Fernandez Wins After Leader Spins at Rio

Adrian Fernandez got a victory he never expected when rookie Alex Tagliani--well on his way to winning for the first time in his CART career--spun out with nine laps remaining in the Rio 200 Sunday at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Pole-sitter Tagliani was leading the pack when he spun out entering a turn, causing Kenny Brack, Dario Franchitti, Michael Andretti and series points leader Paul Tracy to swerve.

Fernandez, who started 16th in a field of 25, assumed the lead and drove his Ford-Reynard to a victory at the 1.864-mile Emerson Fittipaldi Speedway. He covered 108 laps in 1 hour 37 minutes 12.490 seconds.

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Larry Dixon raced to his second consecutive Top Fuel victory, beating Kenny Bernstein in the final of the Moto1.net NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, Va.

Dixon had a quarter-mile run of 4.674 seconds with a top speed of 314.53 mph. Bernstein finished in 4.692 seconds at 306.12 mph.

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American Kenny Roberts won the Spanish Grand Prix 500cc motorcycle race at Jerez, Spain. Roberts overcame rain and accidents, winning in 45 minutes 52.311 seconds for 26 laps on the 2.7-mile road course.

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Greg Pursley of Newhall held off Mike Kanke in the closing laps to win the Hope Depot NASCAR Southwest Series 100 in front of 6,150 at Irwindale Speedway on Saturday night. Pursley, who started eighth, took the lead from pole-sitter Eric Holmes on lap 15.