The new qualifying format for the Indianapolis 500 will include three rounds over two days, with the pole-winner emerging from a "Fast Nine Shootout" on what used to be Bump Day.
[b]Clay Matthews Super Bowl Jersey[/b] . IndyCar officials also said Friday there will be points incentives that have yet to be announced. Qualifying for the Indy 500 this year will begin on May 17 when the fastest 33 cars are locked into the field. All entries will be guaranteed at least one four-lap attempt to qualify, and the fastest nine drivers will move into the shootout. On Sunday, the previous days times will be erased and entries 10 through 33 will complete another four-lap qualifying attempt to determine their starting position. The fastest nine drivers from Saturday will then make one four-lap attempt to determine the prestigious pole winner and starting front row. The Indy 500 has had four-lap qualifying runs since 1939. The Fast Nine pole shootout was introduced in 2010, but was on Saturday. The change comes as IndyCar struggles to fill the 33-car field, making the once tension-filled Bump Day drama-free the last two years. Without additional entrants on hand trying to make the race, Sunday had become a glorified practice session. By making qualifying stretch over two days, Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has become relevant again. "We have a desire to give fans more opportunities to see IndyCar drivers on the track when theres a lot at stake, not just with practice, but where they are out there with putting it on the line in a way that matters," said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman Motorsports. "I think in the last many years, Saturday has been the day in qualifying, but theres been an opportunity to add more compelling content on Sunday, and thats what were trying to do here." IndyCar driver Graham Rahal called the new format "intriguing" and praised it for adding fan appeal. "The most important thing to realize here is we have to give our fans a better product both on TV and at track," Rahal said. "As we know Sunday in the past has been a moot point. Now I think theres going to be quite a bit of buildup Saturday, see who the 33 will be, then go into Sunday and wait till the very end to see who the pole winner is going to be. "Im pretty excited for the changes that are ahead. Of course, I am a traditionalist, but Im always one thats open for change as well." The format will make life a little more difficult for NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, who will attempt to become the first driver in 10 years to run both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Busch will now have to qualify in Indianapolis on Saturday, fly to Charlotte, N.C., for NASCARs All-Star race that evening, then return to Indianapolis to determine his starting spot in Sundays qualifying session. Under the old format, had Busch locked himself into the field on Saturday, he would not have necessarily have needed to return to Indianapolis following the All-Star race unless he was in danger of being bumped out. ABC will broadcast the final two hours of Saturdays qualifications and three hours on Sunday. Additional hours of qualifying will be carried on ESPN3, the network said. "Down through history, qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 has made for many dramatic and compelling television moments, and were confident that the leadership of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar will continue that tradition with this new format," said Rich Feinberg, ESPN vice-president, motorsports, production.
[b]Kevin King Super Bowl Jersey[/b] .Then came December.Three straight losses, including a crushing 27-24 defeat to Washington (4-11) on Saturday, has the Eagles (9-6) on the brink of playoff elimination.
[b]Adrian Amos Super Bowl Jersey[/b] . - Kyle Wood and Barclay Goodrow scored second period power-play goals to provide all of the scoring for the North Bay Battalion in a 2-0 victory over the Erie Otters in Ontario Hockey League action on Thursday.BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Ryan Blaney bolted past Kyle Busch on a restart with six laps remaining and won Fridays NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway for his second career victory. It was a surprising finish after Busch, seeking to become the first driver to win four consecutive races in the series on the 0.533-mile oval, had dominated for much of night, especially on restarts. Battling at various times against the youngest and brightest stars in the series, Busch generally made quick work of them. He led 161 of the 300 laps and seemed poised for his record 67th victory in the series. But on the final restart, he was holding back, as was his prerogative as the leader, until Blaney suddenly darted to the lead from the inside line, cleared Buschs car and sailed off to the victory. "Kyle didnt go on that last restart," Blaney said, referring to the marked area on the track wall inside which the leader is supposed to accelerate, with the rest of the field following his lead. "He said his tires were jacked up and we got to the second line and we just went," Blaney said. Busch managed to get close to Blaneys bumper, but that was it. "I was driving my guts out trying to stay ahead of him," Blaney said. Busch, meanwhile, seethed like he had something taken away from him. "My rear tires werent on the race track and I couldnt accelerate," he said, suggesting Regan Smith, restarting behind him, had lifted Buschs car off the track to eliminate his traction. "NASCAR doesnt police it and so everyboody keeps jacking around on it and one of these days Im just going to lock all four (tires) down and stack the whole field up," Busch said.
[b]Reggie White Super Bowl Jersey[/b]. Chase Elliott, who finished third, saw it differently. "I saw Kyle make a rare mistake," Elliott said, adding that Busch was spinning his tires. Elliott finished third and remained the series leader by 13 points over Smith. Ty Dillon finished fourth, followed by Smith. The night began with a 1 hour, 20 minute rain delay after a shower arrived just after driver introductions. The last half of the race was run with teams watching radar as a storm moved in, and it was a total washout for Elliott Sadler, too. The Virginia native began the night third in points and seeking his third Nationwide victory on the track that bills itself "the worlds fastest half-mile." Sadler was running in the top five until his problems began. He was involved in three of the nights 10 caution flags, the first after an accident with Timmy Hill, and limped to the finish in 29th place. He fell from 16 points off the lead to 42 behind. Earlier, Kyle Larson and Busch dueled extensively, and Larson was the only one able to get the better of Busch, until Blaney slipped into him and Larson spun into the wall, ruining his night. "I thought he was just going to chase me to the top, but instead he ran us into the wall," Larson said. "I know Ryans a good kid. Its just frustrating. Its Bristol. Its just short-track racing." Larson wound up 26th despite leading 46 laps. ' ' '
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