INDIANAPOLIS – Simon Pagenaud survived a late-race duel with Alexander Rossi to win the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 Sunday afternoon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Pagenaud and Rossi were engaged in a late-race war, with the pair exchanging the lead half a five times in the last 13 laps before Pagenaud made the race-winning pass entering turn three with two laps left.

“It’s hard to believe right now, it’s been such an intense race,” said Pagenaud, who led a race-high 116 laps from the pole.

Rossi had just taken the lead from Pagenaud, who won the IndyCar Grand Prix earlier this month, on lap 178 when the final caution flag of the race waved for a crash involving Sebastian Bourdais, Graham Rahal, Zach Veach, Charlie Kimball and Felix Rosenqvist.

After a lengthy red flag period for cleanup the field returned to racing, with Pagenaud immediately taking the lead away from Rossi entering turn one. Rossi returned the favor one lap later, but Pagenaud took the lead back again entering turn one with 11 laps left.

Rossi stayed in line behind Pagenaud for the next several laps, shadowing the Frenchman around the 2.5-mile speedway as they battled for the lead.

With three laps left Rossi made his move, using a big run on the outside down the frontstretch to take the lead away from Pagenaud into turn one. Pagenaud tried to get a run on Rossi entering turn one with two laps left, but couldn’t get close enough to make the move stick.

Down the backstretch Pagenaud got a run on Rossi and quickly bolted to the outside, pulling clear of Rossi as they raced into turn three.

Rossi stayed right on Pagenaud’s rear wing on the final lap, but Pagenaud did everything he could to hold Rossi back. Down the backstretch he swerved back and fourth across the track, breaking the draft so Rossi couldn’t get a run on him into turn three.

Coming out of turn four Rossi wasn’t close enough to get a run on Pagenaud coming to the checkered flag, allowing the Frenchman to cross the finish line and win the Indianapolis 500 for the first time.

“This is a dream come true,” said Pagenaud, who delivered Roger Penske his 18th victory in the Indianapolis 500. “I’m just speechless. This is just incredible. I never expected to be in this position, but I certainly was trying to make it as hard as I could.”

Rossi, who won the 100th Indianapolis 500 as a rookie, settled for a frustrating second.

“They did a great job. Obviously he was on pole and led the most laps, but I think we had the superior car,” Rossi said. “Just didn’t quite have enough at the end.”

Takuma Sato, Josef Newgarden and defending race winner Will Power completed the top-five.

MORE TO COME

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – With additional storms called for in the weather forecast, the Springfield Mile I originally scheduled for Sunday has been rescheduled for Aug. 31.

The rescheduled event will provide fans with an American Flat Track doubleheader on Labor Day weekend, as the 2019 Springfield Mile II will take place the following day on Sunday, Sept. 1.

All tickets purchased for this weekend’s event will be honored at the rescheduled event on Aug. 31.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia -- Marko Anttila helped lead Finland to its third world hockey title, scoring the tying and go-ahead goals in a 3-1 victory over Canada on Sunday.

Anttila tied it at 1 on a power play early in the second period, and the Finnish captain made it 2-1 early in the third. Harri Pesonen added an insurance goal with five minutes to play.

"It's awesome,'' Finland forward Toni Rajala said. "It's something that you know might only happen once in your life, but even before the game it felt great. I wasn't too nervous about it. I was enjoying it. The team played an awesome game again. We played together, played 60 minutes. Kevin [Lankinen] was awesome in the net. We were blocking shots. They were good today, but we were a little bit better. Three goals was enough.''

Kevin Lankinen made 42 saves for Finland, allowing only Shea Theodore's first-period goal.

"It's an amazing feeling,'' forward Jere Sallinen said. "I don't even know how we won. It's unbelievable. We're a pretty good hockey country. Maybe it's a miracle on ice, something like that. Going back to Helsinki is going to be amazing. I think there's a lot of people waiting there for us. Anttila -- he's a beauty.''

Matt Murray stopped 19 shots for a Canada roster that combined to score 357 goals in the 2018-19 NHL season. Finland's roster combined to score zero.

