ON THE TRACKS Saturday’s auto racing recaps

NASCAR

Elliott posts fastest time

MARTINSVILLE, VA.

Chase Elliott was fastest of the playoff contenders in the final practice before today’s race at Martinsville Speedway. The playoff field has been cut in half to eight drivers, and they have the next three races to earn one of the final four spots in next month’s championship race. A victory earns an automatic berth to the championship race. Championship favorite Martin Truex Jr. was third fastest in practice, which was led by non-playoff driver Joey Logano. Truex has a series-best seven wins this season and has won three of the six playoff races to date. Martinsville Speedway has a condensed two-day schedule this weekend in which Saturday had just two hour-long practice sessions. Qualifying is scheduled for today, hours before the race. The compacted schedule replaced on-track Cup activit ∫y Friday with fan fests and autograph sessions. It’s a cost-cutting move for teams, who pay less in travel with a shorter at-track schedule. But it puts a strain on the playoff teams that have little preparation time to get ready for Sunday’s critical race.

Formula One

Vettel grabs pole in Mexico

MEXICO CITY

Lewis Hamilton will be chasing his fourth Formula One season championship from behind Sebastian Vettel. At least from the start. Blistering late laps by Vettel and Max Verstappen will have Ferrari and Red Bull starting 1-2 at the Mexican Grand Prix today with Hamilton to start third. Hamilton leads Vettel by 66 points in the season championship with three races left and can win it if he finishes fifth or better. Hamilton won on this track last year and was clearly annoyed at not only being denied pole position but the front row as well. He has insisted all week he wants to win the season title with a victory at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, a track he conquered last year. “We’re still in it for the win, I think,” Hamilton said. A good start could get him out front on a track that features a starting grid on one of the longest straights of the F1 season, a design that plays into the Mercedes engine straight line power. “It’s a long way to turn one,” Hamilton said. “We ought to have some fun.” He’ll also want to avoid any kind of trouble in front of him. Vettel and Verstappen started 1-2 at the Singapore Grand Prix when Vettel’s sudden move across the track triggered a crash that took out both cars.

Associated Press