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SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2017 SPORTS Toyota GAZOO Racing wins WEC season opener at Silverstone oyota GAZOO Racing scored a dramatic L’pez set the fastest lap of the race but lost knowledge gained on the racetracks will ben- rain fell intermittently after that. Close to the age. After 66 minutes in the garage, Mike victory recently in the 6 Hours of over an hour due to an accident and finished efit us immensely in our efforts to create ‘ever- second pit stops, the #7 suffered an anti-roll brought the car back on track in 26th. TSilverstone after a thrilling opening 23rd. Jose MarÌa visited the circuit medical better cars’. I would like to thank our amazing bar problem which created handling difficul- That accident brought out a safety car and round of the 2017 FIA World Endurance center and then travelled to the hospital for a fans for their constant encouragement for our ties and caused Kamui to lose performance significantly reduced the #8 car’s advantage Championship (WEC). In a race defined by sev- precautionary scan which confirmed he suf- racing initiatives, and we look forward to their and drop to fourth. over the second-placed #2. The close fight eral rain showers, the #8 TS050 Hybrid of fered no injuries. support during a promising 2017 season.” Anthony, now at the wheel of the #8, took continued throughout the final two hours, Sebastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and On this occasion, Toshio Sato, Team over the lead but with two hours completed, setting up a grandstand finish, with Kazuki Nakajima earned a victory inside the ‘IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE’ President, said, “This has been a dramatic race the weather worsened and created a very Sebastien at the wheel for the last stint. When final 15 minutes in front of 50,200 spectators Congratulating the winning team, Takayuki but the first priority is Jose MarÌa, and we are challenging situation. Both TS050 Hybrid vehi- the #2 car emerged from its final pit stop, (weekend figure). Yoshitsugu, Chief Representative, Middle East all relieved that he is okay after the accident. cles stayed on slick tires throughout. Kamui with 30 minutes remaining, its lead was only As well as the usual winners’ trophies, the and North Africa Representative Office, Toyota The whole team performed well and fought lost time in the gravel when the rain was at its eight seconds. Sebastien hunted down the #8 crew also claimed the Royal Automobile Motor Corporation, said, “Our cars gave the right until the checkered flag. Of course, it is heaviest, while Anthony in the #8 initially lead with a series of quick lap times, even as Club International Tourist Trophy, the world’s audience an impressive performance in a very disappointing not to have two cars on the slipped to second. But as the conditions more drizzle fell, and eventually overtook oldest motor race, which was first awarded in challenging and competitive battle. The race podium, but I am proud of the team for their improved, Anthony reclaimed top spot. with only 12 minutes remaining, taking the 1905 and won by motorsport legends such as was extremely close, with plenty of lead determination and fighting spirit, particularly win by 6.173 seconds. Tazio Nuvolari, Graham Hill and Stirling Moss. changes throughout that set the stage for a the mechanics who worked so quickly to get GRANDSTAND FINISH The team now prepares for the second Through it can be charted the careers of some thrilling finish. Eventually, the #8 crew did an the #7 car back on track. Overall I am satisfied More rain came just after half distance, round of the season - the 6 Hours of Spa- of the greatest drivers, manufacturers and excellent job to hold off the competition and with our high-down force TS050 Hybrid, which which caused the end of the #7 car’s chal- Francor champs in Belgium, the final race team staff, some of the most challenging and give Toyota a well-deserved victory in the sea- showed robust performance throughout this lenge. Jose MarÌa, fighting a car with difficult before the Le Mans 24 Hours. Spa-Francor majestic racetracks, and some of the most son’s opening round, and also earning the his- week.” Although the race started in cool, dry handling, crashed into a tire barrier at speed, champs will mark the first time Toyota has innovative technology ever seen in the sport. toric Royal Automobile Club International conditions and the two Toyota vehicles ran in causing extensive damage to the front and entered three hybrid-powered LMP1 cars, with The pole-sitting #7 TS050 Hybrid of Mike Tourist Trophy.” first and second, the weather soon