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By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- NASCAR has settled a $225 million lawsuit filed by a former official who said she was subjected to racial discrimination and sexual harassment during her two-plus years working for the stock-car organization. The suit was settled during a Dec. 3 mediation held in New York between Mauricia Grant and NASCAR. Settlement terms were confidential. Neither side admitted liability or wrongdoing, according to NASCAR.

"We're glad to have the case settled on mutually acceptable terms," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Thursday. "NASCAR remains dedicated to maintaining a professional work environment for all employees at all times, and we wish Ms. Grant well in her future endeavors."

Grant's attorney, Benedict P. Morelli of New York-based Morelli Ratner PC, did not immediately return a call from the AP for comment.

NASCAR settles $225 million suit with ex-official....

MILAN, Italy — Ferrari is planning to accelerate its cost-cutting plans for 2009 in the wake of Honda's pullout from Formula One.

"This process had already begun over the last few years. But now it's going to have a sharp acceleration," team director Stefano Domenicali said in an interview with Corriere della Sera on Monday without providing further financial details.

Still, Domenicali warned that cuts in F1 spending shouldn't reach the point where it wouldn't allow healthy engineering competition. Ferrari announced in October that it too would leave F1 if the sport's governing body goes ahead with plans to have a sole engine and transmission supplier beginning in 2010.

"We're at the forefront in the process of auto racing renewal, which has to remain a technological and sporting competition," Domenicali said. "Ferrari will continue to be a leader. The fans should stay calm."

Honda quit F1 on Friday, saying that in the current economic downturn it needs to focus on its core business of making and selling cars rather than spending $291 million a year to race them on Grand Prix tracks.

In three seasons, and with such massive investment, Honda managed just one race victory.

Ferrari - the oldest team in F1 - has won more than 200 races.

Ferrari Formula One team plans to accelerate cost-cutting....

PARIS (AFP) — Honda on Friday announced its shock withdrawal from Formula One raising fresh fears over the future of the multi-million dollar sport struggling to keep afloat in the current economic downturn.

Honda Motor president Takeo Fukui made the announcement at an emotional press conference in Tokyo, apologising to fans, staff, drivers and F1 authorities.

"This is a complete withdrawal. The future is a blank sheet," he said. "Five years from now, I think history will show we made the right decision."

The decision shocked the sport which had already seen backmarkers, and fellow Japanese team, Super Aguri go the wall earlier this year.

It also sparked new calls for the glamour sport to slash its mind-boggling budgets while the remaining Japanese team, Toyota, hurried out a statement pledging their future to the championship.

"This difficult decision has been made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry, brought on by the subprime problem in the United States," Fukui added.

Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry , however, said he was hopeful that new owners would be found in time for the team to be on the grid for the start of next season in Australia on March 29.

Formula One: Honda exit casts cloud over F1 future....

By Bill Marx
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jimmie Johnson, the second driver to win three consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championships, is Sporting News' driver of the year, the magazine announced Tuesday.

Johnson finished the 2008 season 69 points ahead of Carl Edwards to join Cale Yarborough as the only drivers to win three consecutive championships in NASCAR's premier division.

Johnson drives for Hendrick Motorsports, and the organization won three of the five annual Sporting News awards. Rick Hendrick is owner of the year, and Chad Knaus is crew chief of the year. Knaus became the first crew chief to win three consecutive championships.

Johnson is Sporting News' driver of the year....

After 18 major-league seasons, Mike Mussina announced his retirement Thursday. A 270-game winner with the Yankees and Orioles, the 40-year old right hander ranks 32nd on baseball's career win list.

By JENNA FRYER

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Nothing could stop Jimmie Johnson's drive into the NASCAR record books. Not even a final, furious push by Carl Edwards.

Edwards led a race-high 157 laps, ran out of gas as he crossed the finish line, but still won Sunday's season-ending race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. His series-high ninth win of the year wasn't enough to wrest away the Sprint Cup title.

Johnson locked up his third consecutive championship with a solid 15th-place run, beating Edwards by 69 points to join Cale Yarborough as the only drivers in NASCAR history to win three straight titles.

"It's the ultimate reward. We worked so hard to put ourselves in this position," Johnson said. "It's just total teamwork and dedication. There were times this year when things were dark, but we buckled down and got to work and that's what it was really all about."

Johnson wins record-tying 3rd Cup title....

By MIKE HARRIS

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Carl Edwards won the season-ending Ford 300 on Saturday night, but came up 21 points short in his attempt to overtake Clint Bowyer for the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship.

All Bowyer had to do to keep Edwards from winning a second straight title in the second-tier series was finish in the top eight. He did that easily, taking fifth to stay on top of the standings, right where he has been most of the year despite winning only one of 35 races.

