In brief

NASCAR's potential new Ford tests well

By wire services
Published August 3, 2005

HAMPTON, Ga. - Dale Jarrett said Tuesday's on-track test for the Ford Fusion, the automaker's proposed NASCAR Nextel Cup entry for 2006, went well.

"It has a very nice look to it and performed well," said Jarrett, who drives a Ford Taurus.

He said he achieved the speed he sought during a 10-lap run at Atlanta Motorspeedway and the car had better balance than the Taurus.

"The day couldn't have gone better," said Greg Specht, operations manager for Ford Racing Technology. "We did the minimum amount of laps that were required to demonstrate the car's capability to NASCAR, and it performed flawlessly."

The car was taken to a wind tunnel in Marietta, Ga., for the final NASCAR approval stage.

FORMULA ONE: Ferrari announced it will replace Rubens Barrichello with Felipe Massa as its second driver behind Michael Schumacher for next season. Barrichello, currently seventh, finished in the top four in his first five seasons at Ferrari, including second behind Schumacher in 2002 and 2004.

Massa, 24, 13th while driving for Sauber, worked as a test driver with Ferrari in 2003.

Morgan Pressel and medalist In-Kyung Kim were among the 64 who advanced to match play of the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in Roswell, Ga., which starts today. Kim, 17, shot 3-under 71 to finish the 36-hole stroke play at 139. Pressel, 17, shot 70 for a 142.

Tim Henman and Mark Philippoussis lost in their opening matches at the Legg Mason Classic in Washington. Henman, who won the event in 2003, lost 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 to Wesley Moodie. He double-faulted five times and wasted a 4-2 edge in the second set. Philippoussis was beaten 7-5, 6-4 by Luis Horna. Also, Andy Roddick had eight aces in beating Giovanni Lapentti 6-3, 6-4.

ACURA CLASSIC: Shuai Peng upset Elena Dementieva, No.6 in the world, 7-5, 6-4 in the second round in Carlsbad, Calif. Dementieva's serve was broken seven times during an 11-game span. Peng, 19, of China nearly beat top-ranked Lindsay Davenport at the French Open. She led 6-3, 5-4 and 30-15 in Game 10 before losing in three sets.

Talks will continue after Russia's hockey federation refused to sign the player transfer deal between the NHL and International Ice Hockey Federation, which could jeopardize the NHL's participation in 2006. The agreement increases the compensation to European federations for losing players. But the Russians want to negotiate their own deal for more money.

SWIMMING: Michael Phelps won three events and anchored a winning relay as the United States beat Australia 183-102 in Irvine, Calif. Ex-Clearwater High star Robert Margalis finished third in the 200-meter IM and second in the 400 IM.

WNBA: Sheryl Swoopes made a 12-footer with 23 seconds left to lift host Houston over Detroit 62-61. Chasity Melvin had 17 points and seven rebounds in host Washington's 65-63 win over Charlotte. ... Yolanda Griffith had 21 points and 14 rebounds in visiting Sacramento's 67-57 win over San Antonio. ... Taj McWilliams-Franklin had 19 points and seven rebounds in visiting Connecticut's 72-65 win over New York.

BASEBALL: The AABC Southeast Regional amateur championship begins at 10 a.m. today at the Raymond Naimoli Complex in St. Petersburg and Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater. The tournament, for players ages 18-24, features eight state champions from the Southeast with the winner advancing to the World Series in Battle Creek, Mich. Admission is free. For details, call (727) 798-3723.

[Last modified August 3, 2005, 00:41:02]