Форум новостроек Москвы и Подмосковья

Five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson denied any wrongdoing the Chase field-deciding race at Richmond International Raceway over the weekend that has been marred by controversy. Johnson defended himself one day after fellow driver Clint Bowyer said his spinout at Richmond was no different than when a Johnson mishap brought out a caution earlier in the race. "Clint brought it up from what Ive been able to see and read," Johnson said Wednesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "I think he was just having a bad day. And as things kept piling on, he just tried to suck someone else into the mix with him." Bowyers spin ended Ryan Newmans bid to win the race and make the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship field and instead helped Michael Waltrip Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. land a berth. NASCAR, however, determined that MWR had manipulated the race and replaced Truex with Newman in addition to punishing MWR. The implication by Bowyer was that Johnson spun intentionally with 55 laps remaining to assist the Chase chances of Jeff Gordon, Johnsons teammate at Hendrick Motorsports. Johnson blamed a flat tire for his caution and pointed out correctly that Gordon already was on pit road when it occurred. "If anyone has any questions, just go back and look at the race and youll see that our tire blowing was bad for the 24 (of driver Jeff Gordon), bad for the 5 (of driver Kasey Kahne, another Hendrick teammate) -- bad for a lot of guys who were coming to pit road," Johnson said. "The only silver lining for the 24 was that he was preserved on pit road, and was able to get the Lucky Dog (to get back on the lead lap). But even then, you have to start at the tail end (of the lead-lap cars). . There was no benefit." At Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Kyle Busch was asked what he thought of the scandal. "I say you do whatever youve got to do to get your team in," Busch said of the Chase. "If youre in that position, and you have multi-team cars, thats what theyre there for. Some people say Im full of crap and youre not supposed to manipulate the end of the race. Just let it play out as it plays out. Let the best man win. "But, I was in the same position last year. There were ways it could have been manipulated and I could have gotten myself in the Chase. But I didnt do it. And I missed the Chase." Johnson said NASCAR needs to use more officials and more technology resources, such as television replays and even in-car audio, to make better calls during the races. "In the overall issue of officiating, I think we need to expect things and when we get to the Chase time of the year -- and really we should have it all year -- but NASCAR should have people staffed up instead of downsizing," Johnson said. "Not only from the aspect of what were talking about right here, but also on restarts and a lot of other procedures that take place. "It is tough for the (officials in the scoring) tower to take care of it all. They need other people, qualified people, other resources and technology to make these decisions." Johnson said if there was any question that the race needed to be stopped. "If there is any question they need to stop the race immediately," Johnson said. "Red flag. Pits are closed. Figure it out and make the best judgment that they can -- because trying to go back on a Monday or a Tuesday to fix the situation, that is just too much. Ive learned something about the ripple effect." Johnson also said he was bewildered with NASCARs non-call on the final restart, when television replays showed eventual race winner Carl Edwards, running second at the time, clearly beat leader Paul Menard to the start-finish line in a move that Johnson said was almost identical to one he was penalized for earlier in the season, costing him a chance of a win at Dover. "Weve been working hard to eliminate grey areas and we need to continue down that road," Johnson added. "Im shocked there wasnt a call on it, plain and simple." Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . They never thought it would take some blood, too. Kevin Love grabbed his 4,000th career rebound as part of a 19-point, 13-board effort to lead the Timberwolves over the Utah Jazz 112-97 on Tuesday night. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! .During the week, McCoy told reporters he respected Hoyer for his intelligence, athleticism and how he conducts himself on and off the field. This wasnt an act, some attempt at psyching out Hoyer. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку!. Richard Jefferson scored 17 points and Diante Garrett had a career-high 15 points as the Jazz had seven players with 10 points or more in Utahs largest margin of victory this season. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Louis Blues just continue to roll -- especially against the Nashville Predators.BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Michigan State guard Garry Harris shouldnt be on the court for more than 30 minutes a game right now, according to Spartans coach Tom Izzo. The sophomore is still trying to find his way back from an ankle injury thats kept him out of the lineup three times this season and Izzo said he isnt fit or on top of his game. "I swear hes not what hes going to be," Izzo said. Tell that to Indiana. Harris scored 26 points, including 17 in the first half, to lead No. 5 Michigan State to a 73-56 victory over the Hoosiers on Saturday. Harris played 37 minutes for the Spartans (13-1, 2-0 Big Ten), spending most of them picking apart Indiana (10-5, 0-2). "Once we see some shots go down early, it can be a long day for the other team," Harris said, conceding that Izzo may be right about his fitness. "I was dead tired at the end of the game." Hoosiers coach Tom Crean, who said his team fell to a potential national champion, called Harris lethal and efficient. "Gary was an assassin today," Crean said. The win ended a run of three straight Indiana wins over the Spartans. Michigan State turned 13 Indiana turnovers into 20 points -- with Harris the finisher on several of the plays -- capitalizing on a problem that has plagued the Hoosiers all season. They are averaging 16.4 turnovers a game, more than any other team in the conference. Branden Dawson added 13 points for the Spartans. Yogi Ferrell led Indiana with 17 points while Will Sheehey added 13. After falling behind by as many as 15 points early in the second half the Hoosiers made a run, using freshman guard Stanford Robinson to clamp down on Harris and finding points from someone other than Ferrell. "I wish we would have got him on Harris in the first half," Crean said of Robinson. Sheehey buried a 3-pointer with 8:54 left in the game to close the gap to 50-41, turning and sprrinting back down court as the shot went through and the crowd erupted.dddddddddddd. But at the other end of the court, Indiana couldnt come up with a rebound off a series of Spartan misses, finally watching Harris come back to life for what would become a 5-point play. Harris hit a 3-pointer and drew a foul from Robinson. And as Harris pumped his first in front of the celebrating Spartans bench, Robinson was hit with a technical foul. Harris made two of the three free throws and the Spartans were up 55-41. Without Ferrells 10 first-half points, the Hoosiers might have been all but out of the game by halftime. Michigan State turned Indianas eight turnovers into 13 first-half points and a 33-24 lead. The Hoosiers had no answer for Harris, not even Ferrell. Harris had 17 points by the half, including a 3-pointer with 45 seconds left that he hit over Ferrell, who fell as he scrambled to get to him and was sprawled on the court at his feet. Indiana went up 9-5 in the opening 4 minutes on a 3-pointer by Ferrell. But the Spartans shut down the Hoosiers momentum in a hurry, going on a 10-0 run that was capped by a layup and free throw from Harris with 11:35 left. Harris entered the game averaging a team-high 17.4 points a game. But he still hasnt been the player he or Izzo expected this season. So he spent part of the morning, he and Izzo said, watching video of his play from last season and said it helped. Now Izzo, who said he apologized to Harris for leaving him on the court too long, hopes he can build on this game. "Youve got to have guys who make plays," Izzo said. "I think Gary Harris is going to be that guy for us this year." Michigan State is 7-0 on the road this season but plays its next two games, against No. 3 Ohio State on Tuesday and Minnesota on Jan. 11, at home. The Hoosiers will try for their first Big Ten win at Penn State on Jan. 11. ' ' '