"We've been consistent," Bowyer said after climbing out of his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. "We did the things it takes to win championships. I want to thank Richard for giving me the opportunity."

Edwards wrested the lead from Kyle Busch late in the race and stayed out front to the end of the 200-lap event at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He earned his seventh Nationwide victory and kept Busch from recording a record 11th series win.

Edwards wins race; Bowyer takes title....

By MIKE HARRIS

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — A two-tire stop and a late decision to stay on track during a caution period were just enough to give Johnny Benson the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title by seven points over Ron Hornaday on Friday night in a race that went to overtime.

Todd Bodine won the Ford 200, but all eyes were on the championship contenders as Hornaday tried desperately to make up ground after falling behind in the pits during the final caution at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Benson, who came into the race with a three-point lead, finished seventh, one position ahead of Hornaday after the dramatic green-white-checker finish.

"Tonight was tough," Benson said. "Tonight was about (crew chief) Trip Bruce and making the calls he did. ... Trip said early on we might not be the fastest, but it was going to be the smartest one that won it. And that's what it came down to — Trip's calls."

Benson wins title; Bodine takes race....

By JENNA FRYER

MIAMI (AP) — Teresa Earnhardt and Chip Ganassi will combine their slumping race teams next season, an effort to stabilize their organizations in a tough economic time, The Associated Press has learned.

The combined team will be called Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and will field cars for Martin Truex, Aric Almirola, Juan Pablo Montoya and a driver yet to be named, two people familiar with the decision told the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal has yet to be announced.

Both organizations have struggled to secure sponsorship this season, forcing the teams to pool resources.

Truex and Almirola will come from Dale Earnhardt Incorporated; only Truex's car has full sponsorship for next season.

Montoya has half a season of sponsorship, and Ganassi's flagship No. 41 has full sponsorship but no driver.

DEI fields Chevrolets, and Ganassi has a Dodge contract. Details of a manufacturer switch still are being worked out as the team is expected to use General Motors.

Sources: DEI, Ganassi to combine teams....

By JENNA FRYER

AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Just when Carl Edwards seemed to have Jimmie Johnson on the ropes, the two-time defending NASCAR champion delivered the knockout punch.

Johnson moved inches away from his record-tying third consecutive Cup championship with a dominating victory Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, where he led a race-high 217 of the 313 laps to deflate Edwards' title hopes.

Johnson heads into next week's season finale up 141 points over Edwards and needs only to finish 35th or better to join Cale Yarborough (1976-78) as the only drivers in NASCAR history to win three straight Cup titles.

"This is what I've worked my whole life for," Johnson said in Victory Lane.

The win was his third straight at Phoenix, and had Edwards on the edge of conceding after his own fourth-place finish.

"It's still possible," Edwards sighed. "It's not probable."

No, it's not. Not with the way Johnson is running.

Johnson closes in on record-tying 3rd title....

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and Dale Earnhardt Inc. have entered discussions that could lead to a merger between the two organizations, foxsports.com reported Tuesday.

Such a union would bring together the Nos. 41 and 42 cars of Ganassi and the Nos. 1 and No. 8 cars of DEI, according to the report.

Juan Pablo Montoya drives the No. 42 car, but Ganassi has not named a driver for the No. 41 Target car. Martin Truex Jr. is the driver of the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops car, and Aric Almirola drives the No. 8, which has not named a sponsor for next year.

One of Montoya's current sponsors, Texaco Havoline, will not return to the car next year, but Ganassi has a partial sponsorship locked in with Wrigley's for the No. 42.

In a conference call with the media Tuesday afternoon, Montoya said he was unaware of the merger talks.

"I'll tell you, I haven't really talked to Chip too much the last few days," Montoya said. "I haven't even asked him who's driving the other car (No. 41). Right now, our focus is trying to make sure we run better. At the end of the day, it's very important to make sure we've got a good teammate.

Ganassi, DEI in merger talks....

By MIKE HARRIS

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Carl Edwards won for the second straight week, squeezing a victory out of his last tank of gas. And this time Jimmie Johnson ran out of magic.

The combination of the win by Edwards and a 15th-place finish by Johnson in Sunday's Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway moved the race winner within 106 points of NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader Johnson with just two races remaining.

Although Edwards dominated most of the race, leading 199 of the first 264 laps on the 1.5-mile oval, it was a daring call by crew chief Bob Osborne that got Edwards this win after several other drivers used two-tire strategies to get ahead of him near the finish.

"Oh yeah," Edwards screamed as he crossed the finish line. "I did it. Fuel mileage. Great job."

Edwards wins second straight race....

Sao Paulo, Brazil (Sports Network) - Felipe Massa did everything in his power to claim the Formula One World Championship by winning Sunday's season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, but with a twist of luck and the slightest bit of margin, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton earned the 2008 Formula One World Championship with a fifth-place finish at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace at Interlagos.

