2B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY APRIL 17, 2007
NASCAR
Bourdais races from 13th to third
BY MIKE HARRIS ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONG BEACH, Calif.
Sebastien Bourdais isn't used to failure, and the weeks leading up to the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach were a worrisome time.
His version of the Panoz DP01 race car that everyone in the Champ Car World Series is using this season had some gremlins in the fuel system and transmission in preseason testing.
Then, at the season opener in Las Vegas, Bourdais had the worst race weekend of his Champ Car career. He had an electrical problem on the first day, hit the wall in qualifying the next day and, after overcoming three tire punctures, crashed and finished 13th.
"You do have some doubts after things like that happen," Bourdais said.
To get ready for Long Beach Bourdais took a day early in the week to relax and refresh himself by driving his wife and baby from Las Vegas to Southern California in a motor home.
"It gave me time to think and just remember how good my team is," he said. "I knew we would bounce back."
Indeed they did.
Bourdais dominated Sunday leading 58 of 78 laps on the way to his third straight victory in the streets of Long Beach.
"The team didn't panic after Vegas, which was crucial," the 28-year-old Frenchman said. "A lot of teams could really blow apart after a weekend like that. We didn't."
"That race was like a bad dream.
This is a whole lot nicer."
Bourdais, who has won 24 of 61 starts and three straight Champ Car titles, was certainly the class of the field here. He started from the pole and raced away to a nearly 25-second lead — about a third of a lap on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn
circuit - and appeared on the way to a rout.
But that lead disappeared when rookie Simon Pagenaud slid into a tire barrier on lap 53, bringing out one of three full-course caution flags.
After pit stops by the leaders, Bourdais found himself trailing rookie Tristan Gommendy, who was on a different pit strategy and had pitted last on lap 39. With surprising runner-up Oriol Servia conserving fuel and not pushing the leaders, Bourdais chose to be patient and wait for Gommendy to make his final stop.
"I made one try to pass Tristan and I decided it was better to back off and wait because he was pretty fast at that point," Bourdai said. "I didn't want to make a mistake and embarrass myself by winding up in the tires."
Bourdais regained the lead on lap 68 and stayed out front the rest of the way, easily holding off Servia on a restart on lap 77 after the last caution period.
It's the longest winning streak at Long Beach since Al Unser Jr. won a record four in a row from 1988 through 1991.
Servia, the 2005 series runner-up as Bourdais' teammate, started the weekend without a ride but took over for Paul Tracy after the 2003 series champion injured his back in a crash during Saturday's practice.
"I did a great job, but nothing compared to what the team did," Servia said of his Forsythe Championship Racing crew. "I had to adjust to the car, but I'm a race car driver. The team had to adjust to me and they gave me a fabulous car and great pit stops."
The victory moved Bourdais all the way from 13th to third in the standings.
BIG 12 BASEBALL
Texas tops the conference
BY SHAWN SHROYER
KANSAS (19-22, 5-10) VS.
BAYLOR (21-17, 6-9)
BAYLOR (21 17, 8 9)
SERIES: BAYLOR, 2-1
UP: Baylor third baseman Raynor Campbell set the tone for the Baylor offense as the Bears' lead-off hitter. Campbell led the Bears in hits for the series, going 6-for-14 with two RBI, one run and two stolen bases.
IN THE HOLE: It was a feast or famine weekend for Kansas right fielder Brock Simpson. He batted fourth in the order in game one and fifth in the order in game three, going a combined 0-for-8 with three strike-outs. However, he dropped to ninth in the order in game two and went 3-for-4 with a run scored.
ON DECK: Kansas heads to Texas Tech this weekend on a quest for its first Big 12 series victory. Baylor will play Missouri at home, seeking its third straight conference series victory.
MISSOURI (25-11, 7-5) VS.
NO. 16 TEXAS A&M
(30-8, 8-6)
SERIES: TEXAS A&M 2-1
UP: Game one of the series was the definition of a pitcher's duel as Texas A&M's Kyle Nicholson (8-1) and Missouri's Aaron Crow (4-2) both threw complete games. Although Crow allowed only three runs while striking out five, Nicholson got the victory, allowing an unearned run and striking out six.
