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Alonso gives new Renault problem-free debut
VALENCIA, Spain: Double world champion Fernando Alonso gave Renault's 2008 Formula One car an encouraging track debut on Monday ahead of next week's formal launch.
"When you have your first day with a new car you always have to take your time to check all the systems are functioning correctly and that is what we did today," said the Spaniard in a news release.
"Everything went well but it is still too early to try and compare our performance with that of other teams, and that was not the objective today.
"The good news is we encountered few problems and we will be able to continue our work tomorrow."
Alonso, who has returned to Renault after a troubled season with Mercedes-powered McLaren, completed 39 laps of the Valencia circuit in the R28 car after being delayed by morning fog.
Renault, third last season after winning the 2005 and 2006 championships, will launch the new car in Paris on January 31. The season starts in Australia on March 16.
Mickelson's 2008 PGA Tour debut in doubt
SAN DIEGO, California: Phil Mickelson's scheduled debut on the 2008 PGA Tour at this week's Buick Invitational was in doubt on Monday when the world No 2 was confined to bed with a respiratory problem.
Mickelson, a three-time winner at Torrey Pines Golf Club, has been struggling with shortness of breath and fatigue since October, his manager T.R. Reinman said in a statement.
"His immediate goal is to be well enough to play in the Wednesday pro-am so that he can compete in his first event of the season," Reinman added.
"It's unclear whether the condition was caused by working in the smoky debris on his property following the (Oct and Nov) wildfires that devastated Mickelson's neighborhood or by the illness he developed immediately after that in Singapore."
Mickelson, who has been advised to rest for the next two days, has not played tournament golf since winning the HSBC Champions in Shanghai in a three-way playoff two months ago.
Jones, 39, eyes Pavlik-Taylor winner if not Calzaghe
NEW YORK: Roy Jones wants to face unbeaten Welshman Joe Calzaghe for the undisputed super-middleweight crown, but the 39-year-old US fighter is looking at Jermain Taylor or Kelly Pavlik if that bid fails.
Fresh off a victory Saturday over Puerto Rican legend Felix Trinidad, Jones is hoping for the chance to fight for a ninth world title against Calzaghe but also looking at the winner of the February 16 Taylor-Pavlik rematch.
McGee Wright, Jones' advisor, said he hoped talks between Calzaghe and US veteran Bernard Hopkins for an April bout at Las Vegas would fail and Jones could nab the next date with the Wales star.
"Jones-Calzaghe is real realistic," Wright said. "If he doesn't fight Bernard we can do the deal right away and if he still wants to fight in April then that's something we can overcome.
"I don't think Bernard would want to get in with us again but there are a lot of other options. The winner of Jermain Taylor and Kelly Pavlik is an option."
Dungy will return as Colts coach next season
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: Tony Dungy said Monday he will return as coach of the Indianapolis Colts for the 2008 NFL season despite the team's disappointing quarterfinal playoff ouster.
Dungy's willingness to return for a seventh season guiding the Colts had been the subject of speculation since his son transferred to a Florida school from Indiana.
Just 50 weeks ago, Dungy became the first black coach to guide a Super Bowl championship team when Indianapolis defeated Chicago in the NFL's championship spectacle.
But the Colts' bid to defend the title ended when Indianapolis was upset by San Diego on January 13. The Chargers lost on Sunday at New England as the unbeaten Patriots advanced to Super Bowl XLII on February 3 in Glendale, Arizona.
Dungy, who had said his decision would be based upon his family's needs, signed a three-year contract extension with the Colts in 2005 that would keep him in the coaching job until the end of the 2009 season.
(China Daily 01/23/2008 page22)
