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A22 SPORTS
Friday 24 February 2017
Chase Elliott grabs 1st Cup win in Daytona qualifier

JENNA FRYER “I know it looked like I
AP Auto Racing Writer meant to do it but I didn’t,”
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) LaJoie said on his radio.
— Chase Elliott already “I was running the middle
had the top starting spot and he came down on
for NASCAR season-open- me.”
ing Daytona 500, so he He said he would have
had no real reason to race preferred not to have
hard Thursday night in a wrecked Sorenson, but in-
qualifying race. sisted it was unintentional
But Elliott, who fell short and noted the race was
time and again during last his first time in a Cup car at
year’s rookie season to se- a plate track. LaJoie had
cure a win, wanted a tro- to politic through Decem-
phy. He got it by earning ber to get this ride, but still
the first of a pair of 150-mile asked Jimmie Johnson to
qualifying races at Day- put in a good word for him
tona International Speed- to help him get a chance
way. to race in the Daytona 500.
“I know this was just a Duel So, he wasn’t going to let
win, and doesn’t mean a anything stand in his way
lot for the playoffs, but it still of making Sunday’s race.
means something to me,” “I didn’t want to be sipping
said Elliott. margaritas on the beach
Indeed, this was techni- on Sunday. I wanted to be
cally just an exhibition out there racing,” LaJoie
race. But new rules for this said. “If that was my mom,
season earned Elliott 10 Chase Elliott celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the first of two NASCAR qualifying races for I would probably spin her
Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Thursday, Feb.
points with the win. NAS- 23, 2017. out to make the Daytona
CAR’s new format this year Associated Press 500, too. That’s just frank.
including a provision that I’m sure I’m not going to
awards points on a 10-to- kind of set out and wanted where Ford and Toyota are Ford and followed by Kes- be on Reed’s Christmas
1 declining scale to the to race, not ride around. I expected to dominate. elowski as Ford drivers still card list this year, but that’s
top-10 finishers in Thursday think sometimes you ride Most people have picked took six of the top 10 slots in all right.”
night’s races. around and you don’t Penske drivers Joey Loga- the 21-car field. Sorenson was not pleased.
Points were not the goal for know what your car is like no and Brad Keselowski as Corey LaJoie earned one “I guess he felt like he did
Elliott, though. His Hendrick and if it’s going to be the the drivers to beat on Sun- of the open positions in the what he had to do to
Motorsports team instead way you want it for Sunday. day, but neither got it done Daytona 500, but it came make the race,” Sorenson
wanted to test his Chevro- “We took chances and it against Elliott. with controversy. He ran said. “I hope he’s proud
let to see how strong it will worked out, so excited for “I think the Penske cars, into the back of Reed So- of that part of it. There’s a
be in Sunday’s big event. Sunday.” if you have to make a list, renson, one of the drivers lot of pressure going in to
“We didn’t say one word Jamie McMurray finished that’s the top of the list,” he was racing for the slot in making this race. It’s a very
about points before the second as Chevrolet driv- McMurray said. the 500. It caused Sorenson big deal for a small team
race,” Elliott said. “We just ers went 1-2 at a track Kevin Harvick was third in a to wreck. like ours.”q

Hamilton ready to get back on track with new Mercedes F1 car

SILVERSTONE, England (AP) ing with Valtteri Bottas this tories, but his champion-
— With a new car beneath season. And that’s fine with ship defense was blighted
him and his biggest rival in Hamilton, who had uneasy by a number of mechani-
retirement, Lewis Hamilton relationship with Rosberg. cal issues.
is ready to get back on the “I don’t think I have ever Hamilton said he could un-
track. missed a teammate in my derstand why Rosberg de-
Hamilton, speaking at the life because there is always cided to walk away after
launch of the new Mer- one that takes his place,” clinching his maiden title.
cedes car on Thursday, Hamilton said. “It definitely “It has been a long, hard
said the experience of los- will feel strange, and it al- slog for him,” Hamilton said.
ing to teammate Nico Ros- ready is, but you soon get “He finally got it and may-
berg last season has made past it. be he wanted to keep it
him better. “One day I will leave and just as it is and not risk retir-
“I feel I am stronger. I feel another driver will come ing at the end of this year Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain poses for photogra-
more complete as a driv- along. You don’t forget, not being in the same posi- phers at the launch of the new Mercedes F1 car at the Silver-
er,” the 32-year-old Ham- but get used to what you tion. I don’t think like that. I stone racetrack in Towcester, England, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017.
ilton said. “I feel like I am have. Right now my feel- win the championship and Associated Press
the best prepared I have ings from last year are not I want to fight for it again.”
ever been. I didn’t win the lingering. I have started a On Thursday, Hamilton test- gether,” Hamilton said, “it’s that of previous versions,
world championship last new slate and moved on.” ed out his new Mercedes the most detailed piece of but the car is noticeably
year and I want to change Hamilton won more races car. His verdict: “It felt in- machinery I’ve seen so far lower, wider and heavier to
that.” than Rosberg last season credible.” in Formula One.” reflect the radical overhaul
Hamilton, a three-time F1 and rounded out the year “Yesterday was the first time The color scheme of the of the sport’s technical rule-
champion, will be team- with four consecutive vic- seeing the car come to- new Mercedes is similar to book over the offseason.q