TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015 SPORTS Dixon claims Indy 500 pole on a tough day

INDIANAPOLIS: One minute, Scott Ganassi Racing driver thought his No. 9 than the fastest laps turned this month. becoming the first driver to win three being England’s Justin Wilson. He will Dixon thought the numbers were a mis- car was good enough to end the Penske “It’s nerve wracking because you’re straight poles at Indy. The delay did give start sixth, the outside of Row 2, after take. The next, he was sitting on the monopoly. getting in a car you that you haven’t his team time, however, to get a backup going 225.279. pole. On one of the But when Ed Carpenter’s primary car really driven,” the New Zealander said. car ready and he wound up in the No. 12 Marco Andretti was the top American strangest qualifying days in Indy history, went airborne in the morning practice, “I’m ready to go home and go to bed starting spot after going 224.883. He qualifier and will start in the middle of Dixon overcame rules changes, a revised the third Chevrolet car to do that this and have a good night’s sleep.” was the third car out and held the top Row 3 with an average speed of 225.189. schedule, the threat of rain and Team week, team owners, engine manufactur- Others might not rest as easily. spot for a few minutes, until Dixon, the Defending champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, Penske’s powerful four-car lineup to earn ers and series officials huddled in Power’s dream of a May sweep - winning fourth driver in qualifying line, finished the second car out, and will start on the his second Indy pole with a four-lap Gasoline Alley to find a solution. both poles and both races at Indy - end- his run. inside of Row 6 after posting a 224.573. average of 226.760 mph. They settled on removing the extra ed when the Australian couldn’t catch Because the revised schedule gave The only driver not to make the field and , who horsepower for qualifying and instruct- Dixon. each car only one shot at the pole, Dixon was 1996 race winner , who drive for Roger Penske, will start second ed all teams to use race setups, a combi- As the speeds slowed, nobody else didn’t even have to worry about any- was late to the qualifying line in the first and third on May 24 after going 226.350 nation that sent 34 drivers trying to could, either. Three-time Indy champ body getting a second chance. And round and then couldn’t bump his way and 226.145. Penske had won eight make the May 24 race scrambling. The 5- Helio Castroneves thought he had a shot some of the Honda drivers were under- in later. straight poles. hour, 15-minute delay forced everyone at a fifth Indy pole but never topped 226 standably upset with the changes. “I just And now after a tense qualifying “I was definitely a little shocked with to scramble. and will start fifth, the middle of Row 2 feel like it’s playing into Chevy’s hands,” weekend that included a rainout one the first number when I saw it,” Dixon Despite the steep drop in speeds, after averaging 225.502. The Brazilian Graham Rahal predicted during the day and a mad scramble the next, Dixon said. “I thought the steering wheel was Dixon somehow had enough to move was trying to break a tie with A.J. Foyt delay. “Chevy’s really, because of their will try to duplicate the feat he achieved broken but broken in a good way. Yeah, into the top spot 25 minutes into quali- and Rex Mays for the second-most Indy problems with the aero kits lifting, that’s in 2008 — winning from the pole. it’s a tough week, no matter which way fying, then hung on as 29 other drivers poles behind (six). really what forced this issue in the first “The race for the pole is definitely you look at it, the curveballs that you get took shots at knocking him down a , the 2000 Indy place. So I don’t fully understand why prestigious, but it’s not winning the with the weather, but you understand notch on the 33-car starting grid. None winner and another of the pole favorites, the Hondas should be penalized.” He was Indianapolis 500,” Dixon said. “If we that’s part of the month of May.” That could. His winning average was more qualified 15th, the outside of Row 5, right. could replicate 2008, that would be fan- meant he had to adapt on the fly. than 4 mph slower than last year’s pole- with a speed of 224.657 Chevy took eight of the first 10 start- tastic, that’s the goal. It’s very hard to Heading into Sunday, the Target Chip winning speed and almost 7 mph slower Carpenter’s crash ended his quest at ing spots with the top Honda driver pull that off.” —AP Ethiopian star Ayana targets world record