IN THE HOLE: Missouri first baseman John McKee was ineffective in
ON DECK: Missouri looks to reenter the Baseball America Top 25 Poll as it takes on Baylor next weekend while Texas A&M, having won eight of its last 11 games, returns home to take on Oklahoma State.
the heart of the Tiger's order, going
0-for-9 with four strikeouts.
5. NEBRASKA (22-14, 7-8)
SERIES: NEBRASKA 2-1
OKLAHOMA (25-13, 5-7)
VS NERRAKASIA
UP: Nebraska on the whole has to be feeling good. After looking fit to have a fork stuck in them, the Cornhuskers have won back-to-back series against ranked opponents. Against Oklahoma, Nebraska did it all, getting strong pitching performances all three games and 18 total runs on 32 hits.
IN THE HOLE: Oklahoma first baseman Aaron Baker embodied Oklahoma's mediocre offense during the weekend, going 2-for-12 with only one RBI, two runs and two strike-outs.
ON DECK: Oklahoma heads north to Kansas State this weekend, looking to rejoin the Baseball America Top 25 Poll. Nebraska will get a true test of how good it is against the top team in the Big 12. Texas at home.
NO.5 TEXAS (31-10, 12-3)
VS.TEXASTECH (22-16, 5-9)
SERIES:TEXAS 3-0
UP: Texas out-scored Texas Tech 21-5 in the series, and the Longhorns had some stellar pitching from their starters. james Russell (8-2), Adrian Alaniz (9-2) and Joseph Krebs (4-0) combined to strike out 24 Red
Raiders in 19.2 innings, while allowing only four earned runs.
IN THE HOLE: Texas Tech catcher Matt Smith is one of the Red Raiders' most potent offensive weapons, but he didn't show it against Texas, going 2-for-12 with just one RBI.
NO. 15 OKLAHOMA STATE (27-9, 8-4) VS.KANSAS STATE (23-13)
ON DECK: Texas hits the road this weekend to face a surging Nebraska squad while Texas Tech will play host to a slumping Kansas team.
2-1
SERIES: OKLAHOMA STATE,
UP: Oklahoma State first baseman Rebel Ridling could be in line for another Big 12 Player of the Week selection after his performance against Kansas State. Ridling went 5-for 11 with a home run (6), triple (2), one RBI and five runs.
INTHEHOLE: Despite taking their third of four conference series, the Cowboys' starting pitchers are struggling. Jeff Breedlove (0-1), Andrew Oliver (5-1) and Matt Gardner (4-0) combined to pitch just 10 innings and allowed nine runs on 21 hits.
ON DECK: Oklahoma State will travel to College Station, Texas, for a Top 25 match-up with Texas A&M while Kansas State returns home to play host to Oklahoma.
Kansan senior sportswriter Shawn Shroyer can be contacted at shroyer@kansan.com.
—Edited by Darlo Slipke
Bryant finished with 50 points on 18-of-25 shooting Sunday night to carry the Lakers to a 109-98 victory over Seattle that clinched a playoff
Bryant now trails only Wilt in 50-point games
Kobe Bryant carried the Los Angeles Lakers into the playoffs and left the Clippers and Golden State Warriors to fight for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
spot for Los Angeles. He scored 50 or more for the 10th time this season, the third-highest total in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain's 45 times with 50 or more in 1961-62, and the center's 30 times the following season.
"We feel much better. We needed this type of win," Bryant said.
Bryant said that when the playoffs begin, he may score a lot of points and he may not.
"If the jumper is on, we'll ride it
out," he said. "If it's not, we'll have to find another way to win. Our defensive continuity is going to be our biggest challenge."
Phil Jackson has never missed the playoffs in his 17 years as an NBA coach.
The Lakers, who have one regular-season game remaining, will finish seventh or eighth in the Western Conference and face either Dallas or Phoenix in the first round.
Associated Press
ATHLETICS Howard hired to fill administrative position
Chris Howard was named the Associate Athletics Director for Alumni Relations, Athletics Director, Lew Perkins announced Monday.
