Scott Dixons teammates spent the final three hours of the Rolex 24 at Daytona raving about his talent while watching him seal a victory in one of the most prestigious endurance races in the world.
[b]Paul MacLean Jersey[/b] .The three-time IndyCar champion would take none of the credit.Dixon, who carried the heaviest load for Chip Ganassi Racings four-driver lineup, insisted Sundays win was a team effort that included many people from Ganassis sprawling organization. But theres a reason Daytona 500 champion Jamie McMurray, Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan and NASCARs newest hotshot, Kyle Larson, didnt spend too much time worrying about the outcome during Dixons lengthy final stint in the car.They knew The Iceman would get the job done.Its really hard to appreciate the talent that guys have from other series until you race with them, McMurray said. Its crazy the pace that Scott is able to have in the car. I think Scott is one of the most talented guys in the field. Hes an incredible driver.The praise also came from Larson, who improved from his underwhelming debut last season by learning from Dixon, and Kanaan, who has raced against Dixon for 14 seasons.I got beaten by Scott for a long time, Kanaan said. Hes a very, very smart and complete race car driver. He can adapt to anything. Its unbelievable how he can make a bad car still be fast, and I think thats something that I try to learn from him every time I watch him.There was no need for Dixon to carry the team in the twice-round-the-clock race around Daytona International Speedway. The Ganassi group brought a pair of strong cars to the race and both set the pace early.Had the clutch not broken in the homestretch on the No. 01, that Scott Pruett-led car might have been racing for the win in the final hour.The Dixon-led No. 02 star car had no major issues, and, still in contention after daybreak, it became clear theyd use the New Zealander to close out the race. Larson drove an abbreviated stint and stayed in the car only long enough to make Dixon eligible to finish the race.IMSA rules state a driver can only be in the car for a total of four total hours in a six-hour period, and Dixon climbed in with 3 hours, 32 minutes remaining.It was a long final stint for Dixon, who drove three times for more than seven hours during the 24-hour race. His task in that final stretch was to conserve fuel, maintain the pace and follow strategy to give Ganassi its record sixth victory in the race.He did it with what appeared to be ease, and seemed fresh and ready to drive another three hours as he celebrated in victory lane.Its not easy whatsoever. I feel the load just as much as any of these guys, Dixon said. Pressure is what you make of it, and as long as you get out of the car and you know youve done the best that you could, you should be happy with that. I think for all of us here this weekend, the best that we did was good enough to get the victory.Dixon, so selfless and so content for so many years in the shadow of famous former teammate Dario Franchitti, cares far more about final results than accolades.But Dixon has earned any praise heaped his way for steadily building one of the most prolific careers in open-wheel history. Hes won three IndyCar titles, the 2008 Indianapolis 500 and his 35 career victories tie him for fifth on the all-time list with Bobby Unser. The only drivers ahead of Dixon are named Foyt, Andretti and Unser.Hes won the Rolex twice, and as he begins his 14th season with Ganassi, hes the longest tenured driver in the temperamental owners history.Dixon is also the only active driver to finish in the top three in points every year since 2006. Its that streak — he lost three consecutive championships to teammate Franchitti, who also won a pair of Indy 500s in that span — that has likely led to him often being overlooked.Ganassi team manager Mike Hull, who has been with Dixon his entire IndyCar and sports car career, said the driver gets plenty of appreciation within his organization.Hes one of those people that have enormous ability, has terrific passion, wants to make himself better every day, Hull said. Hes not complacent with where he is presently. Ill guarantee you, hell come back here to race again, and hell want to improve himself over where he just finished today.Hes very direct with what he wants with his race car, and then hes unselfish. He gives back. The younger drivers have a great mentor in Scott Dixon.
[b]Christian Fischer Jersey[/b] . Betancourt was 2-5 with a 4.08 ERA and 16 saves for the Rockies last season before tearing a ligament in his pitching elbow. He considered undergoing platelet-rich plasma therapy to fix his arm, but announced in August his decision to have Tommy John surgery.
