Alonso sets the pace as gales interrupt testingFORMULA ONE: Fernando Alonso yesterday blew away his test rivals, notably Lewis Hamilton, on a day when the latest session was hampered by gusting winds.
The Formula One teams have had to cope with sandstorms and heavy rains during the past few weeks in the build-up to the new season as the elements have seriously hampered their programmes.
On the fourth day of five at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain, gales caused the problems.
Former double world champion Alonso, though, emerged on top with a time of one minute 19.945 seconds in his Renault, set on the 13th of his 130 laps.
The Spaniard’s time was 1.357 seconds quicker than Hamilton in his McLaren, who could only finish seventh of eight overall on his return to the track.
Kimi Raikkonen was second quickest in his Ferrari, but just over three-tenths of a second down, followed by Nick Heidfeld for BMW Sauber and Toyota’s Jarno Trulli, both 0.5 seconds off the pace.
Parrott to miss Crucible play
SNOOKER: Former winner John Parrott missed out on a place at this year’s World Championships after slumping to a 10-3 defeat to Matthew Couch in the fourth qualifying round yesterday.
Parrott (44), made the highest break of the match, 131, in the ninth frame, but that only reduced his arrears to 7-2 and 34-year-old Scunthorpe professional Couch comfortably built on his advantage to close out victory.
Nineteen-year-old Judd Trump is also one victory away from securing his place in the final stages, following his victory yesterday against Ireland’s Joe Delaney. He will take on Stephen Lee for a Crucible spot.
England's Patel not fit enough
CRICKET: Left-arm spinner Samit Patel (24) has been dropped from England’s one-day squad in West Indies because he is not fit enough.
“Samit Patel is a talented cricketer but he, like every other player who joins the senior team, must be aware of the strict fitness criteria that will be set,” said England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Hugh Morris.
“It is extremely frustrating Samit has not heeded the warnings of his county Nottinghamshire and England selector Geoff Miller.”
Security worry for Delhi games
COMMONWEALTH GAMES: The 2010 Commonwealth Games will adopt security methods similar to those used at the Beijing Olympics, its chief has said, allaying fears the attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team could scupper the event.
Speculation about the fate of the Games, due to be held in New Delhi, has intensified since last year’s attacks in Mumbai and Tuesday’s bloody ambush in Lahore which left six players and a coach wounded and eight people dead.
A number of Australian athletes – the top team in the Games – have expressed reservations about competing in India, with former swimming champion Dawn Fraser calling for the event to be moved.
“We don’t want another Munich,” Fraser said, referring to the deadly attacks on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics.
More than 4,000 athletes from over 50 countries are expected to compete, making it the biggest sporting event held in India.
Barrera reminds Khan of Hamed
BOXING: Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera has warned Amir Khan he will do the same thing to him as he did to Naseem Hamed eight years ago.
Lightweight contender and 2004 Olympic silver medallist Khan (19-1, 15 KOs) faces three-weight world champion Barrera (65-6, 43 KOs) in Manchester on March 14th in a WBO eliminator.
Barrera (35), has invoked the memory of his defeat of the then-unbeaten Hamed in 2001, when he defied his reputation as a brawler and outboxed Hamed in Las Vegas to win by unanimous decision and send the Sheffield fighter to the first and only defeat of his 37-fight, 31-knockout professional career.
“I will beat Khan because I have more experience than him and I’m still a much better fighter than he is,” Barrera said in a press release.
“Khan is tall and has a good jab and hand speed. He is a good young fighter.
“Don’t forget what I did to Prince Naseem Hamed, too, another highly-touted guy with fast hands.”
