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FILE - Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti speaks during the champions news conference after theiir win against Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game, on Jan. 20, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti to drive the honorary pace car at the Indianapolis 500

The Associated Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Curt Cignetti, who coached Indiana to its first national title in football, will drive the honorary pace car at the Indianapolis 500.

Race organizers made the announcement Tuesday night during the World Baseball Classic championship game. Cignetti will drive a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, touted as the most advanced Corvette ever made, at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on May 24.

The Hoosiers made an incredible leap during Cignetti's first two seasons, going from the losingest Football Bowl Subdivision program in history to the first major college football team to finish 16-0 since the 1890s. Cignetti became the first to win back-to-back AP Coach of the Year awards.

Indiana enters the 2026 season with the nation's longest winning streak (16 games), the longest Big Ten winning streak (10) and the nation's longest home winning streak (14). Cignetti's 27 wins also are the most in the FBS over the past two years.

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Alex Bowman sidelined for at least 3 more NASCAR races as vertigo symptoms linger

Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Alex Bowman sidelined for at least 3 more NASCAR races as vertigo symptoms linger

Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman will miss at least the next three NASCAR Cup Series races while he recovers from vertigo.

Bowman had to exit the March 1 race at Circuit of the Americas because he was not feeling well. He was replaced mid-race and diagnosed with vertigo, and has missed races at Phoenix and Las Vegas since.

Myatt Snider drove the No. 48 Chevrolet at COTA, Anthony Alfredo drove at Phoenix and Justin Allgaier drove Sunday at Las Vegas.

Allgaier will fill in for Bowman again starting this weekend at Darlington Raceway, then at Martinsville Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway.

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Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026

FILE - Alex Bowman looks on prior to NASCAR's The Clash preseason auto race, Feb. 4, 2026, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley, File)

NASCAR suspends Daniel Dye after livestream mockery of IndyCar’s David Malukas

Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

NASCAR suspends Daniel Dye after livestream mockery of IndyCar’s David Malukas

Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:05 PM CDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR driver Daniel Dye was suspended Tuesday — the second known major penalty of his racing career — for mocking IndyCar driver David Malukas during a recent livestream.

In the video, which circulated Tuesday on social media, Dye used voices that made inferences about Malukas' sexuality. He mimicked Malukas' voice at one point.

Dye is a Truck Series driver for Kaulig Racing, which also suspended him. NASCAR ordered Dye to undergo sensitivity training.

Dye apologized to Malukas in a social media post, calling his comments “careless.”

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Updated: Yesterday at 4:05 PM CDT

FILE - Driver Daniel Dye (43) is seen during qualifying for the NASCAR Weather Guard Truck Series, March 16, 2024, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)

Denny Hamlin shakes off Phoenix heartbreak with a Las Vegas win alongside Chris Gayle

Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Denny Hamlin shakes off Phoenix heartbreak with a Las Vegas win alongside Chris Gayle

Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Emotions were heavy after a decision to take four tires in NASCAR's championship-deciding finale in the Arizona desert backfired and cost Denny Hamlin the Cup Series title that has eluded him his entire career.

Hamlin had dominated the season finale in November until a late caution forced him to pit road and crew chief Chris Gayle had to make a choice. Gayle called for four tires, Kyle Larson took two tires to beat Hamlin out of the pits.

Hamlin didn't have enough time to catch Larson over two laps and Larson won his second Cup Series title as Hamlin was left empty-handed once again.

It was a gutting defeat that might have broken others.

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Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

Denny Hamlin (11) drives ahead of Christopher Bell (20) during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

Denny Hamlin storms back to win at Las Vegas after early penalty

Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Denny Hamlin storms back to win at Las Vegas after early penalty

Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Denny Hamlin returned to victory lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday for his first win since he lost the NASCAR championship four months ago, and first since the death of his father in a December house fire.

“I knew it took a few weeks to feel like driving,” Hamlin said after his 61st career victory. “Over the last couple weeks, I definitely regained my love of it, got refocused. These are great opportunities for us.”

