Power dominant at Sonoma, increases points lead

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08/22/2010 - Sonoma, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One year after his serious crash at Infineon Raceway nearly ended his IZOD IndyCar Series career, Will Power put on a dominating performance to win the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at this 2.303-mile road course in Northern California.

Power started on the pole for a record eighth time this season and then led all but two of the 75 laps. The Team Penske driver only relinquished the lead when he pitted the second and final time under the green flag. Scott Dixon came in for his stop two laps after Power, but the Aussie easily flew by Dixon after he exited the pits.

A late-race caution for an incident involving E.J. Viso and Bertrand Baguette set up a six-lap sprint to the finish. Dixon made several attempts to overtake Power after the restart, but Power eventually pulled away and finished 0.74 seconds ahead Dixon for his fifth IndyCar win this season.

Last year, Power's season came to an abrupt end at Sonoma, where he sustained multiple injuries during a practice crash. He suffered two broken vertebrae and a concussion when his car hit the stalled car of Nelson Philippe, who spun exiting the blind, downhill corner.

"What a perfect weekend to come back here after a year ago lying in the hospital watching this same race," said Power, who became the sixth different winner in as many IndyCar races held at Sonoma.

All five of Power's wins this season have come on road/street courses. He now holds a 59 point lead over Dario Franchitti, who finished third. Franchitti started on the pole and won last year's race here.

Two weeks ago, Power's second-place finish at Mid-Ohio allowed him to claim the Mario Andretti Trophy for clinching the series' first-ever road/street course championship.

Sonoma was the ninth and final road/street race of the season. There are four oval events remaining, with the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway scheduled next Saturday night.

"I'm going for it; I want to win this championship," Power said. "I'm not sitting back, and I'm not going to be stupid, but I do want to win an oval [race] before the end of the year, and I want to win the overall championship."

After finishing second, Dixon is now 95 points behind Power.

"We put on the red [tires] and seemed to be a lot quicker, and we thought we had a go at Will," Dixon said. "I don't know whether he was saving them a little bit earlier on, and I was starting to catch him pretty quickly, but in turn, I think I was using mine up too much. I gave it all I could on the restarts, and I was trying to stick my nose in there anywhere I could, but eventually it didn't come off."

Power's Penske teammates Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Justin Wilson, Tony Kanaan, Ryan-Hunter Reay, Graham Rahal and rookie Alex Lloyd completed the top-10.

Dan Wheldon was involved in a wild crash on the opening lap. Wheldon got clipped by Baguette and slammed into the wall before his car rolled upside down along the wall and then skidded down the track. His car continued to spin around upside down before it came to rest.

"It's never a good day to be upside down, but obviously everybody at Dallara and the Indy Racing League has worked very hard on the safety aspects of it," Wheldon said.

He finished last in the 25-car field.

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Huskers' Lucky hospitalized for undisclosed reason

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky was hospitalized Monday for undisclosed reasons after Lincoln police responded to a call at his residence.

The Nebraska athletic department said in a release Monday that Lucky was admitted Sunday night.

MySportsbook.com has the Cornhuskers listed at +2500 to win the BCS National Championship odds.

A nursing supervisor at the hospital said all questions about Lucky were being referred to the athletic department. The athletic department said there would be no further comment from the department or Lucky's family.

A Lincoln Police spokesman said officers responded to a call at Lucky's residence 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The spokesman said he didn't know Lucky's condition at the time he was taken to the hospital.

Lucky, from North Hollywood, Calif., started six games last season as a sophomore and was the team's second-leading rusher, with 728 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 383 yards. He averaged 19.1 yards on eight kickoff returns.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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