NASCAR and covid-19. NASCAR’s 7-time Champion Jimmie Johnson (USA) had to miss the Cup race at Indianapolis and a programmed IndyCar test after contracting covid-19. He is asymptomatic. Kevin Harvick (USA) and Denny Hamlin (USA) once again battled for the victory as in Pocono last week. Harvick won again, after Hamlin’s tyre failed with six laps to go. IndyStar reviews the race.
Bottas wins on F1’s comeback. Formula 1 started its season with the Austrian Grand Prix, first of two races that will be held at the Red Bull Ring. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) won the race from pole position and held on tyre degradation on a very eventful race that included a 5-second penalty for Champion Lewis Hamilton (ENG), after a contact with Alex Albon (THA), who could have won. Charles Leclerc (MON, Ferrari) and Lando Norris (ENG, McLaren) completed the podium. F1 reviews the drama
Doping in athletics. Former Marathon World Record holder, Wilson Kipsang (KEN), was handed a four-year ban due to four unjustified absences for anti-doping tests. He is the 53rd Kenyan to be banned by the Athletics Integrity Unit. María Gudalupe González (MEX), 2018 Race Walking World Cup Champion, also failed on her appeal to her four-year doping suspension. She will remain suspended until 2022. Kipsang blames Athletics Kenya and could appeal (Capital FM)
Potential name changes. The cultural shakeup related to racism reflection in the United States has led to the Cleveland Indians (MLB) and Washington Redskins (NFL) to ponder changing their team names. Some Native American advocates have asked NFL for the move while US President, Donald Trump, claims the name should not be changed, as it is meant to represent ”strength”. The Washington Post reviews the history behind the term “redskin”
Horse Racing’s Irish domination. Irish trainer, Aidan O’Brien, had to watch from home as his horses won the Epsom Derby (GI) and Epsom Oaks (GI) -won by Ryan Moore (ENG) and Love (IRL), who had won the Irish 1000 Guineas-. PC Boudot (FRA) won another consecutive Grade I race by winning the Prix de Diane (GI) at Chantilly -race he won last year-, riding Francy Blue (IRL). It was an All-Irish podium. Another Irish Horse, Mishriff -trained by Aidan’s son-, won the Prix du Jockey Club (GI), ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal (ESP). Meanwhile in the US, Vekoma won the Metropolitan Handicap (Racing Post).