Hamilton was on the verge of losing the title to Massa as he was running sixth on the final lap, but the McLaren driver passed Toyota's Timo Glock and grabbed the coveted fifth spot as he entered the last corner.

Hamilton, 23, becomes the youngest driver to win a World Championship in F1 history and the first Briton to take the title since Damon Hill in 1996. He also becomes the 30th different driver to win a title on the racing circuit.

Massa wins Brazilian GP, while Hamilton clinches F1 title....

Racing driver Lewis Hamilton's given his stamp of approval to a giant portrait of himself - one that was appropriately created using remote controlled cars instead of paint brushes.

HAMPTON, Ga. — Carl Edwards did his seventh celebratory backflip and headed to Victory Lane confident he'd closed in on Jimmie Johnson's bumper in the race for the Sprint Cup title.

As the champagne flowed, his spirits were dashed.

Even with his win Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Edwards didn't dent Johnson's lead in the championship standings.

With a masterful final drive to the checkered flag, the two-time defending champion rallied from a rare penalty to finish second and stretch his points lead to a commanding 183 points over Edwards with three races remaining in the Chase for the championship.

"Are you kidding me?" a deflated Edwards asked when told Johnson had finished second. "You've rained on my parade. I could have done without that one. That's unbelievable, he does a great job."

Carl Edwards wins, Jimmie Johnson finishes second to widen lead....

By MIKE HARRIS

Camping World will replace Craftsman as the title sponsor for NASCAR's truck series in 2009.

The seven-year deal, thought to be worth between $5 million and $7 million annually, was announced Thursday by NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France and Camping World chairman and CEO Marcus Lemonis.

Camping World has been active in NASCAR for several years. In its first year as the title sponsor for NASCAR's developmental East and West series, it also has been the title sponsor for several Sprint Cup races. It has sponsorship deals with Kevin Harvick Inc. in trucks and NASCAR's Nationwide Series.

Lemonis said the company's sponsorships of the East and West series and KHI's No. 33 truck, driven by Ron Hornaday Jr., will continue through 2009.

The new sponsor is stepping into a series that is very competitive but facing a considerable challenge with both Dodge and Ford announcing within the past two months that their financial support of truck teams would end this season.

"First of all, the series is very healthy," France said.

Camping World to sponsor NASCAR trucks....

SHANGHAI (AFP) — Britain's Lewis Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday but was denied the world championship by title rival Felipe Massa, who finished second.

McLaren's Hamilton led throughout for a straightforward win but he remains just seven points ahead of Massa, taking the championship to a dramatic final race in Brazil next month.

Ferrari's outgoing champion Kimi Raikkonen was third after conceding second place to Massa late on. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso of Renault was fourth.

Hamilton wins Chinese Grand Prix....

Oyama, Japan (Sports Network) - Renault's Fernando Alonso recorded his second- consecutive victory Sunday by taking the Japanese Grand Prix. The Spaniard crossed the finish line 5.2 seconds ahead of Robert Kubica.

The victory was Alonso's 21st career in Formula One competition.

Alonso picks up second-straight F1 win....

CONCORD, N.C. — Jeff Burton failed to win a championship when he was anointed NASCAR's next big star, the guy everyone thought would challenge for multiple titles.

He couldn't win one years later, when, after years of mediocrity, he suddenly found himself back in the mix.

A win Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway rocketed Burton onto Jimmie Johnson's bumper with five races to go to decide the championship, and Burton is convinced he's as capable of winning a title now as he was when he was a young hotshot.

"No one's ever proven to me why you can't do at 41 what you could do at 23," Burton said. "We're lucky to be in a sport that you can be successful in your 40s. You can convince yourself you're too old to do it. Trust me, a lot of people will try to convince you you're too old to do it.

"But with age comes a lot of advantages, too. And we'll try to take those advantages every chance we get."

Jeff Burton uses win at Lowe's Motor Speedway to get back in title hunt....

KFFL's Keith Hernandez goes over the best and worst drivers for this week's Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

By Noah Joseph

Everyone's surprised as the FIA has announced it is canceling the Canadian Grand Prix. Those in the world of F1 racing have come to know the event as a staple of the F1 calendar. Racing fans in Montreal, this writer's home town that has hosted the race for the past three decades, are shocked to lose the event. And that includes the race organizers, who apparently learned of the news the same way the rest of us have.

Au revoir, Montréal: FIA cancels Canadian GP for 2009....

Talladega, AL (Sports Network) - Todd Bodine passed Kyle Busch for the lead coming out of the final turn of the last lap and then held off Ron Hornaday, Jr. to win Saturday's Mountain Dew 250 Craftsman Truck Series race at the Talladega Superspeedway.

