07-08-2019, 01:22 AM
LOS ANGELES -- When Scott Dixon stood next to the Astor Cup on a stage in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, he was still a bit surprised to be so close to IndyCars championship trophy heading into the season finale. Alex Smith Youth Jersey . Just two weeks ago, Dixon needed an enormous amount of help to take control of the overall IndyCar race. Helio Castroneves gave it to him with a broken gearbox during a wild doubleheader in Houston, allowing Dixon to head for California with his third series title in sight. "Its been such an up-and-down season for us that its kind of hard to believe were here," said Dixon, the series champion in 2003 and 2008. "We started so poorly, but we managed to find some redemption at midseason and got back in the hunt. And then Houston happened, and now were here. Its been a wild ride." Indeed, Dixon hadnt been on top of the overall standings all season long until he left Houston with the lead. The last time Dixon led the championship was back in 2009, with one race to go -- and Dario Franchitti sped past him to claim the title. Thats why Dixon isnt cocky about his chances in IndyCars season finale at Fontana on Saturday night. "Its very easy to jinx yourself," Dixon said. "I think maybe you start thinking its a given, and you get too complacent. Everybody knows its not over. If were leading at the end of this race, then job accomplished, but we could still very well lose it." The New Zealander realizes he only needs a fifth-place finish to stay ahead of Castroneves for the overall title, but he wont change tactics just to stay safe. He expects a dynamic race on the long oval east of Los Angeles -- but hopefully without the pyrotechnics of the Houston doubleheader, which ended with teammate Franchitti in a hospital with two broken vertebrae, a broken ankle and a concussion. Castroneves had led the overall standings for 14 of the 18 races this season, and the Brazilian had a 49-point lead in the overall standings heading to Houston. But mechanical failures in both races left him 25 points behind Dixon, who won the first race of the doubleheader and finished second in the second race. Despite the horrific results in Houston, Castroneves hasnt lost his usual chipper demeanour -- or given up hope for a dramatic comeback. Hes the only racer who could mathematically catch Dixon for the title. "The reason Im not mad is because its not over," Castroneves said. "We have a chance. Some things happened in Houston that youd never expect. Breaking the gearbox? No way to predict something like that could happen." Roger Penske said his team "fell on our face" in Houston, a failure that could leave Penske just short of the title for the sixth time since 2006. "In our case, with the scenario, its pretty simple," Penske Racing President Tim Cindric said. "Winning is really the only thing at the end of the day, and then you still have to hope." Dixon was among the first people to realize Castroneves championship hopes were in trouble during that second race in Houston: Oil from Castroneves gearbox doused Dixons car from the second or third lap onward, and Dixon screamed about it into his radio. Even when Castroneves was forced to stop, Dixon got no enjoyment from Castroneves woes. "Youre thinking, If its happening to him, it could very well happen to us as well," Dixon said, realizing Castroneves problems probably were caused by contact with a bump on Turn 1 in Houston. "Youve had so many situations where you think its great, and then five laps later, you have a problem yourself. Its very easy to get ahead of yourself and lose focus." Both Castroneves and Dixon are changing engines for the Fontana race, a common tactic on an oval track that makes the resulting speed more important than the 10-spot penalty on the starting grid for making a switch. Castroneves had easily the fastest race car at the Fontana test last month, and hes counting on that speed to give him a shot at the title. Dixon also will have a new teammate as he goes for the Cup: Alex Tagliani is the temporary replacement for Franchitti with Target Chip Ganassi Racing. "Its going to come down to the last lap, the last corner, probably," Dixon said. "Were going to have to dig deep. Im just excited to be a part of it." Wes Martin Womens Jersey . As a follow-up, TSN.ca offers you the opportunity to chime in on all the big issues with our insiders. Read up on all the questions and answers, and put in your own two cents on our popular Your Call feature. Art Monk Youth Jersey . -- Ben Brust scored 19 points to lead six Wisconsin players in double figures as the No. http://www.redskinsrookiestore.com/Redsk...ne-Jersey/ . Thornton emerged as one of the leagues best defensive ends against the run in 2013. The former undrafted free agent from Division II Southern Arkansas led Philadelphias linemen with 78 tackles and had one sack.Edwin Encarnacion tries to etch his name into Major League Baseballs record books tonight, as the Toronto Blue Jays attempt to bounce back from a rare loss in the second test of a four-game set against the Kansas City Royals. Encarnacions historic month continued on Thursday with two more home runs, but his teams nine-game winning streak came to an end, as Kansas City managed an 8-6 win in 10 innings. An error by shortstop Jose Reyes with two outs in the ninth led to the game- tying run and the Royals scored twice in the 10th off Todd Redmond (0-4) to win it. Alcides Escobar singled and Pedro Ciriaco was hit by a pitch to put two on with no outs in the 10th. Nori Aoki moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt for Omar Infante, whose liner to left knocked in both runners. Wade Davis (4-1) tossed two perfect innings in relief of James Shields to earn the win and Greg Holland pitched around a two-out infield single to nail down his 15th save. The loss spoiled another brilliant performance by Encarnacion, whose 15th and 16th home runs in May tied him with Mickey Mantle for most in the month in American League history. Hes also one shy of Barry Bonds major league record set in 2001. "I dont know where it goes down in history, but its pretty historic in my mind," manager John Gibbons said. This was the slluggers fifth multi-home run game in May after hitting just two homers total in April. Charles Mann Youth Jersey. "Encarnacion is probably the hottest hitter on the planet right now," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Hes got 16 home runs in May." Jose Bautista also went deep for Toronto, which had won 12 of 13 coming in. All nine Royals starters had at least one hit as their four-game skid was halted. Salvador Perez hit a solo home run, Infante drove in three runs and Escobar had three hits. Hoping to slow Encarnacion down on Friday will be lefty Jason Vargas, who is 4-2 with a 3.55 ERA. Vargas did not get a decision on Sunday in Anaheim, despite a solid effort that saw him surrender just a run and three hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 4-3 loss. Vargas has faced the Blue Jays seven times and is 1-3 against them with a 5.90 ERA. Toronto, meanwhile, will turn to lefty J.A. Happ, who has won his last three starts. Happ beat the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, as he scattered four hits and struck out seven over seven scoreless innings to run his record to 4-1, while lowering his ERA to 3.34. "Hes filling up the strike zone," Gibbons said. "Hes locked in right now." Happ has faced the Royals three times and is 2-1 against them with a 5.40 ERA. The Royals took two of three from the Jays earlier this season. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Cheap NBA Jerseys Wholesale NHL Jerseys Wholesale MLB Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Wholesale NCAA Jerseys Wholesale Football Jerseys Wholesale Basketball Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys ' ' '