Monday, October 22, 2007
Kimi Raikkonen won the Brazilian Grand Prix yesterday in Sao Paulo to capture the Formula One title in the tightest race for the championship in 21 years.
The Ferrari driver rallied from third place in the points standings for his first F1 crown, taking advantage of Lewis Hamilton's mistake on the first lap and Fernando Alonso's disappointing run.
Raikkonen grabbed the lead with 17 laps to go and was followed by teammate Felipe Massa. Alonso, Hamilton's McLaren teammate, finished third.
There were some doubts after the race whether Raikkonen would keep the title, however, as Formula One's governing body -- FIA -- opened up an investigation into possible fuel irregularities.
¿ BASKETBALL: Gus Gilchrist, a second-team All-Met forward at Progressive Christian last season, committed to play basketball for Maryland.
Gilchrist, who is 6 feet 10, had signed with Virginia Tech. However, after the April shootings on the Blacksburg campus, Gilchrist said he did not want to go to Virginia Tech because he felt he was "not mentally prepared to go there."
After being released from his letter-of-intent, he also considered Georgetown but said he made his decision after taking an official visit to Maryland this weekend.
"Once I got to know the establishment and get a feel for the coach, that's when I knew," Gilchrist said.
He will enroll at Maryland for the second semester, but said he was uncertain if he will choose to play this season or just practice with the team. Gilchrist averaged 22.3 points and 10.3 rebounds last season and was named MVP of the Capital Classic all-star game. . . .
Charlotte Bobcats reserve forward Adam Morrison is likely done for the season after an MRI exam revealed a torn ligament in his left knee.
¿ RUGBY: South Africans celebrated their nation's World Cup championship over England amid renewed calls to end white domination in sports.
Festivities reminiscent of the team's first World Cup victory in 1995 continued through Saturday night into yesterday as South Africans packed parks and restaurants and filled the streets with honking cars draped with the national flag.
The country's sports minister also praised the team for showing "distinction and commitment," but went on to raise the issue of white domination in sports.
"This victory should herald a new era -- an era in which we all embrace change and tackle the challenges still being faced by our rugby and sport in general," Makhenkesi Stofile said in a statement.
South Africa fielded one nonwhite player in 1995. There were two, J.P. Pietersen and Bryan Habana, on the field in the Springboks' 15-6 victory Saturday, although six were on the squad that went to France.
¿ TENNIS: Top-ranked Roger Federer made 38 unforced errors in losing to D avid Nalbandian, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, in the Madrid Masters final. The title was Nalbandian's first since winning the Estoril Open in May 2006.
¿ SOCCER: AC Milan extended its winless streak at home in the Italian league, a 1-0 loss to Empoli that marked Paolo Maldini's season debut following knee surgery.
Luca Saudati scored on a 55th-minute header between Maldini and Alessandro Nesta. . . .
In London, West Ham benefited from a bizarre own-goal to beat Sunderland, 3-1, in the Premier League and end a two-game skid.
¿ GOLF: Canadian Mike Weir won for the first time since early in 2004, shooting a 2-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Australia's Mark Hensby in the PGA Tour Fry's Electronics Open in Scottsdale, Ariz. . . .
John Cook won his first Champions Tour title in his second start on the 50-and-over circuit, closing with a 6-under 65 for a two-stroke victory over Mark O'Meara in the AT&T Championship in San Antonio. . . .
Suzann Pettersen won the Hana Bank Kolon Championship for her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the year when high wind and unplayable conditions on the putting surfaces forced tournament officials to call off the final round at Mauna Ocean resort in Gyeongju, South Korea.
-- From News Services and Staff Reports
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