The victory was Bodine's second of the season and the 14th of his Truck Series career. It was also his third consecutive superspeedway win. Bodine won in February at Daytona and last year's race at Talladega.

"Going down the back straightaway, I was thinking I'll just finish second here," Bodine said. "I pushed Kyle Busch down there, tried to get him to win. We came off of turn four and I hit him, got him sideways and I had to go down the side, and then I had a buddy behind me, Ron Hornaday. He was back there, and he came back and pushed me and here we are."

Bodine wins thrilling truck race at Talladega....

By CURT ANDERSON – 19 hours ago

MIAMI (AP) — Race car driver and "Dancing With The Stars" winner Helio Castroneves pleaded not guilty Friday to federal tax evasion charges and declared outside the courtroom that he would treat the case like a race against the Internal Revenue Service.

"I'm a race car driver," the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner told reporters. "This is a very difficult situation. I'll be strong and I'll win this race."

Castroneves, 33, spoke after his release on $10 million bail following a court appearance in which he was shackled in handcuffs and leg chains and was visibly weeping into a wad of white tissue. Outside, Castroneves acknowledged he was overwhelmed by the weight of the moment.

"It's been a long day. It's been an emotional day, obviously," he said. "I am not guilty."

Driver Castroneves pleads not guilty in tax case....

By CURT ANDERSON

MIAMI (AP) — Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and TV "Dancing With The Stars" champion Helio Castroneves was indicted Thursday on tax evasion and tax fraud charges, accused of using offshore accounts to hide millions of dollars in income from the Internal Revenue Service.

Castroneves, 33, is charged with conspiracy and six counts of tax evasion for purportedly failing to report to the IRS about $5.5 million in income between 1999 and 2004, according to court documents. Each count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Also facing charges are Katiucia Castroneves, 35, the race car driver's sister and business manager, and attorney Alan R. Miller, 71, of Birmingham, Mich. All three are scheduled to make court appearances Friday and it wasn't immediately clear if they had hired defense lawyers. None were under arrest Thursday.

"This case sends a clear message that the IRS is committed to vigorously enforcing the tax laws and stopping offshore tax evasion," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.

Race driver Castroneves charged in US tax case....

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — AJ Allmendinger will not finish the season with Red Bull Racing, giving up his seat to Mike Skinner and Scott Speed for the final seven races of the year.

Allmendinger is not returning to the No. 84 Toyota next year, and the team is letting him go early to pursue another job. He finished a career-high ninth in his Red Bull finale Sunday at Kansas Speedway.

Skinner, who drove the car for five races earlier this season, will drive the car the next two weeks at Talladega and Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Skinner, Speed to finish season for Red Bull....

By JENNA FRYER

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Paul Menard is heading to Yates Racing at the end of the season in a switch certain to hurt Dale Earnhardt Inc. DEI is losing both a driver and a sponsor at a time when a bleak economic outlook has made funding difficult.

The decision was reported by The Associated Press on Monday night and was announced Tuesday.

Menard is winless through two Sprint Cup seasons driving the No. 15 for DEI. He's 28th in the standings with one pole and a season-best finish of 11th at Michigan in June.

He called it a "great opportunity" at Yates, where his sponsorship will come from his father's hardware chain. Menard pointed to the success of owner Doug Yates and the Ford Motor Company.

"They've created a lot of horsepower and hoisted quite a few trophies over the years," he said in a statement. "I'd like to help continue that for both of them."

He's joining a Yates team that was once among the best in NASCAR, but is now slowly rebuilding with help from Roush Fenway Racing. David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil currently drive for the two-car team, and former Roush executive Max Jones moved over to Yates as general manager.

Menard moves to Yates....

By MIKE HARRIS

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Jimmie Johnson barely held off a strong challenge from Carl Edwards on Sunday at Kansas Speedway, winning the race and vaulting into first place in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

Edwards, who overcame a poor starting position and two pit lane incidents, to catch and pass Johnson for the lead, lost the top spot to Johnson on a pit stop with 47 laps to go. Edwards finally caught him again on the last lap, shooting past Johnson on the low side of the banked 1.5-mile oval in turn three — but just a little too fast.

Edwards slid up the track and bounced off the wall as Johnson drove back past and on to his fifth victory of the season, with Edwards holding on for second.

"That was cool," Johnson said moments after crossing the finish line. "Where'd he come from?

Johnson holds off Edwards, takes over points lead....

By JOHN MARSHALL

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Denny Hamlin's pit crew gave him the lead, rushing him out just ahead of Kevin Harvick near the race's halfway point.

Once out in front, Hamlin knew he'd be tough to catch. His car was just too good, even with the horsepower-sapping restrictions NASCAR aimed at Toyota teams.

