Dario Franchitti's hopes of retaining his IndyCar crown suffered another blow during the latest round of action in Iowa on Saturday night when the Scot failed to start the race after beginning on pole, writes Neil Drysdale.
Franchitti is striving to reduce the deficit on current title leader, Will Power, but his aspirations were dented by thunderstorms which delayed the race for an hour. Then, when he subsequently prepared his Ganassi vehicle for battle, the 39 year-old driver, who has dominated the championship for the last three seasons, pulled off the track with a blown diffuser during a warm-up lap, which ended his involvement before the event had even begun.
Franchitti's misfortunes set the tone for an incident-packed, collision-strewn occasion, which was eventually won by Ryan Hunter-Reay, who duly sealed his second consecutive triumph, although not without having to dig deep. Eleven cars failed to make it to the finish line, including the title leader, Will Power, who crashed into EJ Viso, and Franchitti has demonstrated in the past that he is capable of clawing back lost ground in the second half of the campaign.
None the less, he faces a daunting task in the months ahead, unless he can string together poles, podiums and victories on a regular basis.
canoeing
Edinburgh's David Florence narrowly missed out on his third World Cup win in three weeks after taking silver in the C1 final at La Seu d'Urgell near Barcelona, writes Lorin McDougall.
The Olympic silver medallist clocked a flawless 98.69sec at the 1992 Olympic venue but Spain's Jordi Domenjo edged him by just 0.04secs with French legend Tony Estanguet third. "I feel pretty awesome," said Florence. "I put in some solid runs and built through the competition, It's a great finish to three weeks on the road."
Clipped gates and time penalties cost Florence and Rich Hounslow a spot in yesterday's C2 final, in which Aberdeen's Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott finished sixth. Scots Campbell Walsh and Fiona Pennie both failed to reach their K1 kayak finals.
Cycling
Mountain bike specialist Oli Beckingsale made a bold bid to deliver victory for the Scottish outfit Endura Racing at yesterday's British Road Race Championships in Yorkshire, writes Colin Renton. However, he was dropped from a five-man breakaway as the pace increased in the final section of the 114-mile event.
Englishman Ian Stannard posted a third successive win for Team Sky after breaking away from the field in the closing stages and coming home well clear of his colleague Alex Dowsett and Russell Hampton (Team Raleigh).
Sharon Laws, omitted from the road race team for the Olympics, won the women's title, with her AA Drink Leontien team-mates Lizzie Armitstead – the defending champion – and Emma Pooley completing a clean sweep. Beijing gold medallist Nicole Cooke was sixth with Gemma Neill of Leslie Bike Shop was the leading Scot in 15th place.
golf
Paul Lawrie heads to this week's Irish Open at Royal Portrush after carding a final-round 69 for a five under par tally in rain on the last day the BMW International Open in Cologne, writes Bernie McGuire.
England's Danny Willett, 24, played the 'flop shot' of his career from near a grandstand at the back of the green to save par and defeat Australia's Marcus Fraser at the fourth extra play-off hole on the rain softenedGut Larcenhof course.
Both Willett (73) and Australia's Marcus Fraser (71) ended regulation play locked at11-under par. Willett, 24 was a team-mate of Rory McIlroy's in the 2007 GB & I Walker Cup side but unlike McIlroy it's taken the Sheffield golfer 106 starts to finally taste success as a pro.
n Peebles teenager Craig Howie yesterday became the first Scottish winner of the prestigious Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters Championship since the event was inaugurated 12 years ago. Rounds of 69,70 and 65 for a 54-hole aggregate of 12-under par 204 gave the Scottish Boys Champion a five-stroke victory over Max Orrin of North Foreland with another Scot Blaigowrie's Bradley Neil finishing joint third on 21.
HOCKEY
Graham Moodie, Scotland`s new under 21 men`s coach, achieved his first win in charge when his side beat Wales 4-2 in the Celtic Cup in Wrexham yesterday, a result that leaves the young Scots in the runners-up spot behind Ireland, writes Craig Madden. Matt Connor and Fraser Sands scored two goals apiece,
"We played well to the gameplan and deserved to be three up, but then we lost our shape and discipline, letting Wales back into the contest with. But it was good to record a win," said Neil Allan, Scotland`s coach. On Saturday, Scotland` lost 2-0 to Ireland. Scotland women`s picked up the wooden spoon after losing 1-0 to Wales in their final match.
Shinty
The postponed AJG Parcels Celtic Society Shinty Cup final between Inveraray and Taynuilt has been rearranged for this Saturday, writes Kenneth Stephen. The pair were set to meet in the 108th final at Strachur at the weekend but the new park was underwater by throw-up time and had to be called off. Kinlochshiel, who only entered the top flight this term, recorded a famous victory in the Camanachd Cup, defeating Kingussie 5-3 after extra time to book a tie with Lovat. MacRaes were to the fore, with Duncan, Keith (2) and John MacRae all netting along with Georgie MacDonald.
triathlon
Scot David McNamee claimed ninth place at the ITU World Triathlon in Kitzbuhel. The 24-year-old finished in 1hr 52min 10sec, just nine seconds shy of sixth.
The world champion, Alistair Brownlee, won the race in 1:50:13 with his brother Jonathan second. McNamee, from Irvine, was down down the field after the 1500m swim, but the Scotland squad triathlete was third quickest on the 40km bike and then overtook several opponents on the 10km run to claim his highest finish in the series.
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