Dein erstes Forum » his knee when Marchand was down on

LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Sam Hornish Jr. thinks he has a home-track advantage. "While Mid-Ohio is so close to my home and my heart, at the same time its a place where Ive got almost as many races here as a fan as I do as a driver," the Defiance, Ohio, native said Friday during practice a day before the NASCAR Nationwide series race. Hornish, who has raced several times in competition at the track, believes he has some insider knowledge. "I feel like Ive got a good idea of what the car needs to do and what I need to do as the driver to go out and be successful here," he said. "Yeah, we want to go out and be fast. But the biggest thing about this form of racing -- running on a road course -- is taking care of the equipment." Hornish, one of the series top drivers on tracks that require more than right turns, finished with a rush a year ago at Mid-Ohio. He made a run at the lead on the final lap before ending up behind AJ Allmendinger, winner of the inaugural Nationwide event, and pole-winner Michael McDowell. He could have applied even more pressure, he said, if Allmendinger hadnt been one of his Penske teammates. "I had to play a little bit nicer than I probably would have," he said with a laugh. "All that being said, I feel pretty good about the car that I have." Hornish, with no fulltime sponsor but driving this week for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Monster Energy Toyota, has dreamed of winning at the twisting track located in picturesque farmland midway between Columbus and Cleveland. His odds improved when Allmendinger elected to focus on the Sprint Cup race in Michigan this weekend. Hornish was third during Fridays practice behind Justin Marks and Chris Buescher. Qualifying is Saturday morning, with the race later in the day. One of Hornishs chief adversaries figures to be series points leader Chase Elliott, who has never driven at Mid-Ohio. He watched videos and memorized notes from last years race provided by driver Ron Fellows, with whom he has studied the nuances of road courses. Even though he finished fourth at Road America and sixth last week at Watkins Glen on road courses, Elliott hasnt been pleased with his efforts. But he is hoping that hes getting the hang of the quick braking, rapid acceleration and sharp turns that are required on such a layout. "Im just putting all that stuff together and making sure I do a good job," he said. "Ill get all the practice that is offered. Ill try to learn and hopefully itll be good enough." Elliott, at the wheel of owner Dale Earnhardt Jr.s Chevrolet, was ninth after Fridays practice runs but is looking for improvement. Brendan Gaughan, fifth in practice, won at scenic Road America and has his own theory on what it takes to win on a road course. "If you dont get in rhythm out there, you can really screw yourself up," he said, calling Mid-Ohio an "extremely technical road course." Alex Tagliani, who was second at Road America, had the seventh-best practice time. "Its a track that changes quite a bit from practice to qualifying," he said about Mid-Ohio. "The level of grip is going to go high. And the speed is going to increase tremendously." Brandon Saad Jersey . Just ask last seasons Supporters Shield winners, the New York Red Bulls, who were resoundingly defeated last weekend by a rampant Vancouver Whitecaps in a match which produced two contenders for MLS Goal of the Week from Sebastian Fernandez and Pedro Morales. Denis Savard Jersey . Its Wu-Tang and Outkast in the final. Now, we all know youve played the role of Andre 3000 in the past, does that mean Outkast is getting your vote?AJ: You know it, you know it. http://www.officialblackhawksfanstore.co...ckhawks-jersey/. At 11:06 of the first period, Neal struck Marchand with his knee when Marchand was down on the ice. Marchand remained in the game. Neal was assessed a kneeing penalty for his hit on Marchand. Keith Magnuson Jersey . The Nevada Athletic Commission voted unanimously in Las Vegas to quit granting therapeutic use exemptions for fighters undergoing the so-called TRT. Steve Larmer Jersey .com) - Darius Carter and Ron Baker scored 18 points apiece to help 13th-ranked Wichita State beat Evansville 61-41 on Saturday.DURBAN, South Africa -- Such is the nature of his touchy back that Louis Oosthuizen has planned his golf schedule only up to the Masters in April. Problems with his lower back last year forced Oosthuizen to miss more events than he wanted to, and to withdraw after three rounds of the Byron Nelson Championship, after a first-round 75 at the U.S. Open, and most disappointingly to him, after six holes in the British Open, an event he won in 2010. That began a layoff of almost three months until he returned for the International team at the Presidents Cup in October. He played all four of the European Tours season-ending events and managed a best finish of 15th in Shanghai. While Oosthuizen is not prepared to look beyond the Masters, where he was runner-up to Bubba Watson in 2012, he has prepared a busy schedule starting with his defence this week of the Volvo Champions title on home turf at Durban Country Club. This is his first of eight tournaments in the next nine weeks, spread over Africa, the Middle East, and the United States. "I had some injections in my lower back last October that seem to have helped," Oosthuizen said on Wednesday. "The good thing is I am playing pain-free and I am doing a lot of things to get it better. But the pain iis definitely still there and its not going to go away, and its going to take a lot of time.dddddddddddd "Its meant Ive had to cut down my practice on the range, and while Im taking the occasional antiinflammatory, its just one of those things I have to deal with." Oosthuizen must wish he had the constitution of Miguel Angel Jimenez or even Darre Clarke. Jimenez returns to competition after turning 50 last Sunday and looking to again break his "oldest ever" tour record he re-set last month in capturing a third Hong Kong Open title. "Yes, I turned 50 a few days ago and I look in the mirror and still see the same guy," the Spaniard joked. "So I come here looking to win, win, win as that is my continuing motivation. For me, coming to play on the tour is not just to get a salary. If so, I would stay at home." Clarke, 14 years older than Oosthuizen at 45, has lost around 40 pounds since October in a bid to rekindle his form. He hasnt won anything since the 2011 British Open. "In a short time Im already twice as strong because most people who lose weight, they lose strength, as well," Clarke said, showing off a trimmer figure. "Ive gone the other way. Ive lost weight and gone twice as strong." 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