Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou was the fastest NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifier Saturday at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, but he also drew the ire of Team Penske’s Will Power.
Power thought three-time and defending series champion Palou should have been more polite to him during the morning practice. To make his point, Power, a two-time series champion, six times directed one of the big curse words at Palou, and he pointed his finger at the Spaniard at least that many times.
Later, Power argued that it was as much the fault of Palou’s strategist Barry Wanser for sending Palou into his path, but he was just as angry that Palou didn’t yield the track to his No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.
“I went out on new tires, and he came out a lap later in front of me and then stayed there,” Power told FS1. “(He) then spent four laps just going slow, so I had to keep backing up, backing up, backing up, which was frustrating.
“Then, I came in (to the pits), made a change, went out, (was) on a money lap (and CGR) sent him out of the pits again right in front of me – and he didn’t move. He just kept going, and I had to back off again.”
Power noted that not only did Palou didn’t have traffic ahead of him on the 13-turn, 2.258-mile road course, no cars were behind him. One resolution would have been for Power to slow down to give himself a gap to Palou, but he didn’t choose that path.
“He could have backed off, which I always do for him and anyone else if I’m in that position,” Power said.
Palou said he anticipated what Power wanted to say to him – and likely how he was going to say it – as he approached him on pit lane after the session.
“Yeah, I knew, I knew,” Palou said. “Look, I think if you look at (either) practice, everybody is complaining about traffic, and we’re all angry that we don’t get clear laps. But maybe he thought we did something personal to him. For sure, that was not the intention.
“I don’t know if you saw, but I was always like a second or two seconds in front of him. He was just having to back off. I never tried to defend or anything. I think he was just a little upset, and that’s OK.
“But, yeah, I knew what he was coming (to discuss) – I just didn’t want to start to get into an argument. Yeah, it happens. It wasn’t my first time with him, so it’s good.”
Power, Teammates Fail To Advance
Power’s day didn’t get any better in qualifying. He and Team Penske teammates Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin did not turn laps in Round 1 that were fast enough to have them advance to the second round.
Newgarden will start Sunday’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport from the 18th position (of 27 cars). McLaughlin and Power will start together on the 11th row, qualifying 21st and 22nd, respectively. McLaughlin blamed traffic for preventing him from having a faster lap in qualifying.
All three Penske drivers are former series race winners at this track, so they must be accounted for in this race. McLaughlin has been particularly strong in recent years, finishing first, fourth and third in the past three races, an average finish of 2.66.
Newgarden has won two series races here. Power and McLaughlin have won one each.
Keep an Eye on Turn 4
This popular section of the Mid-Ohio circuit is the first corner the field will encounter at the start of Sunday’s race. Cars will be two-wide – at least – as they approach the hard right-hander. Trouble awaits, especially for those positioned in the left lane.
That portion of the track has been redefined since last year’s race, and it is flatter now to lessen the drop-off from asphalt to the gravel trap known as “China Beach.” Several cars drifted wide in practice, dropping left-side tires in the new grass. But that’s not the primary issue.
There now is a bump at a popular braking point, and the bump seems to be more prominent on the left side. McLaughlin hit it at a bad time Saturday, and it pushed his car off the track. He wasn’t the only one, and he won’t be the last. If another car is alongside when the bump bites, more than one car could get chewed up.
Longer Race Changes Pit Strategy
This will be the first INDYCAR SERIES race at this track since 2019 that’s 90 laps in length, and the 10-lap increase will change strategies.
For the past four years, 80 laps were the norm, but that was an easy two-stop strategy with tight pit windows. The result was conservative racing and few options. This year, three stops will be necessary, and there should be some flexibility in when to make them.
Fuel should last between 26 and 28 laps, but look for some competitors to pit early to get track position in the event of an early caution.
INDYCAR staged 90-lap races here from 2013-19.
Odds and Ends
McLaughlin is one of six drivers who won series races last year but are winless this year, and each of them won multiple races. Power and Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward joined McLaughlin as three-time winners; Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon, Newgarden and Colton Herta of Andretti Global w/Curb-Agajanian won two each. This year, Palou (six) and Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood (three) are the only winners through nine races.
