Scott Dixon
FILE - Jimmie Johnson drives the Cadillac Dpi during the Rolex 24 hour auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Johnson is part of the No. 48 Cadillac team that will compete in the race beginning Jan. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Rolex 24: Derani and Nasr now rivals in 61-car Daytona field

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 21, 2022 02:22 PM EST

Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson stands in the doorway of the team hauler at Road Atlanta Raceway in Braselton, Georgia, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, talking with Chad Knaus, right, his former crew chief, and Gary Nelson, team manager of the IMSA sports car Action Express Racing team. Johnson and Knaus have long had an on-and-off relationship that ended in 2019 after 17 seasons together. The two have been reunited by work four times this season as Knaus has run a sports car team that Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports put together in partnership with Action Express for four IMSA endurance sports car races this year. Both say their relationship is currently in a good place. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
Jimmie Johnson to run Indy 500 and full IndyCar schedule

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 15, 2021 09:25 AM EST

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain waves as he walks onto the podium after finishing second in the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 12. 2021. Max Verstappen ripped a record eighth title away from Lewis Hamilton with a pass on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi GP to close one of the most thrilling Formula One seasons in years as the first Dutch world champion. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
COLUMN: Racing or entertainment? F1 teeters line at finale

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 13, 2021 07:05 AM EST

Scott Dixon of New Zealand, from left, Kevin Magnussen of Denmark and Renger van der Zande of The Netherlands sign autographs ahead of the 10-hour Petit Le Mans endurance race at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga., Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
Petit Le Mans closes North America's motorsports season

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 12, 2021 04:37 PM EST

FILE - NASCAR team owner Chip Ganassi walks near the garages during auto racing practice at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Feb. 8, 2020. Chip Ganassi will close his 20-year run in NASCAR in Sunday’s, Nov. 7, 2021, season finale. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Chip Ganassi hits brakes on 20 years of NASCAR racing

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 03, 2021 05:04 PM EDT

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...