Hamlin used a fast pit stop to get the lead and lost it only briefly over the final half of the race, holding off Nationwide Series points leader Clint Bowyer to win the Kansas Lottery 300 on Saturday.

Hamlin wins in Kansas....

SINGAPORE (AP) — In Formula One's first night race, Renault's Fernando Alonso captured the Singapore Grand Prix after starting 15th on the grid Sunday while McLaren's Lewis Hamilton extended his championship lead.

Alonso won for the 20th time in his career, his first victory since last year's Italian Grand Prix. Williams' Nico Rosberg was second, his best Grand Prix finish, and Hamilton was third.

Alonso takes checkered flag at Singapore Grand Prix....

By DAN GELSTON – 48 minutes ago

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Greg Biffle made it 2-for-2 in the Chase for the championship, making another late pass — this time with nine laps to go — and holding off Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards on Sunday.

Roush Fenway Racing teammates Biffle, Kenseth and Edwards engaged in a thrilling run over the final 20 laps at Dover International Speedway, but Biffle made another textbook move to the outside late to pull away.

"That was probably the best race I've seen in a long time," Kenseth said. "You hate to get beat when you're in those battles."

Biffle, the winner last week at New Hampshire after passing Jimmie Johnson with 12 laps left, is third in the Chase points standings. Biffle and Johnson are both 10 points behind Edwards for the lead, but Johnson holds the tiebreaker.

"I knew deep down inside the Roush cars had something special and were going to be tough to beat," Johnson said.

Biffle makes late pass for 2nd straight Chase win....

DOVER, Delaware — A black former technical inspector filed a complaint against NASCAR with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging racial discrimination, a hostile work environment and wrongful termination.

Dean Duckett said discrimination started in May 2001 and lasted until NASCAR fired him from his job in the Sprint Cup series on Nov. 14, 2007.

Duckett told The Associated Press on Saturday that he would consider a lawsuit if NASCAR offered him his old job back.

"I'm looking for something. Even if NASCAR was to offer me my job back, I would do that," he said. "If they wasn't going to offer me my job back, I'm shooting for a lawsuit."

Duckett said his problems started last Nov. 10 when he got into a heated argument with another official the night before the Phoenix race.

"I said to him, 'I ought to cut you.' I don't carry no blades or nothing like that," Duckett said. "It basically came out in the heat of the moment. We got into each other's faces but nothing happened. My roommate pulled me away and said, 'C'mon guys leave it alone,' and we left."

Duckett said he apologized, made up with the official and thought the incident was squashed. Instead, he said he was called the next day to NASCAR's at-track office and was sent home. Duckett said he was fired by Cup Series director John Darby and human resources director Star George.

"They took my life away," he said. "I loved my job. I put everything into my job. I feel they took away from my family."

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said on Saturday the stock car series was aware of the complaint.

Former technical inspector issues discrimination complaint against NASCAR....

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

In the wake of a brawl following last Saturday's Camping World RV Rental 200 Craftsman Truck Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NASCAR on Wednesday announced penalties to the teams involved.

Three crew members involved in the fight have been suspended for the next truck race, scheduled for Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and from all NASCAR activities through Sept. 24: Mike Hillman Jr., crew chief for the No. 30 Toyota driven by Todd Bodine; Mark Hillman of the No. 30 team; and William Divel, a crew member of the No. 11 Toyota driven by David Starr.

Hillman Jr. was fined $2,500 and had his probation extended through Dec. 31; Mark Hillman and Divel were fined $1,500 each and placed on probation through the end of the year. The largest fine was assessed against Starr, who found himself in the middle of the melee after he climbed from his truck on pit road. Starr was fined $10,000 and placed on probation through Dec. 31.

Richard Gay, crew chief for the No. 11 truck, and Jason Overstreet, crew chief for the No. 9 truck driven by David Reutimann, have been fined $1,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Germain Racing fields the No. 9 and No. 30 Toyota teams.

In addition, crew members Brandon Hopkins (No. 30) and Tony Jilson (No. 9) truck have been placed on probation through the end of the year. NASCAR also placed the entire teams of owners Steve Germain (No. 30), Bob Germain (No. 9) and Tom DeLoach (No. 11) on probation through Dec. 31.

NASCAR levies penalties for postrace fight....

By Seth Livingstone, USA TODAY

LOUDON, N.H. — Kyle Busch's season-long grip on the Sprint Cup lead vanished in the opening laps of NASCAR's first Chase race.
Busch finished 34th, plummeting to eighth in series points as Greg Biffle won Sunday's Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Biffle slipped past Jimmie Johnson after the race's final restart with 12 laps to go.

Johnson, who was seeking his third consecutive victory, ended the afternoon tied with Biffle's Roush Fenway teammate Carl Edwards (who finished third), for the points lead after the first of NASCAR's 10 races to determine a series champion.

