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A22 SPORTS
Saturday 22 June 2019
Sonoma's new turn: NASCAR takes a ride on "The Carousel"

By GREG BEACHAM Yet the challenges also
AP Sports Writer create opportunity. Most
SONOMA, Calif. (AP) — This drivers are cautiously con-
twisty road course in North- fident the layout will allow
ern California wine coun- more passing because of
try already provided one the braking zones created
of the NASCAR Cup Series' by the Carousel — as long
biggest challenges and as they have the space
best rides of the year. and the courage to make
And now the drivers are the move.
also going for a ride on "The "It kind of suckers you in to
Carousel" this weekend. picking up the throttle too
That's the name for a sec- soon, which just washes
tion of Sonoma Raceway you up on exit," Paul Men-
that hasn't been used in a ard said. "You have to have
NASCAR race since 1997, some patience, for sure."
but was put back in the lay- Kyle Busch drove the Car-
out this year to celebrate ousel in Legends cars way
this venerable track's 50th back in 1998, and his four
anniversary. Denny Hamlin drives around the Carousel during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at career road course victo-
With three more turns, lon- Sonoma Raceway on Friday, June 21, 2019, in Sonoma, Calif. ries are the most in the field
ger laps and an overriding Associated Press — yet he repeatedly went
uncertainty across the pad- off the track during Friday's
dock, the first road race of its precipitous elevation not enough. Even before tion based off of strategies second practice session,
the NASCAR season could changes and tough turns, early practice Friday, driv- that have played out in apparently testing his limits
be a doozy Sunday — and but the return of the Car- ers lined up to take pace years past. Now we have a on the new layout. Jimmie
the drivers can't wait to ousel adds another layer of car rides on the new lay- different stage length. The Johnson, Kevin Harvick and
take a ride. complexity to an already out, hoping for insight even track is a different length. Michael McDowell also
"I love it," William Byron said daunting challenge. in a passenger seat. Many You're not going to be able have driven the Carou-
after practice Friday. "It's NASCAR's usual 12-turn lay- also plan to watch the K&N to dive onto pit road at the sel in past racing lives, but
probably the most fun I've out over nearly 2 miles at Series race on Saturday to last second. The lap times they don't claim any spe-
had driving a race car this Sonoma has been trans- see how those drivers fare are slower. All of that plays cial knowledge on how to
year." formed into a 15-turn, 2.52- on the Carousel. a factor in strategy." ride it. "Mentally, you can't
Nearly every driver is more mile setup, and most drivers IndyCar races in Sonoma Bubba Wallace spun off make any mistakes," Matt
excited than frightened by are unfamiliar with the new have used the Carousel, the track roughly 10 sec- DiBenedetto said. "You
the Carousel's challenge. part. They'll do 90 laps in- which means Chip Ganassi onds into his first practice can't get lazy. You have to
After all, weeks upon weeks stead of 110, but the race Racing and Team Penske lap. He was amused by his pay attention all day and
of driving in circles and only is now 8 miles longer. could have a little extra mistake, but not overly op- be really precise with your
turning left can get a little "I like the change," Denny data — if it does them any timistic about his chances. shifts. ... And you're working
dull, even for the world's Hamlin said. "I think it had good. "I told my guys,' We've got a lot harder inside the car
best at it. gotten a little stagnant "It's going to change a lot three days here, and I'll at Sonoma than you would
Sonoma is already no pic- where we needed to fresh- of things," Hamlin said. "The try to get better in a short be on a mile-and-a-half
nic for drivers; in fact, it's en up the course." biggest thing is the strat- amount of time,'" Wallace (track). You've got to be
one of the most physical Most NASCAR drivers spent egy. We have all these said. "Hopefully I can put hydrated. Sleep well. All of
tracks in North America. time in simulators to prepare notes from so many years myself together to make a the basic things to feel re-
The layout is known for for this weekend, but that's here, and all this informa- complete lap." ally good."q
A's pitcher Montas suspended 80 games for drug violation

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A "I think it was a shock to the-counter at a nutrition struck out nine and walked apologetic. He feels like he
season full of All-Star po- everybody," A's manager store here in the United none. He struck out at least let his teammates and the
tential for Oakland Athlet- Bob Melvin said before a States," Montas said in a nine for the third straight organization down," Forst
ics pitcher Frankie Montas night game against Tampa statement released by the start. said.
was drastically cut short Bay. "We met as a team players' union. In a statement, the A's said "I appreciated that senti-
Friday when Major League and Frankie spoke and was Montas said he accepted they will "welcome Frankie ment but at that point there
Baseball suspended him 80 very remorseful and is go- "full responsibility" for the back after the discipline wasn't much we could do.
games after testing posi- ing to accept what he has penalty. has been served." I just think he wanted to ex-
tive for a performance-en- to deal with and feels bad "I sincerely apologize to the "Unfortunately it was a guy press his remorse. After he
hancing substance. about it." A's organization, the fans, that everybody is pretty talked to me, he met with
Montas pitched well Thurs- The commissioner's office my teammates and my close to here and a guy Bob in private and talked
day night and is 9-2 with a said Montas tested positive family for this mistake. My that's performed really well. to him," he said.
2.70 ERA in 15 starts, a big for Ostarine, a PED. He is hope is to be able to return It's just something we're go- Forst said Montas had
reason the A's are 40-36. the sixth player suspended to the A's later this season ing to have to deal with," known about the positive
The 26-year-old righty could this year under the major and contribute as best I Melvin said. test "for a while."
return for the final week of league drug program. can," he said. Montas spoke to general "It's disappointing on a
the season. But the penalty "While I never intended to Montas pitched eight in- manager David Forst at the number of levels. Obviously
makes him ineligible for the take any prohibited sub- nings of one-run ball Thurs- Coliseum earlier in the day. personally disappointed in
All-Star Game and post- stance, I unfortunately and day night. He got a no-de- "I met with him this morning Frankie," Forst said.
season play this year, and unknowingly ingested a cision in a game Oakland when he got to the ball- The A's recalled right-hand-
he'll lose about half of his contaminated supplement won 5-4 over Tampa Bay. park. He was very disap- er J.B. Wendelken from Tri-
$560,000 salary. that I had purchased over- Montas allowed four hits, pointed in himself. He was ple-A Las Vegas.q