Helio Castroneves
FILE - Fans cheer outside Fiserv Forum after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals to win the NBA championship Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Veterans fill 2021 sports year with memorable moments

By John Marshall Dec. 20, 2021 04:26 PM EST

FILE - Formula 1 race car driver Al Unser is seen in 1993. Unser, one of only four drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 a record four times, died Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, following years of health issues. He was 82. (AP Photo, File)
Al Unser, a four-time winner of Indianapolis 500, dies at 82

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 10, 2021 03:29 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 - Jack Harvey is shown before the start of an IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill., in this Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, file photo. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing confirmed the worst kept secret in IndyCar on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, when British driver Jack Harvey was officially added to its 2022 lineup. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Jack Harvey makes IndyCar move to Rahal Letterman Lanigan

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 11, 2021 09:51 AM EDT

Indycar driver Simon Pagenaud, from France, makes the turn onto Seaside Way from Pine Avenue during the final practice session for the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register via AP)
Column: Pagenaud joins rare club of drivers to leave Penske

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 27, 2021 06:21 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

Colton Herta, center, celebrates his IndyCar victory at Laguna Seca with runner-up Alex Palou, left, and Romain Grosjean, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Monterey, Calif. Palou stretched his lead in the championship standings to 35 points headed into next week's season finale. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
Herta cruises past his father with Laguna Seca victory

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 19, 2021 05:50 PM 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

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...

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

FILE - Romain Grosjean competes during an IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, in this Sunday, July 4, 2021, file photo. Former Formula One driver Romain Grosjean, who moved to IndyCar this year but said he'd only race the road and street courses, has fallen in love with the series and relented on his opposition to ovals. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar, File)
IndyCar's final stretch begins with last oval race of year

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 20, 2021 01:29 PM EDT

Pato O'Ward, of Mexico, reacts after winning the pole for an IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
O'Ward works overtime to grab pole position in Indianapolis

By Michael Marot Aug. 13, 2021 08:46 PM EDT

Will Power, of Australia, drives along the course during a practice session for the IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Indianapolis in action: IndyCar, NASCAR tripleheader weekend

By Michael Marot Aug. 13, 2021 05:25 PM EDT

FILE - Helio Castroneves of Brazil, winner of the 2021 Indianapolis 500 auto race, poses during the traditional winners photo session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, in this Monday, May 31, 2021, file photo. Helio Castroneves will race for a record fifth Indianapolis 500 in 2022 with Meyer Shank Racing. Castroneves, who won his tying fourth Indy 500 in May, has agreed to a full season ride with Meyer Shank. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Castroneves tops Motorsports Hall of Fame of America class

By Michael Marot Aug. 13, 2021 12:14 PM EDT

Kyle Larson celebrates winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Watkins Glen, N.Y., on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
AUTO RACING: NASCAR, IndyCar head to Indianapolis

By The Associated Press Aug. 11, 2021 10:53 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 4, 2021 file photo, Josef Newgarden celebrates in victory lane after winning an IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Newgarden is the toast of Nashville. The Tennessee native has hustled from event to event to promote the IndyCar race held on the city streets. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar, File)
Palou, O'Ward resume IndyCar title battle in Nashville

By Dan Gelston Aug. 07, 2021 11:41 AM EDT

IndyCar driver and Tennessee native Josef Newgarden prepares to play in his charity ping pong tournament, Thursday Aug. 5, 2021 at Pins Mechanical Company in Nashville, Tenn. Newgarden won the tournament and hopes to take home a bigger trophy when IndyCar races Sunday through downtown Nashville. (AP Photo/Daniel Gelston)
Home, speed, home: Newgarden set to tame Nashville streets

By Dan Gelston Aug. 06, 2021 11:35 AM EDT

Winless Hunter-Reay has options outside Andretti for 2022

By Dan Gelston Aug. 04, 2021 02:36 PM EDT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ryan Hunter-Reay had to leave his favorite Miami Dolphins jersey behind and try on a new one from the Tennessee Titans once his buddy...

Four-time Indianapolis 500 auto race winner and NTT Indy Car series car owner A.J. Foyt listens while winner of this year's Indy 500, Helio Castroneves, speaks during a gathering with other four-time winners Al Unser (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987) and Rick Mears (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991) at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Castroneves previously won the race in 2001, 2002, 2009. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Indy 500 winner Castroneves pumped for return at Nashville

By Dan Gelston Aug. 04, 2021 11:56 AM EDT