Times wires
Thursday, May 26, 2011
IndyCar
What: Indianapolis 500
When/where: Today, Carb Day, including Firestone Freedom 100 Indy Lights race (Versus, 11 a.m.); Sunday, race (Ch. 28, noon); Indianapolis
Fast facts: Alex Tagliani became the first Canadian to earn the pole, topping the field with a four-lap average of 227.472 mph for Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Chip Ganassi's Scott Dixon, the 2008 winner, qualified second, and Oriol Servia completed the front row. … Defending champ Dario Franchitti qualified ninth. Helio Castroneves, the winner in 2000, 2001 and 2009, was 16th.
Standings: 1. Will Power, 168; 2. Franchitti, 154; 3. Servia, 110; 4. Mike Conway, 102; 5. Ryan Briscoe, 101; 6. Tony Kanaan, 99; 7. Tagliani, 85; 8. Dixon, 84; 9. Graham Rahal, 82; 10. Takuma Sato, 80
Sprint Cup
What: Coca-Cola 600
When/where: Saturday, practice (Speed, 11:30 a.m.); Sunday, race (Ch. 13, 6 p.m.); Concord, N.C.
Fast facts: Five-time defending series champ Jimmie Johnson has six Charlotte victories. He won five times in a six-race stretch at the track — taking the 2003 Coca-Cola 600 and sweeping the spring and fall races in 2004 and 2005 — and also won the 2009 fall race. … Jeff Gordon won the 1994 race for his first victory. He also won in 1997 and 1998. … Darrell Waltrip won the race a record five times.
Standings: 1. Carl Edwards, 416; 2. Johnson, 392; 3. Kyle Busch, 379; 4. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 364; 5. Kevin Harvick, 362; 6. Matt Kenseth, 342; 7. Ryan Newman, 340; 8. Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch, 336; 10. Tony Stewart, 328
Nationwide
What: Top Gear 300
When/where: Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 10 a.m.), race (Ch. 28, 2:30 p.m.); Concord, N.C.
Fast facts: Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 Formula One champion, is making his series debut. He was 15th last week at the track in his first trucks start.
Standings: 1. Elliott Sadler, 418; 2. Reed Sorenson, 411; 3. Ricky Stenhouse, 410; 4. Justin Allgaier, 398; 5. Jason Leffler, 375
Formula One
What: Monaco Grand Prix
When/where: Saturday, practice, qualifying (Speed, 8 a.m.); Sunday, race (Speed, 8 a.m.); Monte Carlo
Standings: 1. Sebastian Vettel, 118; 2. Lewis Hamilton, 77; 3. Mark Webber, 67; 4. Jenson Button, 61; 5. Fernando Alonso, 51
Trucks
Next: O'Reilly Auto Parts 250, June 4, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City
Standings: 1. Cole Whitt, 260; 2. Johnny Sauter, 259; 3. Ron Hornaday, 257; 4. Matt Crafton, 243; 5. Austin Dillon, 240
NHRA
Next: Supernationals, June 2-5, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, N.J.
Standings: Top Fuel — 1. Del Worsham, 613; 2. Tony Schumacher, 534. Funny Car — 1. Mike Neff, 593; 2. Jack Beckman, 557. Pro Stock — 1. Jason Line, 578; 2. Greg Anderson, 537