Biffle won for the first time this season. He said he was holding back, conserving gas, until the final laps.

"I felt a little vulnerable and, sure enough, he got by," Johnson said.

Biffle ends drought at N.H.; Busch falters in Chase opener....

By PAUL LOGOTHETIS

MONZA, Italy (AP) — Sebastian Vettel became the youngest driver to win a Formula One race Sunday, finishing first in a wet Italian Grand Prix he started from the pole.

The 21-year-old German driver edged Heikki Kovalainen of McLaren by 12.5 seconds on the slick Monza circuit to give Torro Rosso its first ever win.

"For sure the best day of my life," Vettel said. "These pictures, these emotions — I will never forget."

BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica was third ahead of Fernando Alonso of Renault, while Nick Heidfeld of BMW-Sauber was fifth.

Felipe Massa finished sixth and is one point back in the overall standings behind Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, who worked his way up from 15th on the grid to finish seventh. Their are four races left in the season.

Vettel 1st at Monza to become F1's youngest winner....

Monza, Italy (Sports Network) - Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel overcame rainy conditions to win Saturday's qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix and became Formula One's youngest-ever pole sitter. The 21-year-old German recorded a lap time of one minute, 37.555 seconds during the third and final qualifying session to capture his first career pole in his 21st Grand Prix start.

"Unbelievable, incredible," Vettel said. "The conditions were so difficult today, a lot of water. You never knew how much water to expect. Sometimes you were lucky not to lose the car. What can I say, I never dreamed of being on the pole."

Vettel also gave Toro Rosso its first F1 pole.

Vettel surprise Italian GP pole winner at rainy Monza....

By JENNA FRYER

NEW YORK (AP) — Kyle Busch has been known to enjoy New York City and the ample opportunities it offers young, rich superstars.

And after a dream regular season, the kid who has seemingly won everything this year had plenty of reason to run wild during NASCAR's two-day tour through the city to promote the upcoming Chase for the championship.

Instead, the celebration seemed uncharacteristically subdued for Busch, the Las Vegas driver who usually has no trouble finding the latest hot spots. He did his media obligations and squeezed in shopping and sightseeing with his girlfriend, but bowed out when the party roared into the early morning hours.

"I've been low-key all season," he insisted.

Maybe. But isn't New York your kind of town?

All work, little play as Busch begins title hunt....

Lewis Hamilton has had his Belgian Grand Prix victory overturned by the stewards, handing the win to title rival Felipe Massa, who finished second on the road.

Hamilton was given a 25-second penalty for cutting the Bus Stop chicane during his wheel-to-wheel battle for the lead with Kimi Raikkonen during the closing laps.

Although the McLaren driver appeared to lift off and was repassed by Raikkonen on the exit of the corner, the stewards ruled that he had gained an advantage by short-cutting the circuit.

"The stewards, having received a report from the race director and having met with the drivers and team managers involved, have...determine a breach of the regulations has been committed by the competitor and impose the penalty referred to," said an FIA statement.

Stewards strip Hamilton of Spa victory....

By MIKE HARRIS

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Helio Castroneves won the race in the second closest finish in the history of the IndyCar Series, but it wasn't enough to stop Scott Dixon from taking his second championship.

Castroneves came from last place Sunday to win the PEAK Indy 300, but Dixon, who knew coming in he only had to finish eighth or better to win the title, took the lead with a perfect pit stop late in the race and nearly held off Castroneves for the victory, crossing the finish line inches behind the winner.

After nearly 30 minutes, official timing and scoring called the margin of victory 0.0033 seconds — slightly more than the 0.0024 margin Sam Hornish Jr. had over Al Unser Jr. on the 1.5-mile Joliet track in 2002.

It was sweet redemption for Dixon, who lost both the race and the championship to Dario Franchitti last year at Chicagoland Speedway when he ran out of fuel two turns from the finish.

Dixon, who came into the race with a 30-point lead, wound up winning the title and the $1 million bonus that goes with it by 17 points.

Castroneves wins IRL Chicago, but Dixon gets title....

By JENNA FRYER

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Jimmie Johnson has momentum on his side and history in sight.

Nevermind that Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards dominated the regular season, the Chase is Johnson's time of the year and the two-time defending NASCAR champion isn't turning his title over without a fight.

He won Sunday at Richmond International Raceway to grab his second consecutive win, fourth overall this season, to take a big boost into the Chase for the championship. Johnson is trying to become the first driver to win three straight titles since Cale Yarborough (1976-78).

"I do think about it," admitted Johnson, "but the less I think about it, the better I'm going to be. The less I can think about all this stuff the last 10 races, the better I am going to be. I just need to fall back to the confidence I have in my race team and my abilities.

