Jarrett Wins Pocono 500, Ends Drought

Dale Jarrett was starting to wonder when his slump would end. He knew luck played a part when that finally happened Sunday at Pocono Raceway in Long Pong, Pa.

Certain to be beaten by at least one driver who could have stretched his gas to the end, and being outrun by Ricky Rudd, Jarrett figured the Pocono 500 would be another loss even though he was running well.

“That last yellow, that’s when you know that prayer works,� Jarrett said. “When that caution came out, I knew we’d have a chance.�

Jarrett ended a 30-race losing streak and won for the third time in his career at Pocono.

He passed Rudd, his Robert Yates Racing teammate, on the 195th of 200 laps, then won under caution after Rudd hit the wall with one lap to go. Rudd had a late tire problem that made it easy for Jarrett. He finished 17th

The victory was the first for 1999 Winston Cup champion Jarrett since July at Loudon, N.H. It was his 29th victory.

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Michael Schumacher insists victories and championships are no longer his main goals.

“I said in 2000 that from now on, I just race for the pleasure, whether I win too many races or not, or championships,� he said after winning the Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal, his 59th victory, and making a record-tying fifth Formula One championship a virtual certainty with half a season left.

He took the lead for good when pole-winner Juan Pablo Montoya made his second and final pit stop on Lap 51 of the 70-lap event.

Montoya moved back to second place when Schumacher’s Ferrari teammate, Rubens Barrichello, pitted. But his challenge ended on Lap 56 when smoke began pouring from the engine on his Williams BMW and he pulled off the track.

David Coulthard inherited second place in his McLaren Mercedes and fought off Barrichello.