Ryan Hunter-Reay prevails in IndyCar race

Ryan Hunter-Reay won the Grand Prix of Baltimore on Sunday, a victory that keeps alive his hopes of winning the Izod IndyCar Series championship.

Will Power could have clinched the overall title with a win, but the pole-sitter finished sixth in a race that drew nine caution flags and was marred by rain.

Power will take a 17-point lead over Hunter-Reay into the final race of the year, on the oval at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Sept. 15.

Ryan Briscoe took second, rookie Simon Pagenaud finished third and Scott Dixon was fourth.

The race was marked by controversy, with Power and Briscoe questioning Hunter-Reay’s timing on a restart near the end of the race. Officials said a replay showed Hunter-Reay acted appropriately.

Dario Franchitti’s disappointing season took another hit on Lap 21 when he spun to a stop after his car was clipped from behind by Simona de Silvestro. The collision damaged the front of Silvestro’s car, and she eventually dropped out of the race. Franchitti finished 13th.

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Jenson Button coasted to his second victory of the season in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa after Formula One championship leader Fernando Alonso was sent flying off the track following Romain Grosjean’s reckless driving.

It was Button’s first victory at Spa and No. 14 for the British driver’s career. He led from start to finish, oblivious to the chaos behind him.

Button triumphantly zigzagged across the track as he approached the finish line and then clapped his hands together in celebration. He then stood on his McLaren and leaned his head back as he clenched both fists.

Alonso, who is chasing his third F1 title, was relieved after he felt OK after the scary wreck.

Defending champion Sebastian Vettel finished second and cut Alonso’s lead to 24 points, putting the two-time champion right back in contention.

Kimi Raikkonen was third, continuing the consistent form he has shown all season long with his third consecutive podium finish and sixth overall.

The early crash also took out Mexican driver Sergio Perez and Grosjean, who received a one-race ban for dangerous driving and won’t race in Sunday’s stop in Monza, Italy.

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Remnants of Hurricane Isaac reached Indiana on Sunday, with steady rain and standing water forcing NHRA officials to cancel the final two qualifying sessions for the U.S. Nationals at Clermont.

The fields for the final eliminations Monday were established by qualifying sessions Friday and Saturday.

Courtney Force in funny car, Spencer Massey in top fuel, Erica Enders in pro stock and Andrew Hines in pro stock motorcycle will begin the eliminations in the No. 1 positions.

Force, a funny car rookie and the youngest daughter of 15-time champion John Force, took the top spot with a Saturday night pass of 4.049 seconds at a track-record 317.27 mph.

The event ends the 17-race regular season. The top 10 in each division will qualify for the six-race Countdown to 1 playoffs.

TRACK AND FIELD

Pistorius loses in big upset

Oscar Pistorius lost his 200-meter title in the London Paralympics in a stunning upset, with Alan Oliveira overtaking the star of the Games at the finish line.

A month after making his groundbreaking Olympic debut, Pistorius had a clear lead going around the bend, but Oliveira stormed home to beat the South African by 0.07 of a second.

Pistorius had come to the Paralympics hoping to go one better than the trio of golds he won in Beijing.

Next up for the South African is the 400 relay, and he’ll be hoping to defend his titles in the 100 on Thursday and 400 on Saturday.

Last month, appearing alongside able-bodied athletes at the Olympics, Pistorius reached the 400 semifinals and the 1,600 relay final.

HORSE RACING

My Best Brother wins derby

My Best Brother held off the late challenge of 5-2 favorite Howe Great to win the $300,000 Del Mar Derby by three-quarters of a length.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, My Best Brother ran nine furlongs on the Jimmy Durante turf course in 1:46.83 and paid $14, $6.40 and $4.20.

Potesta led all the way and beat Viva Carina by 71/2 lengths in the $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.