Montoya Escapes With a Win

Juan Pablo Montoya won the Formula One German Grand Prix on Sunday, speeding away after a crash in the opening seconds eliminated three top contenders.

Kimi Raikkonen of McLaren-Mercedes, Montoya’s Williams-BMW teammate, Ralf Schumacher, and Rubens Barrichello of Ferrari -- were knocked out of the race at Hockenheim before the first lap was completed.

With less than four laps remaining, Michael Schumacher, the five-time Formula One champion, had a flat in his Ferrari while in second place and finished seventh.

It was Montoya’s second victory in 2003 after the Monaco Grand Prix and third in his career.

He moved into second place in the season standings behind Michael Schumacher. With four races left, Schumacher has 71 points and Montoya 65. Raikkonen is third with 62.

David Coulthard of McLaren-Mercedes was second, 65.4 seconds behind. Renault’s Jarno Trulli finished third.

With track temperatures nearing 122, Montoya surged ahead from the pole at the outset. The three contenders then took each other out before the first curve.

Raikkonen came up to the left side of Barrichello, who was squeezed in with Ralf Schumacher just ahead of him on the right side.

Stewards blamed Ralf Schumacher, saying he moved into the path of Barrichello. He will be dropped 10 grid positions at his next race. The Williams-BMW team said it would appeal.

“I think both Ralf and Kimi took big risks, especially Kimi who went very wide to get past,” Barrichello said. “Ralf moved to the left and gave me nowhere to go.”

Renault’s Fernando Alonso was fourth. Fifth and sixth were Toyota’s Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta.

“We have come a long way since Monaco,” Montoya said. “If Ralf hadn’t gone off on the first corner, it might have been more difficult.”

Since Monaco, Williams-BMW has has won four races and finished second four times. The next race is the Hungarian Grand Prix on Aug. 24.

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Bruno Junqueira won his first race of the CART season at the rain-shortened Mario Andretti Grand Prix in Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Junqueira, who started at the pole in a Ford-Cosworth/Lola, moves into first place in the standings. He’s three points ahead of Paul Tracy, who slid off the track in his Ford-Cosworth/Lola on the 11th lap and did not return. Rookie Sebastien Bourdais, Junqueira’s Newman/Haas teammate, finished second.

The race started under a yellow flag and was delayed twice because of rain -- the second time for about 2 1/2 hours. In the end, only 34 laps were completed instead of the scheduled 60.

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Larry Dixon became the fourth driver in NHRA history to sweep the three-race Western Swing.

Gary Scelzi, Jeg Coughlin and Geno Scali also were winners in their respective categories at the $1.9 million FRAM-Autolite Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma.

Dixon powered his Miller Lite Top-Fuel dragster to his eighth victory of the season when he clocked a performance of 4.640 seconds at 319.67 mph.

WNBA

Lisa Harrison made one of two free throws with 20.7 seconds left as the Phoenix Mercury beat the Washington Mystics, 70-69, in double overtime in front of 11,052 at Washington.

Vickie Johnson scored 16 points to help the Liberty end a five-game losing streak with a 60-48 victory over the Cleveland Rockers in front of 11,386 at New York.... Nykesha Sales scored 18 points to lead the Sun to a 66-55 victory over the Indiana Fever in front of 5,333 at Uncasville, Conn..... Kara Lawson, Tangela Smith and DeMya Walker each scored 15 points as the Monarchs won their fourth straight with a 76-60 victory over the Charlotte Sting before 7,085 at Sacramento.

Miscellany

The U.S., led by Keba Phillips, Logan Tom and Danielle Scott, won the bronze medal at the World Grand Prix volleyball tournament in Andria, Italy, beating the Netherlands, 25-22, 25-20, 28-26. China defeated Russia for the gold medal.

Joshua Johnson used a late surge to win the 100 meters in 10.15 and hold off Nigeria’s Uchenna Emedolu, who was second in 10.17 at the IAAF Grand Prix II track and field meet in Thessaloniki, Greece. Johnson also won the 200 in 20.21.

Pro angler Michael Iaconelli won the Bassmaster Classic at the Louisiana Delta after a late catch gave him a three-day total of 37 pounds and 14 ounces.