"If you show up and you're swinging for the fences every time, you're going to make mistakes."

Johnson wins 2nd straight to charge into Chase....

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AP) — Lewis Hamilton has won the Belgian Grand Prix in a rain-splashed finish to extend his lead in the championship standings.

Hamilton again proved he was the top wet-weather driver, keeping his cool in the last few laps Sunday when a sudden shower hit the course and race leader Kimi Raikkonen spun off during the penultimate lap. Hamilton beat Ferrari's Felipe Massa by 14.4 seconds. BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld was third.

Hamilton leads Massa 80 to 72 going into the last five races.

Lewis Hamilton wins rain-splashed Belgian GP....

RICHMOND, Va. — Darian Grubb never really loved being a crew chief during his two short stints atop the pit box at Hendrick Motorsports.

When the team moved him back to an engineering job this season, he vowed not to run a race team again. But when Tony Stewart offered him the chance to crew chief his new team next year, Grubb had a sudden change of heart. Grubb said Friday the opportunity to move to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009 was so good, he simply couldn't turn it down.

"To have the chance to build a championship contending team, and go out and fight from the ground up, and build something around with all these people ... it's everything I've looked forward to in my life," Grubb said. "To be with Tony, with his capabilities as a driver and the past championships, the future heading forward is extremely bright."

Tony Stewart hires Darian Grubb as crew chief of new NASCAR team....

By Nancy Knapp Schilke - Motorsport.com

Roger Penske made his decision faster than many expected with several drivers searching for rides in 2009, David Stremme can rest easy as he was named as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racer in the No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge. The seat vacated by Ryan Newman when he and the team did not renew his contract and he elected to be the teammate for Tony Stewart's new Cup team.

"We're pleased to have David join Penske Racing as the driver of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge," said Penske. "His past accomplishments and current experience as our NASCAR test driver, as well as his character and desire for success, make him a good fit into our culture."

Stremme's return to a full-time Cup ride is not totally unexpected, the Indiana native started his career in the Nationwide series in 2003 and over the five years in NASCAR, he has paid his dues all the while learning and retaining his determination to prove he can run up-front with the best. This year, he found a ride with Rusty Wallace Inc. in the Nationwide series. In April of 2008, Stremme was announced as a test driver for the Penske organization in the Cup car.

Penske picks Stremme for 2009 ride....

Former IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti is returning to the circuit.
Target Chip Ganassi Racing on Tuesday announced that Franchitti will replace Dan Wheldon in the No. 10 Target Honda for the upcoming season as a team-mate for Scott Dixon.
Terms of the multi-year deal were not disclosed.
Franchitti, who left the IndyCar Series after winning the title in 2007 to drive for Ganassi in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide series, has over 180 starts under his belt between the CART and IndyCar Series, resulting in 18 wins, 17 poles, 63 top-five and 95 top-10 finishes.

Franchitti headed back to IndyCar Series....

BY MIKE BRUDENELL • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

He blocked, but he didn't receive the mandatory warning he felt he deserved.

He got penalized, which left him bitterly disappointed.

But Brazilian Helio Castroneves departed Belle Isle with hope on Sunday. By finishing second to Englishman Justin Wilson in a controversial Detroit Indy Grand Prix, Castroneves kept his championship chances alive as he and IndyCar Series leader Scott Dixon head to Chicago next Sunday for the last race of the season.

Dixon, who finished fifth Sunday, leads Castroneves by 30 points after the Brazilian shaved the margin by 13 with his runner-up effort -- his eighth second-place finish of the year.

Wilson gets 1st series win; Helio stays in race for title....

Fontana, CA (Sports Network) - Jimmie Johnson won Sunday night's Pepsi 500 with a dominating performance at the Auto Club Speedway. The No.48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driver and two-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion led 228 of 250 laps.

The victory was Johnson's third of the season and the 36th of his Sprint Cup career.

"It's amazing," Johnson said. "To have the fan base that I do here and the fans that support us, it means the world to me here in my home state. This was an awesome race."

Johnson knew his car was so good throughout the race that he quipped about it afterwards.

"The longest it took me to do anything tonight was to get out of the car, so I apologize for that," Johnson said.

Johnson dominant in California victory....

By Richard S. Chang

Phil Hill, the only American-born Formula One champion, died today at the age of 81. He died at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. He had suffered from Parkinson’s disease and another degenerative neurological disorder.

In a sport known for its playboy personalities, Mr. Hill was an anomaly. He was “a thoughtful, gentle man,” wrote Robert Daley in his book “The Cruel Sport.”

“I’m in the wrong business,” Mr. Hill once said. “I don’t want to beat anybody, I don’t want to be the big hero.”

