TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 SPORTS

Dembele travels to Finland McLaren can be resistant West Ham manager Bilic backs to undergo tendon surgery to change, says Honda boss fit-again Carroll to fire

BARCELONA: Ousmane Dembele has traveled to Finland to undergo sur- LONDON: Honda’s motorsport head has portrayed former champi- LONDON: Striker Andy Carroll will get sharper as the season goes on gery to repair a ruptured left thigh tendon. Barcelona said yesterday the ons McLaren as ‘systematic’ and set in their ways as the and can play a crucial role for West Ham United in the latter half of the newly signed forward will undergo the procedure with a specialist today. He partners prepare to separate at the end of the season. McLaren are season, manager Slaven Bilic has said. Carroll has featured only twice in was photographed on a wheelchair as he made his way to the airport in the ninth of 10 teams in the constructors’ championship and have direct- the Premier League this season after four months out with a hip injury. Catalan city yesterday. Dembele was injured Saturday during Barcelona’s 2-1 ed much of the blame at Honda, whose engine has suffered embar- He fired three of West Ham’s six shots on goal in Saturday’s win at Getafe in the Spanish league. The club says the 20-year-old rassing failures and is no match for rivals. “Working with McLaren, I’ve 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion. Bilic, under pressure Frenchman is expected to be sidelined for three to four months. realised that they are a very big company which is very systematic,” after a tough start to the league campaign that has seen Barcelona signed Dembele from Borussia Dortmund in a deal that Masashi Yamamoto said in an interview published on the Honda West Ham lose three out of five games, backed Carroll to could reach nearly 150 million euros ($180 million), the biggest website (en.hondaracingf1.com). “It’s obviously very strong because swell the team’s poor tally of four goals. “This was his ever in the history of the Catalan club. Dembele replaced Neymar of that but at the same time they can find it hard to adapt to change.” second game and he looks fit and he looks competitive after the Brazil forward moved to Paris Saint-Germain in a He gave no specific examples. Similar comments have been made in and the quality will come through the games,” Bilic told world-record transfer worth more than 220 million euros the past about Honda, who announced with McLaren last Friday that the club’s website (www.whufc.com). “It’s a big boost for ($262 million). Dembele was making only his third their partnership was ending. McLaren, the sport’s second most suc- us and long may it continue... It is very important for appearance with Barcelona, which leads the Spanish cessful team in terms of race wins, will be teaming up with Renault in him to get the games under his belt. He looks good league after four matches.— AP 2018 while Honda are joining -owned Toro Rosso. —Reuters now, touch wood.” —Reuters

Palmer wants six of the best to boost his F1 hopes

LONDON: Departing Renault driver Jolyon with France’s 2016 GP2 champion Pierre Palmer says he wants to end the Formula Gasly, who is already contracted to them. One season on a high after a breakthrough McLaren have yet to re- race in Singapore. The Briton finished sixth sign, but are confident of continuing with under the floodlights for his first points of an unchanged lineup, while Sauber are the campaign only two days after his team forging closer ties with Ferrari and seem set announced that Spaniard Carlos Sainz to take current Formula Two leader Charles would be taking his place in 2018. Leclerc. Some still suspect Sainz could be in the That leaves Williams, and specifically the car before the end of the year but Palmer seat of Brazilian veteran who was adamant he would be staying until the almost retired at the end of last season. last race in Abu Dhabi. “The result this Poland’s Robert Kubica, seeking to return weekend is finally a bit of good luck. This after a 2011 rally accident that seemed to result could have come earlier in Baku, have ended his Formula One career, has Silverstone or Spa. I hope we can build emerged as one potential candidate and is from this in the next six races,” he told Sky being assisted by retired 2016 world cham- Sports television. pion . “At the moment the news about Renault Whether Palmer has a hope remains to is quite fresh. From my side I want to go out be seen but he hoped at least his luck had with six of the best races. I want to stay in turned, with German team mate Nico F1 and there are other options. I want to do Hulkenberg suffering reliability problems myself proud in these six races.” Palmer has