Racers speak out about Pocono

Jeff Gordon says it’s outdated. Jimmie Johnson believes it produces bad racing. Kyle Busch fears today’s event is going to be downright boring.

Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., is officially under attack, and the assault comes as its owners ardently defend its future on the NASCAR schedule.

Bruton Smith, the billionaire owner of Speedway Motorsports Inc., wants desperately to purchase the mountain racetrack from owners Joseph and Rose Mattioli. But the Mattiolis are adamant the track is not for sale and will be one day handed down to their grandchildren.

If Smith were to prevail, he has no plans to preserve the facility that serves New York and Philadelphia markets.

Gordon, the four-time series champion, was the first to fire when he openly wondered how the “outdated” track has held on to its two Cup dates.

“I’m shocked that they’ve had two races for as long as they’ve had,” Gordon said.

At 500 miles, drivers have long complained the race is way too long.

“I think if we ran 400-mile races, that would be better,” said Busch, who wrecked his car during practice Saturday at Pocono and had to go to a backup.

Nationwide Series

Brad Keselowski raced to his first victory, passing Clint Bowyer with six laps to go and easily holding off his closest rivals at Nashville Superspeedway in Gladeville, Tenn.

Kyle Busch, racing in the second of three NASCAR races in a historic weekend triple, finished 20th, three laps down. A green flag pit stop with 52 laps to go bounced him from the top five to two laps down.

IndyCar

Indianapolis 500 champion Scott Dixon regained the lead a lap before a crash between his closest competitors and crossed the finish line under caution to win the IndyCar Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

On the 222nd lap, Dixon drove under Marco Andretti coming out of the third turn to get in front.

Formula One

Lewis Hamilton took the pole again at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal – barely.

Seconds after the checkered flag waved to signify the end of the third and final round of qualifying at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica appeared to grab his first Formula One pole, with a lap of 1 minute, 18.498 seconds.

But Hamilton, who earned his first F1 pole and victory here a year ago, was still out on the 12-turn course, throwing his car through the corners and sliding dangerously several times. The result was a lap of 1:17.886 that gave Hamilton his second pole of the season.