U.S. wins 3 more golds in swimming at Pan American Games

The United States was again on the golden end of the swimming rivalry against Brazil on at the Pan American Games at Guadalajara, Mexico.

The Americans won three events Wednesday to Brazil’s one, increasing their lead in gold medals in the swimming medals table to 15-7.

But Kristel Kobrich of Chile broke the American women’s hold on the top of the podium, winning the 800-meter freestyle. Women from the United States have won the other 11 races at this year’s games.

Overall at the games, the Americans increased their lead in the medals standings with eight golds on Day 5. The United States has won 32 gold and 82 overall, while Brazil has 12 gold and 36 overall.

Amanda Kendall started the night by winning the 100 freestyle, with American teammate Erika Erndl in second.

Kimberly Vandenberg added another win in the 200 fly, and the 800 relay completed the action with the third title of the evening — ahead of second-place Brazil.

Although the Brazilians have been falling behind the last two days, Thiago Pereira still was able to win his fourth gold of the competition in the 200 individual medley. He then won silver with his teammates in the relay.

Outside the pool, the Americans won two more rowing golds, another in shooting, a second in dressage and the men’s doubles in badminton.

The Izod IndyCar Series launched an investigation into what caused a massive wreck that claimed the life of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon at a race Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“We hope to have preliminary findings to report within the next several weeks,” the series said, adding that “it would be inappropriate to comment further until the investigative team has had the opportunity to conclude its work.”

Wheldon, 33, was killed when his car was involved in a fiery 15-car wreck, with his car going airborne and crashing into a catch fence. There were 34 cars racing at about 220 mph on the banked, 1.5-mile Las Vegas oval, a situation critics have said was exceptionally dangerous even by motor racing standards.

A public memorial for Wheldon was scheduled for Sunday in Indianapolis.

— Jim Peltz

Angels to interview Kim Ng for GM job

The Angels will interview Kim Ng for their general manager’s job, ESPN reported Wednesday.

Ng would become the first female general manager in the major leagues. She previously has interviewed for the GM’s job with the Dodgers, Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres.

Ng currently works in the baseball commissioner’s office. She worked for the Dodgers for nine seasons, as well as the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox.

— Bill Shaikin

Dykstra pleads no contest to auto scam charges

Former Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets star and financial guru Lenny Dykstra pleaded no contest Wednesday to three counts of grand theft auto and filing a false financial statement in a scheme to obtain luxury automobiles. He faces up to four years in prison, but could have faced 12 years before striking a deal with prosecutors.

Dykstra, 48, entered his plea before L.A. County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Ulfig, who released him pending sentencing on Jan. 20, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Alex Karkanen.

In January, Dykstra, his accountant Robert Hymers, 27, and friend Christopher Gavanis, 30, tried to lease high-end automobiles from several area dealerships by allegedly providing fraudulent information and claiming credit through a phony business, prosecutors said.

At two dealerships, Dykstra and Hymers allegedly provided information from a man who they said was a co-signer, even though they were not authorized to use his name. Prosecutors said Dykstra failed in his initial attempts to lease a new Mercedes Benz S-550 and new Cadillac, but the men succeeded in obtaining a Ford Flex, a Lincoln and a Ford Mustang.

— Richard Winton

Griffin cuts foot, will miss charity game

Clippers All-Star Blake Griffin suffered a small cut on his right foot while swimming in the ocean and will not play in a charity basketball game Sunday in Oklahoma City. Griffin’s agent Sam Goldfeder said it was a minor injury and Griffin should be back on the court soon.

Griffin, who is from Oklahoma City, is co-sponsoring the charity event with Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant. Other NBA stars scheduled to play in the exhibition include LeBron James, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony.

— Broderick Turner

Bradley wins PGA Grand Slam

Keegan Bradley held off a final-round charge from Charl Schwartzel to win the PGA Grand Slam at Southampton, Bermuda.

Bradley’s par-71 left him four under for the tournament and a shot ahead of Schwartzel, who finished with a course-record tying 65 to improve from three over to three under.

Overnight leader Rory McIlroy struggled with tee shots at Nos. 7 and 15, which led to bogeys. He finished with a 75 for the round. Darren Clarke shot a 74 to finish nine over in the two-day event.

Azarenka advances at Luxembourg

Top-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus defeated Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-4, to reach the second round of the Luxembourg Open. She was joined by fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, who defeated France’s Virginie Razzano, 7-6 (2), 6-4.

The biggest seed to fall Wednesday was No. 5 Flavia Pennetta of Italy, who lost to Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, 6-3, 6-2. Sixth-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany earned a place in the quarterfinals by defeating Tamira Paszek of Austria, 6-4, 6-2.

J.T. Terrell, an ex-Wake Forest guard currently enrolled at a junior college in Washington, verbally committed to transfer to USC on Wednesday afternoon, according to multiple sources close to the situation who were not authorized to speak on the record.

Terrell, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound guard, will have two seasons of eligibility remaining beginning in 2012-13. He was considered a top high school recruit nationally in 2010.

At Wake Forest in 2010-11, he played in 32 games as a freshman and was second on the team in scoring (11.1 points per game). He left the school in September days after being arrested and charged with driving while impaired, according to a statement his attorney issued through the school.

— Baxter Holmes

A dozen professional skateboarders, including Tony Hawk, Mitchie Brusco, Pierre Luc Gagnon and Sandro Dias, will compete in the Sonic Generations of Skate event Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Venice Beach boardwalk. Admission to the team competition, near Ocean Front Walk and Windward Avenue, is free and there will be a 4,500-square-foot mobile skate park open to the public.