Scott Dixon
NTT IndyCar Series winner Alex Palou, center, celebrates with a team member after taking fourth place in an IndyCar auto race at Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Hello Palou: IndyCar's new champion a breath of fresh air

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 30, 2021 02:56 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain reacts after wining the Russian Formula One Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom circuit, in Sochi, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. (Yuri Kochetkov/Pool Photo via AP)
AUTO RACING: NASCAR heads to Talladega with Hamlin rolling

By The Associated Press Sep. 29, 2021 08:10 AM EDT

NTT IndyCar Series winner Alex Palou, center, celebrates with a team member after taking 4th place in an IndyCar auto race at Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Palou becomes first Spaniard to win IndyCar championship

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 26, 2021 04:29 PM EDT

IndyCar drivers Dalton Kellett, left, from Stouffville, Canada, and Graham Rahal, from New Albany, Ohio, race up Pine Avenue during the final practice session at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register via AP)
Newgarden wins Long Beach pole in tight IndyCar title race

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 25, 2021 04:51 PM EDT

FILE - Romain Grosjean (51) smiles before the start an IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Madison, Ill. Grosjean will move to Andretti Autosport next season and drive the full 17-race schedule, including the Indianapolis 500. The Frenchman has fallen in love with IndyCar since moving to the series this season from Formula One. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
IndyCar speeds into Long Beach celebrating season of gains

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 24, 2021 01:02 PM EDT

FILE - Two-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda, center, sprays champagne over well wishers around the winner circle at the Grand Prix circuit in Long Beach, Calif., in this April 5, 1982, file photo. Lauda, driving for Team McLaren, won the race, finishing ahead of Team Williams driver Keke Rosberg, left, of Finland, second, and Canadian Gilles Villeneuve, right, who finished third driving for Ferrari. The Grand Prix of Long Beach opens 17 months after the pandemic ended the crown jewel’s streak as one of the longest continuously-running street events in racing. (AP Photo/FIle)
Long Beach opens up for grand prix return, IndyCar closer

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 23, 2021 04:43 PM EDT

Colton Herta poses after winning the pole, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif. Herta is the defending race winner from 2019. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
Herta claims pole at Laguna Seca as Palou eyes IndyCar title

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 18, 2021 06:57 PM EDT

ARCHIVO- En esta foto de archivo, Alex Palou, de España, se prepara para participar en las 500 Millas de Indianápolis. La mala noticia para Palou es que nunca ha corrido en Laguna Seca, la penúltima fecha de la temporada de IndyCar. La buena es que quienes le pueden quitar el campeonato tampoco tienen mucha experiencia. (AP Foto/Darron Cummings, Archivo)
IndyCar soars into Laguna Seca celebrating strong season

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 18, 2021 05:30 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 20, 2021, file photo, Alex Palou, of Spain, waits to drive during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. The bad news for Alex Palou is that he’s never raced before at Laguna Seca, the penultimate race in the IndyCar championship. The good news? Those trying to wrest the title away from Palou don’t have much experience, either. Laguna Seca only returned to the IndyCar schedule in 2019 and then was canceled last year during the pandemic. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
O'Ward says IndyCar championship is Alex Palou's to lose

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 17, 2021 07:03 PM EDT

Martin Truex Jr., celebrates winning the NASCAR Cup series auto race in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
AUTO RACING: Gibbs drivers surge as NASCAR goes to Bristol

By The Associated Press Sep. 15, 2021 08:10 AM EDT

FILE - In this May 14, 2021, file photo, Jimmie Johnson climbs out of his car following practice for the IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. When a pair of poor finishes cost Alex Palou the IndyCar points lead, the second-year driver found teammate Johnson for a pair of pep talks. Johnson may be an IndyCar rookie on the track, but the intangibles he brings to Chip Ganassi Racing as a seven-time NASCAR champion are invaluable. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Column: Johnson's leadership steadies Palou for title fight

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 13, 2021 11:01 AM EDT

Alex Palou, center, celebrates his third IndyCar win of the season on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021 at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Ore. Palou’s win moved him back atop the IndyCar championship standings with two races remaining. Alexander Rossi finished second and Scott Dixon, teammates with Palou at Chip Ganassi Racing, finished third. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
Alex Palou recovers in Portland for 3rd win and IndyCar lead

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 12, 2021 06:02 PM EDT

Driver Alex Palou, front right, poses by his car and team after winning the first pole of his career during qualifying for Sunday's IndyCar auto race, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
Palou takes pole at Portland, eyes IndyCar points lead

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 11, 2021 05:43 PM EDT

Josef Newgarden (2) looks up during the national anthem before the start an IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Madison, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
IndyCar surges out west for 3-race championship close

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 10, 2021 02:21 PM EDT

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Sep. 09, 2021 02:19 PM EDT
Sept. 14 1923 — Jack Dempsey knocks out Luis Firpo in the second round for his last successful defense of his world heavyweight title, at...

Denny Hamlin looks at the trophy after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/John Amis)
AUTO RACING: NASCAR's playoffs move to Richmond

By The Associated Press Sep. 08, 2021 04:47 PM EDT

Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, left, chats with Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Jimmie Johnson before the start of practice of the IndyCar auto race, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Dan Gelston)
Johnson's 1st oval test clears way for laps at Indianapolis

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 31, 2021 01:53 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, file photo, Alex Palou, second from left, of Spain, talks with a crew member before a practice session for a IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. IndyCar is on a two-week break, but the 24-year-old Palou has no plans to rest as he tries to reclaim his spot atop the championship standings. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Palou looks ahead at reclaiming IndyCar championship lead

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 25, 2021 04:04 PM EDT

Pato O'Ward (5) stands next to his car before the start an IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Madison, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Erratic driving upends IndyCar's championship race

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 22, 2021 12:04 PM EDT

Cars race under the lights during an IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Madison, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
IndyCar title race flips to O'Ward in wild race at Gateway

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 21, 2021 08:30 PM EDT