Times wires
Friday, June 3, 2011
Welcome home party for Wheldon
Indianapolis 500 winner and St. Petersburg resident Dan Wheldon is getting a victory party Tuesday in his adopted hometown.
The downtown rally starts at 5 p.m. at Jannus Live, 16 Second St. N. The event is free, though donations to the Alzheimer's Association, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, will be accepted. Wheldon's mother has been diagnosed with the disease.
The party will include a proclamation from the city and a performance by the Jeremy Thomas Band.
Drivers quiet on NASCAR's call
Sprint Cup drivers remained tightlipped rather than second-guess NASCAR for Sunday's no-caution finish at Charlotte.
The no-call, which came after Jeff Burton spun in traffic, let Kevin Harvick pass Dale Earnhardt Jr. for his third victory of the season when Earnhardt ran out of gas in the final lap.
"NASCAR has to do the best they can, and they didn't feel like they needed to throw a caution there, and in the end everyone finished the race safely," Cup points leader Carl Edwards said. "That is a lot bigger decision than I am paid to make."
Earnhardt steered clear but noted his fans' bitter disappointment — expressed often in YouTube videos.
Kyle Busch added: "Everything in this sport is circumstantial anyway. If there's a caution, there's a caution. If there's no caution, you just keep racing."
Elsewhere
Formula One's governing body rescheduled the Bahrain Grand Prix for Oct. 30, saying the decision reflects a "spirit of conciliation" in the Gulf kingdom. The FIA issued its ruling the day Bahraini police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters in the capital Manama, witnesses said. Bahrain was scheduled as the opener in March, but it was called off amid anti-government protests. … The Sept. 18 IndyCar race in Japan will run on the Twin Ring Motegi complex's road course because the 1.5-mile oval still is too damaged after the March earthquakes. … Ricky Taylor earned the pole for today's Six Hours of The Glen Grand-Am race and younger brother Jordan took the pole in the GT class at Watkins Glen, N.Y. … Del Worsham earned the No. 1 spot in Top Fuel through two rounds of qualifying at the NHRA Supernationals in Englishtown, N.J., with a run of 3.785 seconds at 322.34 mph. Robert Hight (Funny Car), Shane Gray (Pro Stock) and Gerald Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) led their classes. Qualifying ends today.
Times wires