Hamlin's 60th career victory was at Las Vegas last October, a win he dedicated to his father as it locked Hamlin into NASCAR's championship-deciding finale. His father was in poor health and Hamlin went into the race knowing it was probably his final chance to win a championship while Dennis Hamlin was still alive.

Then Hamlin dominated last year's title-decider at Phoenix Raceway but the wrong call on the final pit stop cost him the Cup championship that has eluded the three-time Daytona 500 winner.

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Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Drives get the green flag at the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

Kyle Kirkwood wins another IndyCar street race, this one to become first winner in Arlington

Stephen Hawkins, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Kyle Kirkwood wins another IndyCar street race, this one to become first winner in Arlington

Stephen Hawkins, The Associated Press 4 minute read Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kyle Kirkwood keeps taking it to the streets in IndyCar, and this time he won a new race to take over the series lead.

Kirkwood made an aggressive pass below four-time series champion Alex Palou with 15 laps to go, stayed in front the rest of the way and took the checkered flag for the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington under caution Sunday. It was his sixth career win, the fifth in a street race.

“I mean, it's a statement of how good we are on street courses, right?” Kirkwood said.

On a day when Andretti Global had some pit issues, including a long stop for Kirkwood midway through the race, all three of team's Hondas still finished in the top four and combined to lead 47 of the race's 70 laps. Will Power was third for a podium finish while Marcus Ericsson, who started on the pole for the first time in his 171 series starts, led 15 laps and was fourth.

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Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

Driver Kyle Kirkwood takes a turn during practice for IndyCar Grand Prix of Arlington auto race, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

McLaren launches investigation after Norris and Piastri unable to start F1’s Chinese Grand Prix

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

McLaren launches investigation after Norris and Piastri unable to start F1’s Chinese Grand Prix

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 3 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

McLaren has launched an investigation with engine supplier Mercedes to investigate why both of its cars suffered terminal electrical faults that ruled them out of the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, as Formula 1 champion Lando Norris said the team must rule out a repeat.

Norris was stuck waiting in his car in McLaren's garage before time ran out for him to join the grid, and teammate Oscar Piastri had to be withdrawn from the grid minutes before the start with what McLaren termed separate electrical problems with its Mercedes-supplied power unit. Piastri was due to start fifth and Norris sixth.

It was the first time in Norris' eight-season F1 career that he has missed a race and Piastri's second missed race in a row after crashing on his way to the grid at his home race in Australia.

“We just have to take it on the chin, learn what the problem was, and make sure it never happens again,” Norris said. “Everyone in the team is frustrated, our engineers, mechanics and HPP (Mercedes High Performance Powertrains) teammates. All of us want to go racing and score points.”

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Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain watches the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Shanghai International Circuit, in Shanghai, China, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

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Lewis Hamilton ‘incredibly grateful’ to Ferrari as long wait for F1 podium ends

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Lewis Hamilton ‘incredibly grateful’ to Ferrari as long wait for F1 podium ends

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 3 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Lewis Hamilton says he is “incredibly grateful” to Ferrari for letting him guide the development of the car that put him back on a Grand Prix podium for the first time since 2024.

Hamilton's third-place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix followed a race-long battle with teammate Charles Leclerc and what Hamilton called “just a kiss” of contact between the pair.

It ended a long wait for a finish in the top three for Hamilton in a full Formula 1 race since his blockbuster move from Mercedes, which took the win Sunday with the driver who replaced him at the team, Kimi Antonelli.

“To see them listen and put some of those things that I’d asked for on the car I’m just incredibly grateful to them for listening on that side of things," Hamilton said.

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Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after he clocked the third fastest time in the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Shanghai International Circuit, in Shanghai, China, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Kimi Antonelli takes his first F1 win with victory in China to extend Mercedes’ dominant start

The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Kimi Antonelli takes his first F1 win with victory in China to extend Mercedes’ dominant start

The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

SHANGHAI (AP) — He’s been defined by being Lewis Hamilton’s successor and George Russell’s teammate. Now Kimi Antonelli is a Formula 1 race-winner in his own right, and the second-youngest in history.

The 19-year-old Italian pulled clear of an entertaining battle between Russell and the two Ferraris to take a commanding win at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday and share the podium with his teammate and Hamilton, the seven-time champion he replaced last year.