Kansan Staff Report
Howard is a 1997 graduate of the University, where he earned a bachelor of science in education. He also earned a master's degree in education and a jurist doctor in 2001.
Howard previously served as an associate athletics director at Louisiana State. At Kansas, he'll work with the Williams Educational Fund and KU alumni. He retums to the campus where he worked as a supervisor in Student Support Services from 1996 to 1998.
Howard also served in the U.S. Army from 1990 to 1995, participating in Operation Desert Storm.
Kansas golfer leads Big 12 championships
Senior Amanda Costner leads the Big 12 Championships in Waco. Texas after the first round of play. She is the only golfer under par, with a 71.
As a team, Kansas sits in a seventh-place tie with Nebraska.
"I am very proud of Amanda," coach Erin O'Neil said in a press release. "She played a very solid round. Although it was windy, Amanda held in there and finished with a birdie. Overall, the team played well and is in a good spot going into the next two days. We left a few shots out there, but hopefully we will get those back tomorrow and continue to improve."
Freshman Camilla Svensson is tied for 30th place, while junior Annie Giangrosso and freshmen Meghan Gockel and Emily Powers are tied for 44th place.
Play at the Ridgewood Country Club continues through Wednesday.
Kansan Staff Report
Attention Seniors:
How to
afford life after college Seminar
As you leave behind college life and enter the postgraduate world of employment, bills, car payments, and housing, you will be faced with the challenge of affording your new life.
Attend the free "How to Afford Life After College" seminar hosted by University Financial Services on Wednesday April 18th and Thursday April 19th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Kansas Union in the Alderson Auditorium (Level 4).
Stop by for free information, snacks and beverages. You can also register to WIN $500 in cash and register to WIN a $100 Jayhawk Bookstore Gift Certificate!
FREE
One $100
Jayhawk Bookstore
...at the top of Naismith Hill
Gift Certificate Give-away
EACH DAY!
How to Afford Life After College Seminar Wednesday, April 18th & Thursday, April 19th Kansas Union in the Alderson Auditorium (Level 4) 2:00pm to 4:00pm
UFS is a proud sponsor of KU Athletics. Not affiliated with the KU Financial Dept.
TODAY
athletics calendar
Women's golf, Big 12 Championship, all day, Waco, Texas
WEDNESDAY
NEDSDAY
Women's golf, Big 12 Championship, all day, Waco, Texas
Truckee Moosehead Texas
day, Memorial Stadium
Trackat Kansas Relays, all day Memorial Stadium
Softball vs. Missouri 3 p.m.
5 p.m., Arrocha Ballpark
Baseball at Wichita State, 7
p.m., Wichita
Tennis at Oklahoma, 1 p.m.
Norman, Okla.
THURSDAY
Trackat Kansas Relays, all
Track at Kansas Relays, all day, Memorial Stadium Baseball at Texas Tech, 6:30 p.m., Lubbock, Texas
SATURDAY
FRIDAY
day, Memorial Stadium
Track at Kansas Relays, all day, Memorial Stadium
baseball at texas recn, 2
p.m. Lubbock, Texas
Softball at Texas Tech, 2 p.m.
Lubbock Texas
Volleyball vs. North Carolina TBA, Horejsi Family Athletics Center
SUNDAY
Rowing at Minnesota, TBA,
St. Paul, Minn.
- Tennessee vs. Texas A&M, 11
  , Robinson Center courts
- Softball at Texas Tech, noon,
  lubbock, Texas
Baseball at Texas Tech, 1:05 p.m. Lubbock, Texas
Volleyball vs. Saint Louis,
TB A, Horejsi Family Athletics
Center
Soccer.v. Nebraska-Omaha,
2 p.m. Jayhaw Complex
Complex
GRADUATING? There's still time!
Caps, gowns, and personalized announcements available same day you order them, or go to layhawkBookstore.com
Jayhawk Bookstore ...at the top of Naismith Hill
Don't Stand IN LINE GO ONLINE
BUY 2007-08 PARKING PERMITS ONLINE
D
>
V