Kirkwood qualified seventh but like McLaughlin thought he was impacted by traffic ahead of him in the second round of qualifying. As a consolation, the driver who stands second in the standings (93 points behind Palou) will be one of the highest qualifiers with two sets of new Firestone Firehawk alternate tires for the race, and that should be an advantage.
Santino Ferrucci has been the hottest non-winner in the field the past four races. Despite having an average starting position of 18.25, the driver of the No. 14 Sexton Properties/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet has finished fifth, second, fifth and third, an average finish of 3.75, helping him climb to ninth in the standings. He qualified 17th for Sunday’s race.
Marcus Ericsson’s season continues to be a struggle. Twenty-first in the standings, the driver of the No. 28 FOX INDYCAR Honda of Andretti Global saw the front of his car slam the right-side barrier at Turn 14 in practice. Repairs were made, but Ericsson could only manage to qualify in the 11th position.
Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen qualified 10th, but the No. 21 ECR Splenda Chevrolet will move back six positions for the start of the race due to an unapproved engine change following last week’s test at Iowa Speedway.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was not quite at her best, but still did more than enough to win the women’s 400m at the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday (5 July).
Running in the non-Diamond League event at Hayward Field, the four-time Olympic gold medallist chased down a hot pace set by Aaliyah Butler early on, and was in charge coming off the final bend. But the 25-year-old did not storm home in her usual style, although she had plenty in hand on her rivals.
McLaughlin-Levrone had been expected to challenge Sanya Richards-Ross’ US record of 48.70, and she looked slightly disappointed with her winning time of 49.43 although that was a season’s best.
Butler was closing again at the end as she took second in 49.86 with Isabella Whittaker third in 50.81. Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke clocked 51.33 to take fourth place.
“It wasn’t my best work, but just happy to be here and happy to get another race under my belt,” admitted McLaughlin-Levrone afterwards. “I definitely have to go back and watch the race, probably with my first 200 just going out a little more fearlessly, trusting my fitness on the back end, but I’ll have to go home and watch the race.”
On Richards-Ross’s record, she said, “I think it’s on the mind always. Of course, it’s about executing, making sure all the things match up and that will come when it comes, and Sanya is an amazing athlete so I’m not surprised (the record) is still standing. I know I’m capable of it, it’s just a matter of putting the race together.
“It’s a long year, so I’m really just taking it day by day, taking it slow, building and seeing which direction you want to go in by the end of it.”
BBC Sport reported Arsenal’s interest in Madueke on Thursday, with the winger’s ability to operate on either flank a key factor in the north London side’s interest.
Arsenal are looking to strengthen their creative options in the summer window with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze among the other options considered.
The financial outlay attached to an approach for Rodrygo has raised questions over whether the Gunners can execute a successful deal for the Brazil international, nevertheless the club have explored a swoop for the 24-year-old.
Eze, who has a release clause worth a total of £68m, is another player the club have a serious interest in.
Sources have indicated the Eagles will demand the full release fee but it remains to be seen whether their stance softens later in the window.
The group stage at the Women’s Euro 2025 has started in earnest, and we will soon begin to find out the first nations through to the quarterfinals.
Here’s how countries could make it through — or go out — on matchday 2.
Qualified for quarterfinals (0/8):
Tiebreakers
1. Group points 2. Head-to-head in the game(s) between the teams in question 3. Goal difference in the game(s) between the teams in question 4. Goals scored in the game(s) between the teams in question 5. Group goal difference 6. Group goals scored 7. If two teams who are level have played each other in the final group game, a penalty shootout determines places 7. Disciplinary points (yellow and red cards) 8. Position in the qualifying phase rankings
*Kick off times show in ET (and in local time)
GROUP A
Wednesday, July 2 Group A: Iceland 0-1 Finland (Thun) Group A: Switzerland 1-2 Norway (Basel)
Sunday, July 6 Group A: Norway vs. Finland (6 p.m., Sion) Group A: Switzerland vs. Iceland (9 p.m., Bern)
Thursday, July 10 Group A: Finland vs. Switzerland (9 p.m., Geneva) Group A: Norway vs. Iceland (9 p.m., Thun)
Finland and Norway are in control of the group, but with the teams playing each other the two top places cannot both be decided on matchday 2.
Finland would qualify with a victory if Iceland win or draw.