But Mr. Hill was the hero — and during the most dangerous era of Formula One. Death lurked around every corner and down every straight, and death played a part in his career, although he never had a serious injury. Along with his Formula One title, with Ferrari in 1961, Mr. Hill also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times and the 12 Hours of Sebring three times.

“I, as well as all employees of Ferrari, are extremely saddened by the news of the passing of Phil Hill, a man and a champion who gave so much to Ferrari and who has always greatly represented the company’s values inside and outside the racing track,” said Luca di Montezemolo, president of Ferrari, in a statement.

Philip Toll Hill was born in Miami on April 20, 1927 to a prominent family. He was raised in Santa Monica, Calif., and studied business administration at the University of Southern California.

Phil Hill, American Racing Champion, Is Dead....

By MIKE HARRIS

SONOMA, Calif. (AP) — Helio Castroneves didn't want to let Team Penske down.

Five days after one of the team's trucks caught fire during the long trek from its race shop in North Carolina to California, badly damaging the primary cars of Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe, the teammates drove their hastily prepared backup cars to a 1-2 finish in the Grand Prix of Sonoma.

"In my perspective, it's a great and special week for us," said Castroneves, whose victory ended a 29-race winless streak. It also put him right back into the IndyCar Series championship battle with points leader Scott Dixon, who appeared to be in control until finishing 12th on Sunday.

"It's like all the hard work, it paid off, unexpected hard work," said Castroneves, who won for the first time since taking the checkered flag at St. Petersburg on April 1, 2007.

Castroneves gets first win in 30 races....

Bristol, TN (Sports Network) - Kyle Busch put on one of his most dominating performances, leading a career-high 415 laps, but Carl Edwards grabbed the lead from Busch with 31 laps to go and held it for his second-straight Sharpie 500 victory at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Edwards recorded his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory of the season and the 13th of his career. He also clinched the second seed in the championship "Chase," which begins September 14th at New Hampshire.

Busch appeared to be on the way to his ninth Sprint Cup victory of the year, but Edwards nudged him from behind. Busch got loose, allowing Edwards to move underneath him for the lead.

"I couldn't get by him," Edwards said. "I had to ask myself, 'Would he do that to me?', and he has before. That's the way it goes...You keep talking about rivalries. We might have one now."

At the conclusion of the race, a frustrated Busch retaliated by intentionally bumping Edwards on the cool-down lap. Edwards, however, got the best of the post-race ruckus when he spun Busch around.

While Edwards celebrated in Victory Lane, Busch made a trip to the NASCAR hauler for a discussion with officials.

Edwards defends Sharpie 500 title at Bristol....

BY GEORGE SIPPLE • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Joe Gibbs Racing could face severe penalties for infractions discovered during an inspection following Saturday's Nationwide Series Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway.

Apparently upset at engine rule changes handed down last month by NASCAR to limit Toyota's dominance over the other manufacturers in the Nationwide Series, members of JGR allegedly put an object under the accelerator pedal to limit horsepower during a chassis dynometer test.

"There was a piece there that apparently wouldn't let the pedal go all the way down in the dyno, and it showed like we had less horsepower than we actually did," JGR team president J.D. Gibbs said during a news conference Sunday at MIS. "Let me just say, first and foremost, that was a really poor, foolish decision on the part of our key guys there at JGR. I want to apologize to NASCAR, to our partners, to the Toyota guys.

Gibbs facing big penalties after cheating allegations....

Carl Edwards, who has finished runner-up to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series leader Kyle Busch three times this season, won Sunday's 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

In a Ford, Edwards beat Busch off the pit road during the fifth caution and took the lead for good with 18 laps remaining to win his fifth race of the season and 12th career.

Edwards was forced to survive two late cautions and held off Busch on the final restart with three laps to go.

Busch was second in a Toyota, followed by Edwards' Roush Racing team-mates David Ragan, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth.

Edwards wins ahead of Busch....

By Jim Peltz, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Tony Stewart on Friday picked Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman to drive the second car of the new NASCAR Sprint Cup team that Stewart will co-own next season.

Newman, who currently drives the No. 12 Dodge for Penske Racing, already had announced plans to leave Penske after this year and was the odds-on favorite to join Stewart. Both are Indiana natives and cut their teeth driving USAC midget cars before eventually moving to stock-car racing.


Stewart, 37, is a two-time Cup champion with 32 wins on NASCAR's premier circuit. Newman, 30, has 13 series victories.

"The thing that impressed me the most about Ryan was he asked all the right questions," Stewart told a news conference at Michigan International Speedway, site of Sunday's NASCAR race.

"From day one, the questions . . . were all about how are we going to win races, how are we going to win championships, how are we going to get the right people in place to do the right jobs?" he said.

NASCAR driver Ryan Newman joining Tony Stewart's team....