intervened rear. He brought the car back to the pits and Stephane Sarrazin, Yuji Kunimoto and Nicolas Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose MarÌa Yoshitsugu added: “The experience and - after 45 minutes a shower struck and light the mechanics worked hard to repair the dam- Lapierre competing in the #9 TS050 Hybrid. Aldridge steps up as Spurs down Rockets James scores 35 as Cavs HOUSTON: LaMarcus Aldridge had been less than three minutes remaining. San criticized through two games of the Western Antonio was up by six entering the fourth leave Raptors on brink Conference semifinals for not doing enough quarter and had a five-point lead with about for the San Antonio Spurs. On Friday night, 7 1/2 minutes remaining when Harden was with the Spurs now without Tony Parker, he given a technical foul for complaining after TORONTO: Last year, LeBron James and the from beyond the arc. “It’s tough to win a game point in the final quarter. With Toronto strug- shook off his slow start to this series with a not getting a call. Leonard made the free Cavaliers had their postseason win streak end in when you only make two 3-pointers,” DeRozan gling, James hit four free throws on either side of huge game that propelled his team to a 103- throw to make it 78-72. Canada. This time, Cleveland came across the said. Lowry sprained his left ankle in the third a 3-pointer to put the Cavs up 97-80 with 6:20 92 victory over the Houston Rockets and a 2- The Spurs led by four at halftime and border and kept right on rolling. James scored quarter of Game 2 and did not practice left. “That stretch right at the beginning of the 1 lead. Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard scored pushed the lead to 52-43 early in the third 35 points, Kevin Love had 16 points and 13 Thursday. He worked out a few hours before fourth quarter is what got us,” Casey said. The 26 points apiece in San Antonio’s first post- quarter. San Antonio was up by 10 soon rebounds, and the Cavaliers pulled away in the Friday’s game and was on the court during Raptors missed their first 12 shots from 3-point season game without Parker since 2001, after that before the Rockets used a 10-1 fourth quarter to beat the Toronto Raptors 115- warmups but hobbled back to the locker room range before Powell connected with 3:09 left in which ended an NBA record of 221 straight spurt, with all the points from Harden, to cut 94 on Friday night and take a 3-0 lead in their before the anthems. “He was limping badly,” the third. playoff appearances for the Frenchman. The it to 56-55 midway through the quarter. second-round playoff series. Casey said. “He just couldn’t go. He wanted to. 34-year-old was injured in the fourth quarter Jonathon Simmons hit a 3-pointer at the “We knew we were coming to a hostile envi- The doctors and trainers and medical people TIP-INS of Game 2. “You can’t replace Tony Parker. buzzer to leave San Antonio up 72-66 enter- ronment, we knew they were going to give us were just telling him he shouldn’t try to go Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson got in the face of He’s a Hall of Famer one day, but I think guys ing the fourth quarter. everything they had, no matter who was in the because he was in so much pain.” Cory Joseph Valanciunas after the Lithuanian center dragged just came out with a sense of urgency and Harden picked up his third foul with 5:18 lineup,” James said. “We just had to weather the started for Toronto. James down to the court during a third-quarter just played hard,” Aldridge said. left in the first quarter when he ran into Pau storm.” DeMar DeRozan scored 37 points and Even without Lowry, the Raptors trailed 79-77 skirmish. ... Thompson had 12 rebounds. The Aldridge had managed just 19 points Gasol and crashed to the court while Jonas Valanciunas had 19 for the Raptors, who to begin the fourth, but Cleveland pulled away Cavaliers outrebounded the Raptors 49-25. combined in the first two games, but attempting a 3-pointer. Harden was out- were without three-time All-Star Kyle Lowry. as Toronto missed 10 of its first 11 field goal Raptors: Joseph started for the first time in stepped up in the wake of Parker’s season- raged at the call, flipping over on his stom- They trailed by only two after three quarters attempts to begin the final quarter. “Nothing 70 playoff appearances. ... Lowry is averaging ending leg injury, scoring nine points in the ach on the court and kicking his legs in dis- before the Cavaliers quickly blew open the could fall for us, especially at the start of that 15.8 points and 5.9 assists in eight games this fourth quarter to help the Spurs pull away.

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