LEXINGTON, Ohio — Polesitter Scott Dixon waited patiently before taking control 24 laps from the finish and then coasted to an easy victory over Dario Franchitti in the IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio on Sunday.
The victory gave the New Zealander wins on the road track in the last three odd-numbered years. Dixon, who dominated qualifying to capture his first pole of the season, stayed on rookie James Hinchcliffe‘s tail until the Canadian finally pitted for the first time on lap 53. Dixon skirted a challenge from Franchitti and took command on lap 61 of the 85-lap race to pull away.
• Tim Wilkerson ended a year-long winless drought by racing to his third consecutive funny car title at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, Wash. Del Worsham (top fuel) and Jason Line (pro stock) also won their divisions.
• Kevin Harvick stretched his fuel over extra laps and an extra day, breaking free on the green-white checkered finish to win the Trucks Series race in Long Pond, Pa. The race was halted by rain Saturday.
Defensive end Ellis signs with Patriots
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Shaun Ellis, the defensive end the New York Jets drafted in the first round in 2000 with the pick New England gave them as compensation when coach Bill Belichick left New York for New England, agreed to a one-year deal with the Patriots.
• Prince Amukamara, a cornerback from Nebraska who was the New York Giants’ top draft pick, may be sidelined for up to two months with a broken left foot.
• Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan is defending himself on Twitter, saying he left training camp to deal with a personal matter and isn’t upset with his contract.
• Jason Snelling, who gained more than 900 yards while backing up Michael Turner the last two years, agreed to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
• The Dallas Cowboys signed quarterback Tom Brandstater, who was drafted out of Fresno State by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 2009 draft.
Stepanek takes Legg Mason title
WASHINGTON — Unseeded Radek Stepanek‘s net-charging style carried him to the Legg Mason Tennis Classic title at age 32, making him the tournament’s oldest champion since Jimmy Connors was 35 in 1988.
The Czech won an ATP final for the first time in 2 1/2 years by upsetting top-seeded Gael Monfils of France 6-4, 6-4 at the hard-court tuneup for the U.S. Open.
• Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland won her first tournament title in more than three years with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over third-ranked Vera Zvonareva in the Mercury Insurance Open final in Carlsbad, Calif.
McCoughtry scores 17 in Dream’s victory
ATLANTA — In a rematch of last year’s WNBA Finals, Angel McCoughtry scored 17 points and Erika de Souza added 13 as the Atlanta Dream snapped a two-game losing streak with a 70-53 victory over the Seattle Storm.
• Tina Charles made a 12-footer with five seconds left in overtime, and the shot clock about to expire, to lift the visiting Connecticut Sun to a 96-95 win over the Phoenix Mercury.
• Lindsay Whalen scored a season-high 24 points and the Minnesota Lynx extended their franchise-best winning streak to nine games with an 84-78 victory over the host Los Angeles Sparks.
• Sylvia Fowles and Shay Murphy each scored 21 points as the host Chicago Sky defeated the Indiana Fever 88-69.
Footnotes.
Eric Hassli scored twice as the Vancouver Whitecaps defeated the Chicago Fire 4-2 in a battle of last-place MLS teams.
• San Jose and Minnesota made their third trade of the NHL offseason, with center James Sheppard going from the Wild to the Sharks for a third-round draft pick in 2013.
• One person died and another was in critical condition after they had trouble during the swimming portion of the Nautica New York City Triathlon.
The Associated Press
