SPORTS DIGEST| Power leads IndyCar race wire-to-wire

Power leads IndyCar race wire-to-wire

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.

Will Power started up front and never relinquished his spot to win the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.

The Australian extended his lead in the final laps and finished 3.38 seconds ahead of Scott Dixon on Sunday, while Dario Franchitti was third on the 2.38-mile road course at Barber Motorsports Park.

Power became the first IndyCar driver to lead wire to wire since Franchitti did it at Sonoma in 2009.

Power dominated in practice and qualifying rounds the past two years at Barber, and stressed how badly he wanted to win after a pit strategy backfired and cost him the lead in 2010 — and perhaps the IndyCar points championship.

Vettel wins Malaysian GP to extend start

SEPANG, Malaysia

Sebastian Vettel extended his perfect start to the Formula One season by winning the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, earning his second straight victory to begin the defense of his world title.

The Red Bull driver started from the pole and led throughout to beat McLaren’s Jenson Button by 3.2 seconds, with Renault’s Nick Heidfeld hanging on for third.

“I love what I do and I don’t think I could be happier at this stage,” said Vettel, who won the season-opening Australian GP last month. “Two wins out of two is perfect, couldn’t be better, but there is still a very long way to go this season.”

Coach arrested in attack on parent

SAN DIEGO

A youth football coach was arrested after a confrontation with a parent — apparently stemming from a dispute over recruitment of a top player — in which the parent was kicked and punched, then knocked unconscious when he tripped and hit the ground, police said.

The coach, Saivaauli Savaiinea, was arrested on suspicion of felony battery, according to San Diego Police Officer David Stafford.

Savaiinea, 32, reportedly attacked Mark Cannon during an argument at Abraham Lincoln High School. The coach allegedly punched the parent in one shoulder and kicked him in the stomach. Cannon tripped over his own feet, fell and hit his head on concrete, Stafford said.

Del Mar to cut purses of four stakes races

DEL MAR, Calif.

Four stakes races on Del Mar’s summer schedule will have their purses cut by $50,000 each when the track’s 37-day meet opens July 20.

The seaside track located north of San Diego plans to race five days a week through Sept. 7.

The races with reduced purses are the Del Mar Oaks, Del Mar Mile, Pat O’Brien Stakes and Del Mar Derby. The track says the decreases were necessary to stay within the allowed percentage guidelines for its stakes purses set by the Thoroughbred Owners of California.

Baffert has strong hand in Kentucky Derby

ARCADIA, Calif.

Bob Baffert is headed toward the Kentucky Derby with three contenders, giving the Hall of Fame trainer one of his strongest hands in years. Yet with four weeks to go, he isn’t getting cocky, especially after a weekend of upsets along the Derby trail.

Uncle Mo dropped from the unbeaten ranks with a thud, while Midnight Interlude, the least accomplished of Baffert’s Derby candidates, ran his way into the suddenly chaotic picture with a narrow victory in the Santa Anita Derby.

Uncle Mo’s invincibility took a major hit with his third-place finish in the Wood Memorial, won by longshot Toby’s Corner.

Kroenke set to take control of Arsenal

LONDON

The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust says American investor Stan Kroenke is set to take control of Premier League club Arsenal.

The AST tells The Associated Press an announcement is to be made today that Kroenke plans to raise his holding from just under 30 percent to 62 percent, exceeding the 50 percent threshold that gives him legal control of Arsenal.

Vindicator staff/wire reports