Norway are through with a victory if Switzerland win or draw.
Iceland would be out if they lose and Norway win or draw.
Switzerland are eliminated if they lose and Finland win or draw.
GROUP B
Thursday, July 3 Group B: Belgium 0-1 Italy (Sion) Group B: Spain 5-0 Portugal (Bern)
Monday, July 7 Group B: Spain vs. Belgium (6 p.m., Thun) Group B: Portugal vs. Italy (9 p.m., Geneva)
Friday, July 11 Group B: Italy vs. Spain (9 p.m., Bern) Group B: Portugal vs. Belgium (9 p.m., Sion)
Group B could be all wrapped up when the second matches are played on Monday.
Spain will qualify with a victory over Belgium if Italy win or draw.
Italy will be through with a victory over Portugal if Spain win or draw.
Belgium will be eliminated if they lose and Italy win or draw.
Portugal will be out if they are beaten and Spain win or draw.
If both Spain and Italy win, the top two places are sealed and first position will be decided when they meet on Friday. Belgium and Portugal would both be out.
GROUP C
Friday, July 4 Group C: Denmark 0-1 Sweden (Geneva) Group C: Germany 2-0 Poland (Gallen)
Tuesday, July 8 Group C: Germany vs. Denmark (6 p.m., Basel) Group C: Poland vs. Sweden (9 p.m., Lucerne)
Saturday, July 12 Group C: Sweden vs. Germany (9 p.m., Zurich) Group C: Poland vs. Denmark (9 p.m., Lucerne)
This is effectively the same situation as Group B.
Germany will qualify with a victory over Denmark if Sweden win or draw.
Sweden will be through with a victory over Poland if Germany win or draw.
Denmark will be eliminated if they lose and Sweden win or draw.
Poland will be out if they are beaten and Germany win or draw.
If both Germany and Sweden win, the top two places are sealed and first position will be decided when they meet on Saturday. Denmark and Poland would both be out.
GROUP D
Saturday, July 5 Group D: Wales 0-3 Netherlands (Lucerne) Group D: France 2-1 England (Zurich)
Wednesday, July 9 Group D: England vs. Netherlands (6 p.m., Zurich) Group D: France vs. Wales (9 p.m., St. Gallen)
Sunday, July 13 Group D: Netherlands vs. France (9 p.m., Basel) Group D: England vs. Wales (9 p.m., St. Gallen)
Another group with two teams on three points who do not play each other on matchday two, which means the permutations are the same once more.
Netherlands will qualify with a victory over England if France win or draw.
France will be through with a victory over Wales if Netherlands win or draw.
England will be eliminated if they lose and France win or draw.
Wales will be out if they are beaten and Netherlands win or draw.
If both Netherlands and France win, the top two places are sealed and first position will be decided when they meet on Sunday. England and Wales would both be out.
France dismantle England’s defence at EURO 2025 – a sign of things to come?
In the run up to this tournament, France found themselves in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Laurent Bonadei named his 23-player squad, and it didn’t include national team mainstays Wendie Renard and Eugénie Le Sommer.
The pair have a combined tally of 368 appearances for Les Bleues, making their experience and leadership a significant loss in the dressing room – or so everyone thought.
When quizzed by the media over their omission, Bonadei referenced one of the most famous quotes in modern history, saying: “As Einstein said: ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result’ – I want different results for this team, so I have gone with a different selection.”
He was, of course, referencing France’s lack of major silverware, something surprising for a nation that has nurtured so much talent through the decades.
Yet, despite his brazen selection less than a year into his tenure, it seems a fresh approach was exactly what this team needed.
They were absolutely relentless against the Lionesses, waves of attack met with drilled defensive discipline. It was a performance from a side that looked as though they had a point to prove.
France were set up in a way that directly exploited their opponent’s weaknesses down the wing, giving English full-backs no respite.
What is perhaps more impressive is the players they turned to on their bench – Melvine Malard, Kadidiatou Diani, and Clara Mateo, all coming on to replace the entire French starting front line, a luxury few nations can afford.
Even captain and first-choice centre-back Griedge Mbock Bathy was comfortably rested as she works her way back from injury, young defender Alice Sombath stepping in with ease.
