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SPORTS Friday 22 March 2019
IndyCar Classic set for debut race at U.S. home of F1

By JIM VERTUNO with Texas Motor Speed-
AP Sports Writer way just three hours north
AUSTIN,Texas (AP) — From in Fort Worth. The restriction
the time the first piles of frustrated some fans, but it
dirt and rock were moved also gave the Circuit of the
to start paving a new For- Americas time to mature as
mula One track in Texas, a track and gain exposure
the owners of the Circuit of as a global and national
the Americas eyed a future destination for drivers and
with IndyCar. fans, Epstein said.
It may have taken longer Relations between the
than fans had hoped, but two Texas tracks had been
they finally have one. And touchy for years, but now
with the first IndyCar Classic that both host IndyCar rac-
this weekend, the mission es about 10 weeks apart,
now is to develop what or- Epstein sees no reason why
ganizers hope will be the both can’t thrive.
second-biggest race of the “Their heath is as impor-
IndyCar calendar. tant to the health of rac-
“I think it can happen,” ing as ours is,” Epstein said.
track President Bobby Ep- “They didn’t really roll out
stein said. “It just has to get the welcome mat because
bigger every year.” they didn’t know what we
Epstein has insisted the In- would become. Everybody
dyCar Classic will make a has the right to be protec-
splash in its debut as the tive of their investment.
second race of the 2019 (But) I don’t think their suc-
season, including a unique cess comes at our loss and
$100,000 bonus if the driver I would hope they feel the
who wins the pole position same way.” In this Sunday, March 10, 2019, file photo, Andretti Autosport driver Alexander Rossi, of United
also wins the race. The driv- Texas Motor Speedway States, talks with a crew member before the warm up period at the IndyCar Grand Prix auto race
ers first learned of the bo- President Eddie Gossage in St Petersburg, Fla.
nus on Thursday. said he wants the IndyCar Associated Press
“Sweet!” James Hinch- Classic to be a hit. were already familiar with grip and power steering. second in the champion-
cliffe said while wringing “I would expect their the circuit, having turned Things that worked in an F1 ship last season. Rossi fin-
his hands at the prospect. crowd to top 100,000 peo- laps in F1 or in private visits car don’t really work in an ished fifth in the season
“That will be a nice bottle ple. It’s a new thing, a nov- in years past. Andretti Au- Indy car.” opener at St. Petersburg,
of wine.” Built for Formula elty, and for their first visit tosports’ Alexander Rossi, The most tantalizing aspect Florida, on March 10, a
One, the 3.41-mile Circuit there they should draw a Arrow Schmidt Peterson’s for the former F1 drivers is race won by Team Pen-
of the Americas opened huge crowd,” Gossage Marcus Ericsson and Car- returning with a chance to ske’s Josef Newgarden.
in 2012 and has catered said. “When we first ran In- lin’s Max Chilton all raced win. Rossi had little chance “When I’ve come here
primarily to the European- dyCar, we drew well over in Austin in F1. Ericsson fin- of even making the po- in the past, I came into
based racing series F1 and 100,000 people for the race ished 10th at the U.S. Grand dium when he raced the the weekend fully know-
MotoGP, hosting the U.S. for many years. That kind Prix last year. U.S. Grand Prix for Marussia ing there really wasn’t any
Grand Prix and the Grand of success Sunday will be Ericsson said the F1 experi- in 2015. Rossi finished 12th chance,” Rossi said. “To
Prix of the Americas, re- good for all racing in Tex- ence is of little value in his that year after eight other able to come in here this
spectively, every year. as.” new series. cars retired and still was weekend, competing on
While Epstein also wanted IndyCar has pushed to “I had all my reference more than 1 minute, 15 sec- a level where we have as
to host IndyCar, the Austin boost its new track’s profile points and did the first onds off the winning pace. good a shot as anybody to
track had been frozen out in the offseason, hosting its round (of practice) and it Since joining IndyCar, Rossi win the race, is pretty cool.
by a geographic exclusiv- preseason media days and didn’t really work,” Ericsson is a five-time race winner, There’s almost unfinished
ity clause the American two days of testing here in said. “The Indy car today is including the 2016 India- business box we’d like to
series had in its contract February. Several drivers very different to drive with napolis 500, and finished tick here.”q

Sports court delays Semenya appeal verdict for 1 month

LAUSANNE, Switzerland the proposed rules who six months before running the court said in a state- DSD athletes have testos-
(AP) — South African run- are preparing for the world in top-tier middle-distance ment . terone levels in the male
ner Caster Semenya will championships in Septem- races. The decision, to be made range, giving them an un-
have to wait until the end ber. The new target for a verdict by three CAS judges, will fair advantage.
of April to get a verdict in The court had last month is just five months before decide how athletes with The case will likely hinge
her challenge of IAAF rules set a target of next Tuesday the track worlds open. what the IAAF refers to on whether the IAAF can
seeking to control naturally for a verdict — six months The complex case was the as “differences of sexual prove with scientific data
high testosterone levels in and one day before Seme- subject of an unprecedent- development (DSD)” are that testosterone gives the
female athletes. nya is due to begin defend- ed five-day appeal hear- treated. DSD runners a significant
The delay announced ing her 800-meter title at ing last month in Lausanne, Semenya’s lawyers have advantage.
Thursday by the Court of Ar- the worlds in Doha, Qatar. Switzerland. said the rules discriminate If Semenya’s appeal is dis-
bitration for Sport to allow The IAAF’s intended rules “The parties have filed ad- against her and her “ge- missed, she could switch
more legal debate creates require female runners to ditional submissions and netic gift.” The IAAF argued to running the 5,000 meters
confusion for Semenya and medically control their nat- materials and agreed to it is striving for ensure fair- without being required to
other runners affected by ural testosterone for at least postpone (the verdict),” ness on the track because medicate.q