew from Saturday’s 10-round fight against Darryl Cunningham for unknown reasons. Pavlik was scheduled to fight at the Covelli Centre in his hometown, with the bout to be televised nationally on Showtime.
Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank, Pavlik’s promoter, said he was “very disappointed at Kelly’s sudden decision to discontinue the rebuilding of his boxing career.” In January, Pavlik checked out of the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., after two months of treatment for alcoholism.
Vollmer racks up another gold
STANFORD, Calif. — Dana Vollmer added another memorable event to an eventful summer. She won the women’s 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. nationals in Stanford, Calif., adding to the gold medal she won in the same event last week at the world championships.
Vollmer showed few signs of fatigue just one day after arriving back in the United States from Shanghai, finishing in 57.26 seconds to beat Claire Donahue.
• Ryan Lochte, coming off a breakout performance the world championships that ended Sunday, did not qualify for the finals in his only event of the day. He finished 24th in the morning preliminaries of the 100 breaststroke at 1:02.96.Zvonareva wins opening match
CARLSBAD, Calif. — No. 3-ranked Vera Zvonareva of Russia converted the only two service breaks of the match, enabling her to beat qualifier Jill Craybas 6-4, 7-5 in the Mercury Insurance Open.
• Third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland was extended before winning her opening match with a 6-0, 7-6 (4) victory over Great Britain’s Elena Baltacha.
• James Blake‘s reward for upsetting defending champion David Nalbandian 6-2, 6-4 at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington will be a third- round matchup against his big-serving pal and doubles partner, John Isner.
Blake and Isner only have faced each other once before on the ATP Tour, two weeks ago at Atlanta, and Isner pounded 30 aces en route to a three-set victory.
The 11th-seeded Isner needed only six aces to get past Tobias Kamke of Germany 6-1, 6-3.
Tour champion Evans skips Utah race.
Tour de France champion Cadel Evans had planned to race in Utah next week until Australia’s celebration of his historic win posed a conflict. Tour of Utah president Steve Miller says he learned the disappointing news this week after finding out Evans would receive a hero’s welcome when he returns to Melbourne for the first time since capturing the Tour’s yellow jersey.
Footnotes.
The New York Islanders agreed to terms on one-year deals with Blake Comeau, who had career highs in goals (24), and points (46) last season, and Jon Sim, who had 22 points last season.
• Maya Moore scored 22 points and the Minnesota Lynx opened the fourth quarter with a big run to put away the visiting Phoenix Mercury in a 90-73 victory.
• Pienette Pierson scored 20 points, Leilani Mitchell sank four 3-pointers in the final quarter and the host New York Liberty beat the Atlanta Dream 85-75.
• Sue Bird scored 17 points and Swin Cash added 16 to help the host Seattle Storm beat the San Antonio Silver Stars 78-64.
Becky Hammon had 11 points for San Antonio.
• Fired Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl is scheduled to meet today with the Texas Legends, an NBA D-League team looking for a new coach.
The Associated Press
