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INDIANAPOLIS -- As Simon Pagenaud collected a $1 million champions check on Tuesday night at the Verizon IndyCar Series awards banquet, he was already contemplating what the 2017 IndyCar season might actually look like.He has already been involved in meetings about improving the No. 22 car. He plans to test next week at Elkhart Lake. He wants to win the series marquee race, the Indianapolis 500. And soon, Pagenaud could be welcoming a new teammate to Team Penskes stable in North Carolina.Things couldnt get much better for the 32-year-old French driver, who won a series-high five races and seven poles this season to attain his lifelong dream by winning the series title.Im so proud of what happened, so happy, because it really has been my dream and it hasnt been easy to get here, he said. I really mean it, this has been my dream since I was a little kid.Pagenauds victory added another chapter to Roger Penskes incredible résumé as a team owner, this time in his milestone 50th season as a team owner.Penske didnt make it this far by sitting still, savoring victories or getting complacent. So why start now -- after Pagenaud, 2014 series champ Will Power and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves swept the top three points places in 2016?Instead, Penske always keeps chasing more, which is why he wants to add the best young American driver in the series, Josef Newgarden, to his four-car garage. Had Newgarden been on the team last season, Penske would have swept the top four spots.And now it looks like the worst kept secret in IndyCars is on the verge of being confirmed.Were here tonight to celebrate 2016, Penske said, brushing aside questions about the expected announcement. I think well decide what the future will be soon, I hope.Ed Carpenter Racing announced last week that Newgarden had decided not to return to that team next season.And Newgarden tried to keep his future plans under wraps on Tuesday night, explaining he didnt even consider moving on until he flew to Hawaii following the Sept. 18 race at Sonoma. In the two-plus weeks since the season finale, what started as a rumor has quickly become the conventional wisdom.Newgarden didnt help his case when he arrived Tuesday evening on the red carpet after Castroneves, after Power, after Penske and even after Pagenaud. A slightly embarrassed Newgarden downplayed the order of appearance at the awards banquet, acknowledging that never was the plan, but it still raised more questions about whats next for the rising star.Yes, Im currently unemployed, hopefully not for long, the 25-year-old Tennessee native said. When I had that conversation with Ed, it was very difficult. I think we could have continued for as long as we wanted, but a lot goes into a decision, and sometimes when youre young, you just want to try something different.Penske and his drivers didnt drop any hints of what might be coming.I know Josef pretty well, Pagenaud said. I actually dont know whats going on; Ive just been reading what youve been writing about Josef and Juan [Pablo Montoya]. I thought it worked pretty well last year, and thats not to say if Josef comes on board that it wouldnt work. It probably would.But before Pagenaud welcomes a new teammate and begins the daunting task of defending a title, he has a few more stops on his agenda.Hed like to take a vacation, switch off his cellphone and spend some time reflecting the biggest achievement of his life.I just want to take some time to enjoy all this, he said. I havent really had time to do that yet.NotesThe late Bryan Clauson was selected as the series most popular driver by fans. The 27-year-old Clauson died in August from injuries sustained in a crash during a midget-car crash. ... Pagenaud also earned the P1 Award for scoring the most points among pole winners. ... Billy Vincent, who worked with Pagenaud, was named the series chief mechanic of the year, and Jon Bouslog, of Team Penske, was named team manager of the year. ... Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi was named the series rookie of the year, Conor Daly earned the Dont Crack Under Pressure Award and Charlie Kimball earned the Drive to the Finish Award for completing the most laps. Wholesale Nike Air Max . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. Nike React Element 87 Sale . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.sneakersonsalecheap.com/cheap-nike-sneakers.html . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Cheap Adidas Sneakers China .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Air Force 1 Clearance Sale . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. CHICAGO -- Milton Doyle scored 22 points with six rebounds and seven assists as Loyola of Chicago rolled to a 72-56 win over Milwaukee on Saturday.Doyle was 9 of 10 from the field including a pair of 3-pointers for the Ramblers (9-2) who have won four straight. Aundre Jackson added 21 points and four rebounds and Clayton Custer had 12 points and five assists. The team averaged 67.5 percent shooting from the field compared to 39 percent for Milwaukee.Doyle and Bruno Skookna hit a 3-pointer each late in the first half to help the Ramblers to a 44-33 lead at the break.dddddddddddd. They led by double figures the rest of the way, taking it to 19 points, 68-50, on a pair of Doyle free throws with 2:16 to play.Cody Wichmann scored 13 points with four rebounds for the Panthers (4-6). Brock Stull added 11 points. ' ' '
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