“I’m speechless. I’m about to cry, to be honest,” Antonelli said, holding back tears. “Thank you so much to my team because they helped me to achieve this dream.”

Wolff's gamble pays off

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Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy gestures during the drivers parade ahead of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Shanghai International Circuit, in Shanghai, China, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Christopher Bell takes Las Vegas pole as Joe Gibbs Racing sweeps top 3 qualifying

Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Christopher Bell takes Las Vegas pole as Joe Gibbs Racing sweeps top 3 qualifying

Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

LAS VEGAS (AP) — This time last week observers were questioning what was wrong with Joe Gibbs Racing as the team stumbled out of NASCAR's opening gate and parked in the back end of the garage as a team struggling in the Cup Series rankings.

Then three JGR drivers finished in the top-five in Phoenix and rolled that momentum into Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where their trucks were repositioned with the rest of the title contenders. The team didn't slow down and Christopher Bell led a Toyota qualifying march that saw JGR drivers sweep the top three starting positions.

Bell took the pole for Sunday's race with a lap at 187.156 mph to put the No. 20 Toyota on the pole ahead of JGR teammate Denny Hamlin, who turned a lap at 186.188.

Ty Gibbs qualified third as JGR swept the top three spots and Toyota dominated the session: Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing was fourth in a Toyota, which had five drivers in the top seven. Daytona 500 winner Tyler Reddick, winner of the first three races this season, was seventh for 23XI.

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Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

FILE - NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell, foreground, participates in a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

Red flag at IndyCar practice after workers spotted on temporary Texas street course

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Red flag at IndyCar practice after workers spotted on temporary Texas street course

The Associated Press 2 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — IndyCar officials had to throw a red flag to freeze the cars as they were pulling out of the pit area for a second practice session Saturday when three workers were spotted on the hot track. No one was injured.

Practice for the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington resumed after a delay of several minutes as IndyCar officials checked the temporary 2.73-mile, 14-turn circuit on the streets around the stadiums of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers.

The television broadcast showed the trio of workers who appeared to be part of a catering crew. One of them was pushing a catering cart in a spot between AT&T Stadium, the Cowboys' home, and a nearby hospitality area.

Cars practicing for Sunday's race hadn't yet gotten up to speed when the track breach was spotted.

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Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

A lone auto race fan watches practice runs for the IndyCar Grand Prix of Arlington auto race, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Roger Penske’s Texas-sized ‘playground’ in Jerry Jones’ neighborhood is IndyCar’s new street course

Stephen Hawkins, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Roger Penske’s Texas-sized ‘playground’ in Jerry Jones’ neighborhood is IndyCar’s new street course

Stephen Hawkins, The Associated Press 6 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Roger Penske and IndyCar found a Texas-sized “playground” in Jerry Jones’ neighborhood for a temporary street course to bring the series back to the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

Nearly three years after IndyCar last ran on the fast 1 1/2-mile oval at Texas Motor Speedway about 30 miles away, the open-wheel series will race Sunday on a 2.73-mile, 14-turn circuit on the streets of Arlington around the home stadiums of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and MLB’s Texas Rangers.

“It’s iconic because we are here between the Cowboys and the Rangers real estate. To have this as our playground, you might call it, for a weekend is amazing,” Penske said. “We don’t have this kind of commitment any place that we go as we do here. The investment by the partners along with IndyCar is amazing.”

The Grand Prix of Arlington is the first of three new street races on the IndyCar schedule this season. It is also the start of a multiyear deal in North Texas that came together with the involvement of a pair of successful businessmen and showmen. Their relationships goes back to when Penske was chairman of the host committee for the Super Bowl played in Detroit in 2006, five years before one in Jones' then sparkling-new stadium.