instead. “I’ve had a tough year, we’ve had limited options, with former champions reliability issues but I’ve made mistakes as Williams now the main focus for several well,” he said. drivers hoping to stay in the sport or “The media were always questioning return. The four top teams have all con- about my future. It’s made it a bit harder firmed their lineups while Red Bull-owned but I’ve learnt to switch off and just focus Toro Rosso are expected to replace Sainz on the driving.” — Reuters Truex opens NASCAR’s playoffs with win at Chicagoland SONOMA: , right, stands and celebrates after being presented the Astor Cup for winning the IndyCar championship Sunday, in Sonoma, Calif. Looking on at center is team owner . — AP JOLIET, Ill: Martin Truex Jr. stretched his arms whole lot about statements. I’m just having to his side and waited for a shower of green fun,” Truex said. “It’s important to come here MOTOR RACING slime , the colored goop traditionally poured and not let the pressure get to you, and I over the heads of game-show contestants think we did a good job with that.” and A-list celebrities. Add NASCAR race win- Truex’s longtime girlfriend, Sherry Pollex , ner to the list. “It’s a lot funner to watch peo- was by his side in victory lane, even as she Gamble on Newgarden leads to ple get slimed than it is to get slimed,” a smil- battles a recurrence of ovarian cancer . “I’m a ing and sticky Truex said. “But it’s definitely lot better driver these days because of her worth it to get that after the race.” Truex and what she’s been through,” he said. “We’ve might have left the rest of the field green with learned a lot about life together. We continue 15th title for Roger Penske envy that he was again the driver celebrating to face every challenge head on and not in victory lane. Truex backed up his regular- scared.” Pollex was smart enough to step SONOMA: Roger Penske’s drivers had just fin- moved to Penske’s sports car program next year. Castroneves copied the strategy in an effort to season dominance with a victory Sunday in aside from the slime. The Furniture Row ished 1-2-3 in the IndyCar standings, and shak- “Let’s see what’s going to happen,” help Newgarden. “He was just a massive road- NASCAR’s playoff opener at Chicagoland Racing crew was bathed in the ooze and ing up his lineup didn’t seem to be a priority. But Castroneves said. “Right now let’s celebrate the block,” Dixon said about Castroneves. “It was cir- Speedway that solidified himself as the driver champagne during a raucous victory lane cel- with Josef Newgarden available in free agency, championship. I feel like I am part of it.” It was an cumstance. Once we got clear track, we were to beat over the final nine races as he chases ebration. Truex entered the playoffs at the No. The Captain made a cutthroat move and uphill fight for Dixon, in a Honda for Chip able to hunt them down.” his first Cup championship. 1 seed with four wins, 18 stage wins and he bounced 500 winner Juan Pablo Ganassi Racing, and he didn’t have the same The final standings went Newgarden, He raced to his fifth victory of the season totaled a whopping 53 bonus points that he Montoya out of his ride to sign the up-and-com- pace as the Penske cars all weekend. That meant Pagenaud, Dixon, Castroneves and Power. and earned an automatic berth in the second can keep through the first three playoff ing American. Almost a year to the day later, the Dixon would have to rely on an aggressive strat- drivers have won every championship round of the playoffs, piling on more points in rounds. Truex leads the standings by 27 shrewd move resulted in a 15th IndyCar champi- egy to have a shot, but Newgarden and the but one since the engine-supplier returned to his bid to compete for the title in the finale at points over Larson. Here are other items of onship for . Newgarden closed out Penske drivers were far too quick in their IndyCar in 2012, and the brand has beaten Homestead. A driver with three Cup wins in note from Chicagoland. the best year of his career - his first with Penske - . Honda every year for the manufacturer champi- his first 10 seasons, Truex has nine over the as the top driver in IndyCar. His nearly flawless When Dixon tried to pit off sequence, he felt onship. —AP last two years for . BUSCH’S RUN performance Sunday at Sonoma Raceway made “I think we all realize it’s just a unique time Kyle Busch led 85 laps from the pole and Newgarden only the second American in 11 in history, in all our lives, that this has come won the first stage as he positioned the No. years to win the IndyCar title, joining 2012 together,” team owner Barney Visser said. 18 Toyota as the car to beat. Busch was forced champion Ryan Hunter-Reay. “When we saw he Vettel loses huge ground