Franchitti wins Honda Indy in Toronto

Dario Franchitti had nearly forgotten what it was like to win on the streets of Toronto. After a decade, he refreshed his memory.

Franchitti won the Honda Indy on Sunday over the tricky street course at Exhibition Place, easily holding off Penske drivers Ryan Briscoe and Will Power on a late restart for his third triumph of the IndyCar Series season.

“It’s 10 years since my first one here and it feels good,” said Franchitti, who won a Champ Car race in 1999. “I guess we timed it right with strategy.”

It was the first race in Toronto for the series. Starting from the pole, Franchitti was lucky and good in regaining the series lead by two points over Target Chip Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon.

Franchitti is seeking his second series championship in three years after racing last season in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series. Penske and Ganassi drivers have won 16 of 18 races dating to last season.

Dixon was fourth, followed by Justin Wilson of Dale Coyne Racing, who won a week ago at Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Danica Patrick.

Canadian drivers Paul Tracy and Alex Tagliani, seeking full-time rides, acquitted themselves well before late accidents spoiled their days. Tracy collided with Helio Castroneves with 20 laps remaining in the 85-lap race and both cars, running in the top three at the time, had to retire.

Tagliani, who led twice for 21 laps, was involved in a three-car collision with 10 laps left and finished ninth.

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Formula One

Red Bull’s Mark Webber won his first Formula One race after overcoming a penalty to take the German Grand Prix at Nuerburgring.

The Australian beat teammate Sebastian Vettel by 9.2 seconds despite a drive-through penalty for bumping Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello out of the start while defending his pole position.

Webber’s euphoric screams were heard over the team radio after he crossed the finish line in his 132nd race.

“It’s an incredible day for me. I wanted to win so badly,” Webber said.

It was the second straight 1-2 for the Austrian team and third overall after nine races.

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa got his first podium finish of the season by coming in third ahead of Nico Rosberg of Williams.

Formula One leader Jenson Button of Brawn GP finished fifth.

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NHRA

Antron Brown picked up his third top-fuel win of the season, beating Doug Kalitta in the finals of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo.

Ron Capps captured the funny car race, Allen Johnson won in pro stock and Eddie Krawiec sped away with a victory in pro stock motorcycles.