Dixon dials up drama during thrilling finish

SONOMA, Calif. – Scott Dixon passed Mike Conway with three laps to go at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday, earning a dramatic IndyCar victory and muddying the overall championship race.

Series leader Will Power finished ninth after a ferocious last-lap push past Justin Wilson, setting up an intriguing finish to the IndyCar season Saturday at Fontana.

After starting on the pole, Power fell back to 20th with a mid-race spin. IndyCar is reviewing Power’s tactics on the final lap.

Ricciardo avoids wrecks, brings Red Bull a win

SPA, Belgium – Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo beat Nico Rosberg to win an incident-packed Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, while Rosberg extended his championship lead over Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in acrimonious circumstances.

The increasingly strained relations at Mercedes could now get even worse after Rosberg effectively ended Hamilton’s race chances with a risky overtaking move that saw him clip and puncture the Briton’s left tire.

Hamilton retired with five laps remaining after his team noticed some further degradation.

Cycling

Bouhanni stars on a Sunday Vuelta stage

SAN FERNANDO, Spain – Nacer Bouhanni of France sprinted to victory in the second stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday, while Alejandro Valverde claimed the red leader’s jersey after a ride that didn’t produce any changes among the race favorites.

In a Vuelta designed to favor climbers, the flat finish was one of the few chances for sprinters to shine after the peloton picked up the pace during the route’s final kilometers along Spain’s southern coast.

Bouhanni was launched by a FDJ.fr teammate and had time to ease up as he crossed the line a bike-length ahead of the pack, finishing the 108.3-mile ride from Algeciras to San Fernando in 4 hours, 1 minute, 30 seconds.

Golf

Donaldson clinches a coveted Ryder Cup spot

VYSOKY UJEZD, Czech Republic – Jamie Donaldson shot 4-under 68 Sunday to win the Czech Masters and secure a spot on the European Ryder Cup team.

Tied in second with Soren Kjeldsen overnight, Donaldson took the lead when his Danish opponent made two consecutive bogeys on the last two holes of the front nine. The Welshman surged further ahead with two birdies on the first three holes of the back nine.

LONDON, Ontario – So Yeon Ryu won the Canadian Women’s Open on Sunday at London Hunt, breaking the tournament record at 23-under 265.

The 24-year-old Ryu closed with a 3-under 69 for a two-stroke victory over fellow South Korean player Na Yeon Choi.

Ryu opened with a course-record 63 and added rounds of 66 and 67 to take a four-stroke lead into the final day.

SNOQUALMIE, Wash. – Scott Dunlap won the Boeing Classic on Sunday when he made a short birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff against Mark Brooks.

Dunlap set up his winning putt on the par-5 18th hole with an outstanding approach to the right of the pin that bounced past the hole, and then drew back downhill to within four feet. He missed his eagle try but made his next putt for his first Champions Tour victory.

Associated Press