Dein erstes Forum » Jackets with a standout game Saturday night.

SEARS POINT, Calif. -- Simon Pagenaud moved a bit closer to his first IndyCar Series championship on Saturday, when he claimed pole position for the season finale at Sonoma Raceway.The bonus point that Pagenaud earned for turning the fastest qualifying lap Saturday extended his cushion over Team Penske teammate Will Power to 44 points entering Sundays 85-lap GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. That means Pagenaud can clinch the IndyCar title by finishing sixth or better.Power, who had qualified on pole at Sonoma for five of his past six starts at the road course, managed fifth place Saturday. Meanwhile, Pagenaud set a track record of 1 minute, 16.253 seconds in his Dallara-Chevrolet on the way to claiming his series-best seventh pole of the season.The pole capped a huge day for Pagenaud, the 32-year-old Frenchman who earlier shared the news that Menards home improvement stores will double their sponsorship commitment to the No. 22 Team Penske car from five to 10 races in 2017.It feels great, Pagenaud said after averaging 112.594 mph on his pole lap. We prepared really well in practice, and the weekend has gone perfect so far. My first lap on the Firestone red tires, I radioed in and said, This is going to be really good.I was on the edge, but it was a really good lap. We have to err on the safe side in the race, and finishing second is OK if we win the championship. Im really proud of my guys, and no matter what happens tomorrow, its been an incredible season.Power, the 2014 IndyCar Series champion, is a three-time winner at Sonoma, but he and his crew have been unable to get the handling and braking of the Verizon Chevrolet to his liking this weekend.Were just not quite on the pace, and I cant really put my finger on why, Power said. Thats kind of been the story all weekend. Were there, but not quite there.Hopefully, the tire strategies will create an opportunity for us to make our way to the front. The last thing we need is a straightforward race, because Simons going to be pretty tough to beat if thats the case. Hes obviously very quick. But IndyCar throws curveballs here and there, so you never know.We still need to win the race to win the championship, and Simon needs to have a bad day.Pagenaud and Power have matched each other with four wins apiece this year, with a difference of just two points. But Power started the season in a 42-point hole to Pagenaud after missing the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg because of concussion symptoms.?Over the summer, the two Penske drivers pulled away from the rest of the field, turning the championship into a two-man battle. Another Penske driver, Helio Castroneves, is tied with defending series champion Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing for third in the standings heading into Sundays race.Castroneves will start from the outside of the front row at Sonoma, and Dixon will line up seventh. Charlie Morton Jersey . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. Anthony Gose Jersey . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. http://www.astrosteamproshop.com/Astros-Andy-Pettitte-Kids-Jersey/ . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Gerrit Cole Jersey . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. J.R. Richard Jersey . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. MINNEAPOLIS -- Cleveland right-hander Danny Salazar will miss his next scheduled start with a sore right forearm.Salazar was on the disabled list for elbow inflammation a month ago, and he was lifted after four innings Friday night against the Twins after experiencing tightness in his forearm.Manager Terry Francona says Salazar will return to Cleveland on Sunday to be examined by doctors.Sallazar had been scheduled to start Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox.dddddddddddd Francona said he would start either Mike Clevinger or Josh Tomlin on Wednesday, and use the other for Thursdays series finale.Salazar has not won in seven starts since July 19. ' ' '