The new qualifying format for the Indianapolis 500 will include three rounds over two days, with the pole-winner emerging from a "Fast Nine Shootout" on what used to be Bump Day. IndyCar officials also said Friday there will be points incentives that have yet to be announced. Qualifying for the Indy 500 this year will begin on May 17 when the fastest 33 cars are locked into the field. All entries will be guaranteed at least one four-lap attempt to qualify, and the fastest nine drivers will move into the shootout. On Sunday, the previous days times will be erased and entries 10 through 33 will complete another four-lap qualifying attempt to determine their starting position. The fastest nine drivers from Saturday will then make one four-lap attempt to determine the prestigious pole winner and starting front row. The Indy 500 has had four-lap qualifying runs since 1939. The Fast Nine pole shootout was introduced in 2010, but was on Saturday. The change comes as IndyCar struggles to fill the 33-car field, making the once tension-filled Bump Day drama-free the last two years. Without additional entrants on hand trying to make the race, Sunday had become a glorified practice session. By making qualifying stretch over two days, Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has become relevant again. "We have a desire to give fans more opportunities to see IndyCar drivers on the track when theres a lot at stake, not just with practice, but where they are out there with putting it on the line in a way that matters," said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman Motorsports. "I think in the last many years, Saturday has been the day in qualifying, but theres been an opportunity to add more compelling content on Sunday, and thats what were trying to do here." IndyCar driver Graham Rahal called the new format "intriguing" and praised it for adding fan appeal. "The most important thing to realize here is we have to give our fans a better product both on TV and at track," Rahal said. "As we know Sunday in the past has been a moot point. Now I think theres going to be quite a bit of buildup Saturday, see who the 33 will be, then go into Sunday and wait till the very end to see who the pole winner is going to be. "Im pretty excited for the changes that are ahead. Of course, I am a traditionalist, but Im always one thats open for change as well." The format will make life a little more difficult for NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, who will attempt to become the first driver in 10 years to run both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Busch will now have to qualify in Indianapolis on Saturday, fly to Charlotte, N.C., for NASCARs All-Star race that evening, then return to Indianapolis to determine his starting spot in Sundays qualifying session. Under the old format, had Busch locked himself into the field on Saturday, he would not have necessarily have needed to return to Indianapolis following the All-Star race unless he was in danger of being bumped out. ABC will broadcast the final two hours of Saturdays qualifications and three hours on Sunday. Additional hours of qualifying will be carried on ESPN3, the network said. "Down through history, qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 has made for many dramatic and compelling television moments, and were confident that the leadership of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar will continue that tradition with this new format," said Rich Feinberg, ESPN vice-president, motorsports, production. . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics. . -- DeMarcus Cousins had 25 points and 16 rebounds to help the Sacramento Kings snap a seven-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago Bulls 99-70 on Monday night.
http://www.cheapjazzjerseysauthentic.co ... ley-jersey. Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. . PETERSBURG, Fla. . -- Steven Stamkos scored his first goal since returning from a major injury, Ryan Callahan had his first goal with Tampa Bay, and the Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 on Thursday night.ST. LOUIS -- Jeff Fisher shared the bad news with Sam Bradford on Sunday morning. By the time the St. Louis Rams coach began his day-after news conference, hed had several hours to digest the impact of an injury that puts the teams once-rosy outlook in serious doubt, and to give a vote of confidence to journeyman backup Shaun Hill. After announcing Bradfords season-ending torn ACL in his left knee for the second time in nine months, Fisher said speculation about a trade was premature. At the least, theyll likely wait to see who hits the market in the first round of cuts on Tuesday when rosters must be at 75 players. "It makes no sense to jump and react right now and try to fill the hole at whatever cost," Fisher said. "Were going to take our time and evaluate this. "Theres going to be some quarterbacks that are released and there may or may not be some quarterbacks out there that have trade value." Fisher confirmed the extent of the injury first reported by ESPN and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He said no timetable had been set for surgery. "We lost Sam for the year," Fisher said. "The news was devastating to him." The coach quickly added that everyone at Rams Park must quickly become accustomed to the 34-year-old Hill running the offence. "Were going to move forward, were not going to change anything," Fisher said. "We have to move on and Shauns the guy." In all, five starters were hurt in the first half against the Browns Saturday night. Fisher called it a "nightmare." Cornerback Trumaine Johnson was carted off with a knee injury and three others -- guard Rodger Saffold and defensive tackles Kendall Langford and Michael Brockers -- left with ankle injuries. Johnson will be out 4-6 weeks with an MCL tear, but Fisher said Saffold, Langford and Brockers could play if needed in the preseason finale Thursday at Miami. Bradford was injured in the first quarter of Saturday nights 33-14 preseason victory at Cleveland. He was hit on his left side by Browns defensive end Armonty Bryant as he threw a pass, and hopped briefly on his right leeg before dropping to the ground.dddddddddddd Fisher said the injury was a "one in 100" rarity. "The knee was locked and something has to give," Fisher said. "Unfortunately, the ACL gave." Bradford, the first overall pick of the 2010 draft, missed the last nine games last season after getting injured at Carolina. The Rams also have rookie Garrett Gilbert and Austin Davis on the roster. Hill strolled through the auditorium to a meeting as Fisher walked to the podium and Davis also made an appearance during the news conference. "Shauns our guy," Fisher said. "I brought him here." The Rams shifted to a ground-heavy offence after Bradford was injured last year and Kellen Clemens inherited the job. They were 3-4 with Bradford and 4-5 with Clemens. Unlike Bradford, Clemens was a bit of a scrambler. Hill is more in the Bradford mould of a drop-back passer. After the game, Fisher thought Bradford might have hyperextended the knee and was "very optimistic." Bradford walked off the field, and then walked to the locker room after the injury. Wide receiver Brian Quick said he was assured by the quarterback that he was "OK." "It is a tremendous loss for them," Browns coach Mike Pettine said. "We knew that it didnt look like much when it happened, but I just think it was a good amount of weight that got put on it. Its such an unfortunate thing." Pettine said there "certainly wasnt any intent" by Bryant to hurt Bradford. Bradford had 14 touchdown passes and four interceptions last season. The Rams then upgraded their offensive line by drafting guard-tackle Greg Robinson No. 2 overall. Bradford played in two preseason games and was 4 for 9 for 77 yards against the Browns. The 34-year-old Hill has thrown only 16 passes the past three seasons as the backup in Detroit. He made 10 starts in 2010 for the Lions in place of injured Matthew Stafford and beat the Rams for Detroits first win after a 0-4 start. "He makes good decisions, hes mobile and just understands defence," Fisher said. "Hes very reliable." ' ' '