[b]Coyotes Jerseys China[/b] . While Minnesota takes aim at its eighth win of November, the Canadiens will try to post just their third victory in nine games this month.TORONTO -- Jay Triano has set a gruelling summer schedule that will see Canadas mens basketball team play six games in six nights -- in three different countries. It wont be easy. But then again, thats the point. "We want it to be challenging. Youve got to go through these tough times in order to build your team," said Triano, Canadas head coach. The Canadian men failed to qualify for this summers basketball World Cup, and Triano said it was obvious at the qualifying tournament that what his young squad needed was international experience. So Canada Basketball set up this summers European tour that will see the team play 11 games between July 24 and Aug. 12. Among their opponents: five of the worlds top-15 ranked teams. "Were playing Slovenia in Slovenia, Croatia in Croatia, Spain in Spain. . . were going to be in some crazy basketball environments. And its what we need, we need to get these players playing the international game and understanding it a little bit more, when the conditions arent perfect," Triano said. "That was the goal. "We could have a training camp and bring guys in. But these guys train all year round with their respective NBA teams, we wanted to make sure we got more experience playing the games." Among their opponents, the 25th-ranked Canadians will play No. 2 Spain, seventh-ranked Turkey, Serbia (11), Slovenia (13) and Angola (15). Eight of the 11 teams will be using the games as part of their preparation for the World Cup. "The other three -- Italy, Bosnia and Georgia -- are kind like us, theyre playing games to get better and not have an off summer," said Triano, whos also an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers. The Canadian players will gather in Toronto for a three-day camp, July 20-22 at the Air Canada Centre. With several of Canadas top young players such as Andrew Wiggins and Tyler Ennis gearing up for the June 26 NBA draft, Triano isnt sure who hell have this summer. Wiggins, Ennis, Nik Stauskas, along with several other Canadians hoping to hear their name called in the draft, are currently travelling around the NBA, working out for teams. Theyll head from the draft to play in the NBA summer league. "Its going to be a lot of NBA players on our team. But there are probably four or five guys who are in the draft that we have to wait until they get drafted and then confer with theeir team and then decide in conjunction with their team and their agents and them whats best for them," Triano said.
[b]Phil Kessel Jersey[/b]. "Obviously we would love them all to play this summer but we also have to build a relationship with them moving forward and its going to be a busy summer for the guys who are in the draft." Hed like to take a page out USA Basketballs book and have players commit to more than one year. "We cant just all of a sudden, first time they play for our national team, is next summer at the Pan American Games, and then weve got to try to qualify for the Olympics," Triano said. "Were trying to build a basketball program, but we still have to be respectful to the fact that these guys are trying to get their careers on track and trying to do the right thing with the NBA." Triano said hell field his strongest team at next summers Pan Am Games in Toronto. Its perfect preparation for the FIBA Americas qualifying tournament for the Rio Olympics. Plus, its in Toronto, "so thats exciting," he said. With the likes of young stars like Wiggins, coupled with talented NBA players such as Tristan Thompson, Canadian mens basketball could be on the cusp of enjoying unparalleled success. "I would say the only negative is that were just so young. Even our NBA players are very very young players," Triano said -- Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers) is only 23, while Andrew Nicholson (Orlando Magic) is 24. "This summer is a great summer for them, they can play lots of games, and we play in crazy environments like the international game sometimes presents," Triano said. "And well see what we get from that experience and then next summer weve got the Pan Ams here in Toronto and then the Olympic qualifying tournament later in the summer." Canada went 3-4 to finish sixth at last summers FIBA Americas qualifying tournament for the World Cup. One of their victories came against eventual winner Mexico. Triano pointed out his young team was up against the likes of Luis Scola (Argentina/Indiana Pacers), who at 34 years old is well-versed in the international game, and 32-year-old Jack Martinez of the Dominican Republic. "Its just the savvy play," he said. "And thats why when we finished we said we had to find a way next summer to play more international games." ' ' '
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