SHANGHAI: Almaz Ayana has been left “I didn’t know I was so close to the astonished by her own success as she world record,” Ayana said, admitting that looks poised to become the latest she did not actually know what the record Ethiopian distance runner to challenge was. the record books. “I was looking at running about 14:20 Yet despite seeming almost bewil- but during the race, I went faster and dered by coming so close to breaking the faster. I was surprised my body could do world 5,000m record in the Diamond that and I was surprised when I heard it League meeting in Shanghai on Sunday, was close (to the record).” her performance has convinced the shy Given that she went it alone with five Ayana that the landmark could fall to her laps to go, breaking the spirit of all her at the world championships in August. rivals and eventually finishing 26 seconds In the month when the country’s clear of her nearest pursuer, Kenyan Viola greatest runner Haile Gebrselassie retired, Jelagat Kibiwot, it seemed as if she is Ayana’s brilliant solo effort signalled that capable of much faster. Ethiopia has yet another rare talent ready “Now I want to try to break the world to beat the world. record at the world championships in The 23-year-old had previously shown Beijing,” said Ayana, who seemed a little her ability with a bronze medal at the overwhelmed by the attention that greet- 2013 Moscow world championships but it ed a run which knocked 11 seconds off Kuwaiti shooter wins bronze had not prepared athletics for her remark- her previous best time. able breakthrough run of 14 minutes Coached by her husband, international 14.32 seconds, the third fastest ever, on a 1500m runner Soresa Fida, Ayana trains AZERBAIJAN: Kuwait’s shooter Sarah Al- elite group of world shooters are participat- expected Kuwait shooters to add more windy evening in the Shanghai Stadium. near Addis Ababa at high altitude and Hawal won the bronze medal in the trap ing. He said the final of the trap event saw medals in the grand prix which concludes If it was a performance which left ath- says that her idols have been Ethiopia’s competition of the Grand Prix tournament strong competition between the top six on Saturday. He dedicated the win to the letics surprised, it felt like nothing com- great women’s distance double act of being held in Azerbaijan. shooters, but Al-Hawal succeeded in snatch- political leadership, government, and to the pared to Ayana’s own response to coming Dibaba and Meseret Defar. They are now Assistant treasurer at Kuwait Shooting ing third place. President of Asian Shooting Confederation, so close to breaking her compatriot and the only two women who have run faster Sport Club, head of the delegation Adnan Al- He said the gold medal went to Information Minster and State Minister for heroine Tirunesh Dibaba’s seven-year-old over the 12 and a half lap distance than Ibrahim, lauded Al-Hawal’s efforts to make Azerbaijan shooter Rana Alaskarova while Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem mark of 14min 11.15sec. their young successor.—Reuters this achievement in a tournament where an silver went to the Finland. Al-Ibrahim Al-Humoud Al-Sabah.

Red Bull Car Park Drift returns to Kuwait Final race on Friday, May 29

KUWAIT: After five years of its launch in 2010, compete in a challenging and fun event. The ents, the engines’ roars, the external look of the the Red Bull Car Park Drift Championship returns event will be judged by a panel of experts in car, the smoke produced by the friction of the to Kuwait with an atmosphere filled with chal- motorsports where they will give out points to tires and finally the audience’s excitement and lenge and excitement similar to all the previous each driver depending on his unique accom- cheers for the performance. events. The championship is organized by the plishments. The event is also supervised by We recall that the first Red Bull Car Park Drift Basel Salem Al Sabah Motorsport Club and spon- Lebanese drifting legend, holding the longest was held in Kuwait for the first time in 2010 and sored by Ford Middle East and Road Emergency drift record and the Middle East Hill Climbing was won by the Kuwaiti contestant Mishari Al Association in Kuwait on the upcoming 27th till champion, Abdo Feghali. Thefiri. The last two rounds of 2013 and 2014 29th of May at the Basel Salem Al Sabah arena at This event will include on its first day, were won by the Kuwaiti Nasser Al Mutairi that the 7th ring road. Wednesday the 27th of May, a workshop by topped the most challenging drivers after a fierce Contestants will go through the final race on Lebanese champion Abdo Feghali who will competition that took away the breath of the lov- Friday the 29th of May 2015 at 5pm in competi- explain to amateur and professional drift lovers ing competition audience who showed up by tive rounds where a winner will be picked to the proper techniques for safe driving, sliding thousands, with a unique driving and drift skills compete against other winners from the Middle and controlling the car in an exciting show. that allowed the judges to give him the highest East in the regional championship held in Kuwait On the following day, Thursday, May 28 the ranking points crowning him with the title. Make in November. racing rounds will start by qualifying drivers sure not to miss out on the golden opportunity During this unique event, speed and competi- through the final race occurring on Friday, May and be present in this exciting event at the Basel tion lovers don’t hesitate in showcasing their 29. During this final race, the luckiest driver and Salem Al Sabah racing track to live the thrill of unique and smooth drift skills at high speed, giv- highest ranking in points will be crowned, taking safe, unique and fun drifting in the Red Bull Car ing amateurs and professionals the chance to into consideration all the driving and drifting tal- Park Drift Championship of 2015.