Mentality-wise, they didn’t panic when England found the next early, for a goal that was eventually ruled out. It was business as usual, sticking to the game plan and executing it as they planned.
Their biggest concerns came when the Lionesses pulled one back late on, when they had largely rotated, but France were resolute in defence of their lead.
Bonadei wanted to avoid coming into EURO 2025 as one of the favourites, but this display against the defending champions of the tournament has put a target on their backs.
WIMBLEDON, England — Novak Djokovic won the match on Centre Court on Saturday, but it was his 7-year-old daughter who really wowed Wimbledon.
Tara Djokovic’s victory dance brought a smile to dad’s face. Everybody else’s, too.
Djokovic had just clinched his 100th Wimbledon singles win and was asked during his on-court interview to shed light on the little dance he’s been doing recently.
He said it’s done to a song called “Pump It Up.”
“There’s a song with my kids — look my daughter’s doing it right now,” a smiling Djokovic said as he looked into the crowd. “You want to show it darling?”
The TV camera then panned to Tara, who then showed everyone how it’s done: Pump your fists down, then left, right and overhead.
The crowd roared.
“She’s the master. It’s a little tradition we have right now. Hopefully we can keep going so we can keep pumping more in Wimbledon.”
With six stages over a competitive distance of 98.34 kilometres remaining, Charpentier is 3.2sec ahead of Abramowski, who is also competing in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 on Pirelli tyres.
However, it could have been a three-way battle for first place had Gill not hit trouble nearing the finish of the morning loop.
Making his FIA European Rally Championship debut, Australian Gill, part of the FIA Rally Star talent detection initiative, was leading by 20.4sec after he won stages two and three of his first Tarmac start since the Croatia Rally in April 2024. But it all went wrong after the penultimate stage of the morning.
The FIA Junior WRC Championship leader explained: “Basically the fuel pump just died after the 34-kilometre stage. We were exiting the stage and after a few kilometres the car just stopped and couldn’t restart. There’s no damage or anything, the car is already fixed and we’ll restart tomorrow and try set some good stage times.”
Gill’s exit left Abramowski leading Charpentier by 0.2sec at the midday service halt in Fiuggi after the Frenchman went off and briefly got stuck in a ditch on SS4.
Tymek Abramowski is set to pounce on Sunday at Rally di Roma Capitale
While Abramowski, the ERC3 points leader who turns 19 on Monday, focused on an error-free afternoon, Charpentier moved into first place on SS5 and remained in front despite a moment on SS6.
“We touched a haybale [SS6] but otherwise it was really tough and really hot,” ex-circuit racer Charpentier said. “We have a lack of pace so we’ll have to figure that out this evening and push tomorrow. We clipped the haybale with the rear right and now the wheel is a bit bent so we had to finish like this.”
Abramowski, competing on Tarmac for only the second time, said: “I tried to keep the pace and don’t do mistakes like on the first loop when I was too slow or too fast in some cuts.”
Hubert Kowalczyk is a strong third despite set-up issues masking the Renault Clio Rally3 driver’s ultimate pace in the afternoon. “Doing the rally last year helps me because I know a little bit this Tarmac, this grip, but I have so much work and I don’t have time to prepare enough,” the 21-year-old from Poland explained. “Watching my first onboard was in the aeroplane coming here so I try to make what I can.”
Hubert Kowalczyk in action on Saturday at Rally di Roma Capitale
Casey-Jay Coleman is on course for an ERC3 career-best fourth after a solid showing from the Irishman. “There was a lot more gravel on the roads than expected but I managed the longer stage in the afternoon better than the first run by conserving the tyres and the brakes,” he said.
Adam Grahn is fifth on his Tarmac debut with Błażej Gazda and Sebastian Butyński sixth and seventh respectively. Martin Ravenščak, with sister Dora co-driving, overcame brake issues to complete leg one in eighth place.
After winning SS1 on the streets of Rome last night, Adrian Rzeźnik was hit by an electronics failure on SS2. Although he and co-driver Kamil Kozdroń, who is making his 130th start, tried to fix the issue, they were forced to retire on SS3.
Hubert Laskowski stopped with suspension damage after SS4 but is set to restart on Sunday.
Sunday’s action begins at 08:25 local time with the first run through the 11.58-kilometre Guarcino – Altipiani stage.
