Power sets IndyCar record with eighth pole of season

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08/21/2010 - Sonoma, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Will Power earned his record eighth IZOD IndyCar Series pole of the season after winning Saturday's qualifying for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway.

Power barely made it out of the second round of qualifying, but posted a quick lap around the 2.303-mile, 12-turn road course in one minute, 16.5282 seconds during the closing minutes of the "Fast Six" final session to surpass Helio Castroneves' series record, set in 2007, of seven poles for the season.

One year ago, Power's season came to an abrupt end at Sonoma, where he sustained multiple injuries during a practice crash. The Australian driver suffered two broken vertebrae and a concussion when his car hit the stalled car of Nelson Philippe, who spun exiting the blind, downhill corner. Philippe also suffered a concussion, along with an open fracture to his left foot.

"I'm very happy to get the pole after what happened here last year," Power said. "It was so close, and I didn't think I was going to get the pole today. I knew it was going to be tight, but I'm very happy."

Power edged his Penske Racing teammate Castroneves by 0.037 seconds.

"I was very consistent, and the car was very good," Castroneves said. "We made some incredible changes and great gains from yesterday's [practice]."

Dario Franchitti, the defending series champion and last year's race winner at Sonoma, qualified third.

"We'll definitely try to get [Power] tomorrow, but he's done a heck of a job," Franchitti said.

Power holds a 42-point lead over Franchitti heading into the ninth and final road/street course race of the season. The last four IndyCar races this year will be contested on 1.5-mile ovals.

Alex Tagliani will share the second row with Franchitti after qualifying fourth, while Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon will roll off from row three.

Justin Wilson will start seventh, followed by Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan and Raphael Matos.

Danica Patrick had another disappointing qualifying session, as she will start 23rd in Sunday's race at Sonoma.

The 75-lap event will start around 5:45 p.m. (et).

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
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The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
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Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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