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Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

FILE -Texas Rangers chief operating officer Neil Leibman, left, Penske corporation chairman Roger Penske, center, and Dallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones, right, attend a news conference in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, announcing the IndyCar Grand Prix of Arlington to be held in 2026. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron, File)

Antonelli on pole for F1’s Chinese Grand Prix after teammate Russell wins sprint

The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Antonelli on pole for F1’s Chinese Grand Prix after teammate Russell wins sprint

The Associated Press 4 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

SHANGHAI (AP) — Kimi Antonelli stepped up Saturday when his Mercedes teammate George Russell hit trouble in qualifying to become the youngest-ever driver on pole position for a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

After holding off a challenge from Ferrari to win the sprint race earlier in the day, Russell seemed near-unbeatable. Then he stopped on track in qualifying and limped back to the pits with technical problems.

Russell's team got the car going again with seconds to spare for him to set a time. It was only good enough for second on the grid, 0.222 of a second off Antonelli, who kept up Mercedes’ run of qualifying dominance after F1’s sweeping changes to the cars for 2026.

The Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will start third and fourth. Their fast starts could threaten Mercedes off the line, as they did last week in Australia and in Saturday's sprint race.

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Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

Mercedes driver George Russell, left, of Britain leads the pack during the Sprint Race of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit, in Shanghai, China, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Alpine F1 team boss says Mercedes is interested in buying a stake in his team

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Alpine F1 team boss says Mercedes is interested in buying a stake in his team

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 3 minute read Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Mercedes is among “three or four potential buyers” for a 24% stake in rival Formula 1 team Alpine, the French team's executive adviser Flavio Briatore said Friday.

Ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, Briatore said Mercedes was keen on the minority share — held by a private equity firm which has worked with sports stars like Patrick Mahomes — but suggested it wouldn't come with influence over how Alpine is run. He also dismissed reports Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was in talks to buy the stake on his own behalf.

“Every day is a new situation. I don’t know what is the latest one, but what I say is that I know it’s a negotiation with Mercedes, not with Toto, with Mercedes, and we see. In this moment we have three or four potential buyers,” said Briatore, who has been Alpine's de-facto team boss since last year.

Asked if that could lead to conflict-of-interest concerns about Mercedes — which already supplies Alpine's engines — gaining influence over how it's run or how it votes on future rule changes, Briatore suggested any minority shareholder would be a “passenger” in those talks.

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Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly of France steers his car during the sprint qualifying ahead of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix, in Shanghai, China, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Russell and Mercedes dominate again in qualifying for F1’s China sprint

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Russell and Mercedes dominate again in qualifying for F1’s China sprint

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 4 minute read Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

George Russell praised his Mercedes as a “joy to drive” as he took pole for the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix on Friday to continue his team's dominant start to the new era of Formula 1.

Russell is the driver to beat in Shanghai after his dominant win in Australia last week. With teammate Kimi Antonelli qualifying second, 0.289 of a second down, and no other team close, Mercedes is on target for another 1-2 finish in Saturday's sprint, which is followed by qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix.

“The car has been feeling amazing,” Russell said. “The engine is performing really well and today it was a real joy to drive.”

Lando Norris was .621 adrift, a vast gap in F1 terms, in third for McLaren. Only Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari in fourth and Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri in fifth got within a second of Russell's time.

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Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain speaks during an interview ahead of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Shanghai International Circuit, in Shanghai, China, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Verstappen sees ‘a jungle’ in F1 but still hopes for ‘simple solutions’

The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Verstappen sees ‘a jungle’ in F1 but still hopes for ‘simple solutions’

The Associated Press 4 minute read Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026

SHANGHAI (AP) — Max Verstappen's blunt assessment: “It's a jungle” in Formula 1.

The four-time F1 world champion isn't a fan of the new 2026 technical regulations, despite working his way up from No. 20 on the grid to place sixth at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix last weekend.

Verstappen predicted his Red Bull probably couldn’t go any higher than fifth place this weekend in the Chinese Grand Prix — even if he starts much closer to the front in Sunday's race in Shanghai — because of the big gap between Mercedes and Ferrari and all the other teams.

“Honestly, it’s such a jungle out there at the moment," Verstappen said Thursday at the driver news conferences in Shanghai. “I mean, I would hope that it gets a bit closer ... but it’s clear that at the moment we cannot fight with those cars.”

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Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026

March 19, 2026

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