in Truex was in cruise control over the final 55 to pit because of a loose tire, then his Joe was available ... I think we saw the opportunity,” laps and built a nearly 7-second lead over Gibbs Racing crew was penalized for going Penske said. “I don’t think in business you always race after Singapore blip to win at Chicagoland for the over the wall too soon, which would drop have the perfect time for something.” second straight season. Truex’s car flunked him back to 30th. He ended the second stage Newgarden, a Tennessee native, is just 26 and inspection following the win last season and a lap down and finished 15th. the youngest driver to win the championship SINGAPORE: In the space of three races, the race. Vettel made a hasty error of judg- the No. 78 Toyota ran into more issues Sunday Busch, the 2015 Cup champion, had won since Sam Hornish Jr. won it at 23 in 2002. has dropped twice as far ment trying to cut off Max Verstappen head- - the car needed four tries through pre-race his 12th stage win of the season. Busch’s pit Hornish went on to win a title driving for Penske, behind as he was ahead of ing into the first turn and ultimately caused a inspection before it was cleared and Truex lat- crew was swapped for teammate Daniel in 2006, and he’s the only other recent American him. After winning the Hungarian Grand Prix crash that also took out Ferrari teammate Kimi er overcame an early pit-road penalty. By the Suarez’s crew for the start of the playoffs. “Just champion. in late July, Vettel led by 14 points, with both Raikkonen - who had made a blistering start - end, there was no doubt the path to the poor execution all around,” crew chief Adam Penske may have seen that potential when drivers on four wins heading into the summer Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. NASCAR championship goes through the 37- Stevens said . “Made a lot of mistakes on pit the team pursued Newgarden, but it was doubt- break. But after crashing out on the first lap in Vettel apologized to his Ferrari team after- year-old Truex. road and when you make back-to-back mis- ful anyone expected a career season in his first Sunday’s Singapore GP, the Ferrari driver trails ward. With both Ferraris out, Mercedes had a Elliott was second, followed by playoff takes, it’s tough to recover from it.” stint driving Penske equipment. Hamilton by 28. “That was very disappointing clear path as Hamilton won his 60th career drivers Kevin Harvick, and Kyle “It obviously wasn’t an easy decision when and it was definitely not the result we were race and teammate took third. Larson. Truex again seemed right at home on PLAYOFF DRIVERS we decided that Josef was available, and expecting,” Ferrari team principal Maurizio Mercedes faced a similar scenario at the the 1.5-mile track. Truex had wins this season was sixth, Jimmie Montoya had done a really good job for us along Arrivabene said. “But it doesn’t mean that the Spanish GP last year, when Hamilton and then- on 1.5-mile tracks at Las Vegas Motor Johnson was eighth, Matt Kenseth ninth, the way, and we needed to make a decision if we battle is all over, just that it has become more teammate Nico Rosberg collided on lap 1 and Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Kentucky Jamie McMurray 10th, 11th, were going to build for the future or what we difficult.” Yet it might seem to Mercedes that, both went out. Mercedes was livid with both Speedway. Truex had a win snatched from Austin Dillon 16th, 19th, Kasey were going to do,” team Penske team president for all of his experience, Vettel is throwing drivers that day, and came perilously close to him last week at Richmond because of a late Kahne 21st, Ryan Newman 23rd and Ricky Tim Cindric. “We sat down and talked to Juan, away the Formula One title. “Clearly we would imposing team orders on them. caution and he ended up crashing. He and his Stenhouse Jr. 25th. and he said, ‘Look, I don’t like it, but if I was in not feel comfortable in Ferrari’s shoes,” “You kind of feel for Ferrari. I have been in team looked downright miserable accepting your shoes I’d do the same thing. He’s the guy Mercedes head of motorsport Toto Wolff said. the situation of losing both cars,” Wolff said. “I “But this is not the time for cheering.” know how bitter this is.” The difference was the regular season title trophy. BLOWN OUT that I would pick.’ Hamilton has won all three races relatively that Hamilton and Rosberg were fighting each “After last week, he was like, I want to go Chicagoland was site of the playoff opener “Honestly, we didn’t really know what to comfortably since the championship resumed other for the title and, with no main rival from to Chicago and lap the field twice,” crew chief for the final time. NASCAR will kick off the 10- expect other than we knew how competitive he in August, and with only six GPs remaining another team, it effectively cost them nothing. Cole Pearn said. “I think he was pretty moti- race postseason next year at Las Vegas. Two was and knew that he’d won in everything that Vettel faces a huge task to stop Hamilton. “We Within Mercedes, Hamilton’s title charge is vated this whole weekend.” Truex insisted he races remain before the playoff field is cut to he had really raced in and felt like we needed to guarantee that we will be fighting right to the now the priority. Although team orders are forgot about the debacle at Richmond the 12. The NASCAR postseason shifts to New continue to build for the future. If we weren’t final corner of the very last Grand Prix of the very unlikely to be imposed, it is clear - unoffi- moment he boarded the plane home. As the Hampshire Motor Speedway, the final fall race racing with him, we were probably going to race year,” Arrivabene said. cially at least - that Bottas will be racing to closing laps ticked off a week later, Truex said for the track. Hamlin won the summer race at against him soon.” Mercedes is still expecting a challenge. help Hamilton equal Vettel on four world titles. he refused to think another potential win New Hampshire and Harvick won the Newgarden had to hold off his three Penske “This result doesn’t change a thing in the big Wolff confirmed as much when he inadver- teammates - as well as four-time champion Scott would roll off the rails. “I don’t really care a September race last season. — AP picture,” Wolff said. “If anything, it’s a stark tently referred to Bottas as “our second driver” Dixon - to take the title. Penske driver Simon reminder that there are six more opportunities in his post-race debriefing on Sunday, before Pagenaud used pit strategy to win the caution- for the luck to go against us this season, just as quickly correcting himself to say “ah, other free race, but Newgarden finished second to it happened to Ferrari.” driver.” take the title by 13 points. But it will be abundantly harder now for Of the five drivers mathematically eligible to Vettel because, unlike last season, Hamilton NEW CONTRACT win the title in the finale, four came from Penske. has so far not retired from any races. Although Bottas has had a fine first season since join- Pagenaud won the race in a last-gasp effort to he has failed to finish on the podium four ing as an emergency late replacement for defend the IndyCar title he won last year for times for Mercedes this season, that is the Rosberg, who retired days after winning the Penske. Although his strategy was different from same number as Vettel’s finishes outside the 2016 title. Bottas has even exceeded expecta- his teammates’, it put Pagenaud out front after top three. tions with 10 podiums in 14 races, including his final stop. Newgarden tried to catch him, was two wins, and sits in third place overall. briefly aggressive as he attempted to reclaim the HASTY ERROR With a new contract for next year already lead, then had to back off and think about the After winning three of the first six races, signed, the Finnish driver has no need to bigger picture. Vettel’s grip has loosened with only one win in impress Mercedes management and can play “I was using my natural instincts. I was trying the past eight. Points have been thrown away, an ideal support role to Hamilton in the clos- to get Pagenaud there because that’s what I nor- too. At the British GP in July, Vettel looked at ing part of the campaign. Still, he has a little mally do, I try to win the race whenever possi- least assured of a podium finish until an unex- bit of ambition left. “There are plenty of races ble,” Newgarden said. “I tried to get him, but I pected tire problem at the end of the race to come and plenty of opportunities,” said also tried not to do anything dumb for the team. bumped him down to seventh. Bottas, who is 23 points behind Vettel. This has been a team effort.” On Sunday, he had a great chance to win “Definitely Sebastian is the next target.” With finished third in the race, Dixon starting from pole position on a hard-braking Hamilton ahead and Bottas closing behind, JOLIET: Martin Truex Jr, driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, cel- was fourth and Helio Castroneves fifth in what track much more suited to Ferrari than Vettel is under pressure to deliver at the ebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tales might have been his final full season in IndyCar. Mercedes. A few seconds later, he was out of Malaysian GP in two weeks’ time.— AP of the Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday in Joliet, Illinois. —AFP Castroneves, in his 20th season, is likely being