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SONOMA, Calif. -- To call the 2015 season a disappointment for Team Penske would be an understatement. The organization had the positioning to win championships in both IndyCar and NASCAR, but came up empty in both series.The IndyCar defeat was a tough one: Juan Pablo Montoya had led the standings wire-to-wire but lost the title on a tiebreaker to Scott Dixon because Dixon won the season finale.This year, as Roger Penske celebrates his 50th season in racing, there was a dedication toward giving The Captain a title.Team Penske delivered Sunday when Simon Pagenaud won at Sonoma Raceway to wrap his first career IndyCar championship. It was the 14th series title for Penske, which also managed the first 1-2-3 sweep of the standings since another group of Penske drivers did it in 1994.Obviously, when you join a team like Team Penske, they deliver the best cars. They provide you the best equipment out there, Pagenaud said. As a driver, its your job to do the best job possible.The Frenchman won his first career IndyCar title in his sophomore season driving for Penske. Pagenaud only needed a smooth race to complete on this breakthrough season.Instead, he picked up his fifth win of the year and led a strong Penske finish to the final podium. A 14th IndyCar title -- and 29th in various forms of motorsports -- was guaranteed at the start of the race because only Pagenaud and teammate Will Power were mathematically eligible to win the title.Pagenaud entered the weekend 43 points ahead of Power, but earned an additional point for winning the pole. Then he led the most laps and won a race that was worth double points in the standings.What Im thinking about right now is, its been a long career, Pagenaud said. You start, seven years old. You go through a lot. I remember my first race in France in a go-kart. It was raining. I had my visor open because I had the wrong helmet.I still have that picture at home. The ground I covered since is quite incredible. I just feel so blessed to be a human that has been able to live his dream and get to this. I basically accomplished all the dreams I had.Pagenauds performance was a moot point, though: Power had mechanical issues 38 laps into the race that sealed the outcome.Obviously I saw Will slowing down, which I wanted this fight to go all the way, Pagenaud said. It was a bit of a relief, I have to say. I feel sorry for his luck.Probably needing to win to unseat Pagenaud, Power instead finished 20th. Pagenauds final margin was 127 points, the largest points win since Alex Zanardi defeated teammate Jimmy Vasser by 119 points in 1998.It was pretty realistic considering it was (worth) double points, Power said. Its just how it flows, when its your year, its your year, and Simon has done a phenomenal job to lead a 1-2-3 finish.Power finished second in the standings, Helio Castroneves was third and Chevrolet won its fifth consecutive manufacturer title since its return to IndyCar in 2012.PENSKE POWER: This has been a very strong year for the Penske organization, with the combination of Pagenaud, Power and Montoya winning 10 of the 16 races and 11 poles.Across all motorsports, Penske this year also achieved its 500th pole, its 100th victory in NASCARs top Sprint Cup Series, and now an additional championship. The Penske team still has another shot: Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano both had top-five finishes Sunday in the opening race of NASCARs playoff.I just think after last year, only winning three (IndyCar) races as a team, we were so determined to come back, Power said. We all contributed. To win 10 out of 16 races is pretty strong as a team.GOODBYE TARGET: Scott Dixon didnt give sponsor Target the send-off it had hoped after 27 years in IndyCar.Dixon started the day tied for third in the standings and trying to keep his streak of finishing third or better in the standings every year since 2007.But he had radio issues, had to change his helmet during a caution, and finished 17th. It dropped him to sixth in the final standings. Its the lowest Dixon has finished since 2005.MONTOYA MOVING ON? If Sunday was the final race for Montoya driving for Penske, he closed out his tenure on a strong note.Montoya finished third at Sonoma to bookend the year with podium finishes. He won the season-opener in St. Petersburg, Florida, but had a significant drop-off the rest of the way.Although Montoya won the Indianapolis 500 for Penske last year, the team owner is unsure if hell bring the Colombian back next year. Penske hopes to make a decision within 60 days on if hell field a fourth car, and who will drive it, and Montoya doesnt believe the door is closed yet on a return.ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Alexander Rossi finished fifth on Sunday to lock up top rookie honors for the IndyCar season.Rossi won the Indianapolis 500 for a huge bright spot on a season he otherwise believes failed to live up to expectations. Rossi had just one podium all year.Hes yet to announce his 2017 plans, and his name began to surface Sunday as a possible Penske driver next year.Wouldnt that be nice, Rossi said after the race. Wholesale Houston Texans Jerseys 2019 .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Houston Texans Peter Kalambayi Jersey . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. http://www.cheaptexansjerseys.us/ .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. Houston Texans Keke Coutee Jersey . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. Cheap Texans Jerseys Hoodies .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Jantel Lavender scored a career-high 25 points and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Connecticut Sun 98-92 in overtime Friday night to tie the 1998 Houston Comets for the best start in WNBA history.Lavender added a season-high 10 rebounds, and Kristi Tolliver scored eight of her 24 points in overtime for the Sparks (20-1). Theyve won nine in a row and are 9-0 on the road.Tolliver made the last of her four 3s to give the Sparks a 93-92 lead with 1:31 left in overtime and ignite an 8-0 run to close the game.Connecticut (6-15) missed its final three field-goal attempts and committed turnovers on three consecutive possessions after Tollivers clinching 3-pointer.Nneka Ogwumike added 22 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles.Thomas had 17 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for the Sun. Chiney Ogwumike, Nnekas sister, had 16 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.LYNX 88, LIBERTY 70MINNEAPOLIS -- Seimone Augustus had 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting in her return from a knee injury, and Maya Moore added 15 to help Minnesota cruise past New York.Augustus, who missed three games due to a sore left knee, grabbed a season-high seven rebounds and hhad four assists.dddddddddddd Janel McCarville scored a season-best 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting for Minnesota (18-4).Tina Charles had 15 points and 14 rebounds, and Zellous added 11 points for the Liberty (16-7).FEVER 78, DREAM 72INDIANAPOLIS -- Tamika Catchings and Lynetta Kizer scored 18 points apiece, Briann January keyed a fourth-quarter run and Indiana overcame an 11-point deficit to beat Atlanta.Catchings was 7 of 9 from the field. and Kizer had a career-best five steals. Erlana Larkins added 10 points, 11 rebounds and a season-high five assists, and Shenise Johnson had 10 points for Indiana (10-12).Carla Cortijo scored a career-high 20 points for Atlanta (11-11).SKY 84, WINGS 77ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Elena Delle Donne had 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting and Allie Quigley hit a late 3-pointer to help Chicago beat Dallas.Jamierra Faulkner added 13 points and six assists, and Quigley finished with 10 points for Chicago (9-12). Plenette Pierson hit a career-high five 3-pointers and finished with 20 points for the Wings (9-13). Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Cheap NFL Jerseys Throwback Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Hoodies Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys Discount Jerseys ' ' '
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