Bodine Ends Victory Drought

Geoff Bodine stole the spotlight from gutsy Dale Earnhardt with a pit strategy that helped him end a drought of nearly two years with a victory in the Bud at the Glen in Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Earnhardt, aiming for an unprecedented eighth Winston Cup title, drove the entire 90-lap event on the demanding 2.45-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International road course despite the pain from fractures to his left collar bone and sternum. He was hurt in a crash July 28 at Talladega, Ala.

He led the first 29 laps and wound up leading three times for 54 before the late pit strategies relegated him to a sixth-place finish.

Meanwhile, Bodine, who had not won since Oct. 2, 1994, at North Wilkesboro, N.C. - 54 races - easily held off a late challenge from series points leader Terry Labonte to earn his 18th career victory.

Alex Zanardi won the Miller 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, capturing his second Indy-car victory of the season, both from the pole position. His teammate, Jimmy Vasser, finished second.

Jacques Villeneuve didn’t like the racetrack or his clutch. But he didn’t let either deter him at the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest, Hungary.

The 25-year-old Canadian beat the field for the third victory of his rookie season on the Formula One circuit, averaging 106.870 mph.