Fifty laps were added to the SunTrust Indy Challenge this year, and it seemed every one of them was run behind the pace car. The IndyCar Series’ streak of generally clean oval races in 2008 came to a resounding end Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway. There were nine caution periods totaling 102 laps, more than one-third of the expanded 300-lap total, and only 13 of the 26 starters were running at the finish.

Ironically, the driver who has endured more bad luck than anyone else in the series this year managed to steer clear of misfortune on a night when carnage ruled. Tony Kanaan won his first race of the season, leading 166 laps and crossing the line for the final time with a comfortable 4.77-second margin over runner-up Helio Castroneves.

A third-place finish served as damage control for championship leader Scott Dixon on a weekend when the New Zealander was not the ultimate pacesetter. Dixon gained a position on the last lap when his Ganassi Racing teammate Dan Wheldon apparently ran out of fuel; his championship lead now stands at 43 points ahead of Castroneves and 52 points ahead of Wheldon.

Tennis Wimbledon 2008 Highlights of the day (Day 6)

Reigning MotoGP champion Casey Stoner claimed his second win in six days with victory at the Dutch TT in Assen as James Toseland recovered from last week’s debacle to finish ninth. After topping the podium at Donington last week, Australian Stoner claimed his third win of the season in Holland to cut the gap at the top of the championship standings from 45 to 29 points. The Ducati Marlboro rider finished ahead of Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa, who moved to the top of the standings over Valentino Rossi after the Italian finished the day in 11th place due to a crash in the opening lap. Pedrosa got off to a storming start from second on the grid when he beat Stoner into the first bend.

Nel GP d’Olanda trionfo dell’australiano della Ducati Casey Stoner che domina davanti allo spagnolo ora in testa grazie anche alla caduta di Valentino (11°) dopo due curve. Edwards terzo davanti ad Hayden.