Canada took home its second silver medal in the past three years after winning back-to-back gold medals in 2015 and '16. Finland won gold in 1995 in Sweden and 2011 in Bratislava.

"It was a long tournament. A lot of fun, a lot of good guys,'' Canadian defenseman Damon Severson said. "I think we deserved a medal. We had some spells where maybe we didn't, but overall we played a really good tournament. It's unfortunate we got the wrong medal. Finland played a good game -- the only team to beat us in this tournament was them, twice, and they played some good hockey.''

Anttila also scored Saturday in Finland's 1-0 victory over Russia. The Finns knocked off two-time defending champion Sweden in the quarterfinals. Draft-eligible Kaapo Kakko led the team with six goals.

Earlier, Russia beat the Czech Republic 3-2 in a shootout for third place. Russia was outshot 50-30 through 70 minutes of play, including 10 minutes of sudden-death 3-on-3 overtime, then outscored the Czech Republic 2-0 in the shootout on goals from Ilya Kovalchuk and Nikita Gusev.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has defended the club's spending and accused La Liga president Javier Tebas of hypocrisy over allegations that they are distorting the transfer market.

The Premier League champions, who are under investigation from Uefa over a potential breach of Financial Fair Play rules, have spent more than £1 billion on players since they were bought by Sheikh Mansour in 2008.

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Speaking at the Financial Times' Business of Football summit on Tuesday, Tebas criticised the ownership models of City and French champions Paris Saint-Germain saying they caused an imbalance that is stretching football to its economic limits.

"He talks about how we distorted the market? There is a hypocrisy in this statement that is ironic," Al Mubarak said. "Number one, let's look at the Spanish league, the time of breaking records on player acquisitions, I mean, who started that?

"Let's go back to the world records, Figo, Zidane. These huge jumps in these transfers, where did they happen? You know, the history, you have to look back at the history of La Liga, a league dominated by two clubs and Mr. Tebas should look back at the history of that league and how distortion that has happened throughout the ages.

"And then you look back at transfers. In the top ten transfers of all time, Manchester City has not a single player in that, not a single one."

Tebas, who has run Spain's top league for the past six years, singled out Qatari-owned PSG and Abu Dhabi-owned City claiming the sport is like a "plaything of a state".

Al Mubarak said: "I think there's something deeply wrong in bringing ethnicity into the conversation. This is just ugly. I think the way he is combining teams because of ethnicity. I find that very disturbing to be honest."

The city chairman also believes that Tebas is concerned about the potential dominance of English clubs in Europe with four Premier League sides qualifying for the Champions League and Europa League finals.

"Let's not forget this is the best league in the world and if you look at this season, there is no better testament to this statement where the two European competitions the Champions League and Europa Cup, the finals are being competed by English clubs," he added.

"That's a fact and that bothers a lot of people in many places. We have the best league in the world, we have the most commercial league in the world, the most successful clubs in the world, economically, commercially in terms of global presence, and that's why this attack is not just on Manchester City, it's against this league."

City, however, could face a potential Champions League ban after UEFA's investigation into allegations of financial fair play irregularities was passed onto the adjudicatory chamber.

The club said in a statement that they have "irrefutable evidence" shortlists after the announcement that they did not breach regulations. But it also faces separation investigations from the Football Association, Fifa and the Premier League.

"Am I uncomfortable? No. I respect regulatory bodies doing their job and any regulatory process that asks questions," Al Mubarak said.

"We have to professionally respond which is what we have done. We are dealing with each of these entities as per the process, we have clear answers.

"I believe, quite comfortably, if the process is going to be judged on facts then unquestionably we will prevail. If it's not about facts and it's about other things, then it is a different conversation. But I strongly hope that these regulatory bodies will ultimately make the decision based on facts."

MANCHESTER, England -- Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted that Manchester United should enlist former players to help run the club by praising the structure of German giants Bayern Munich.

United have spoken to former stars Rio Ferdinand and Darren Fletcher as part of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward's planned shake up at Old Trafford that could include appointing a technical director to help manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, another ex-player, oversee recruitment.

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Bayern Munich, who have won the last seven Bundesliga titles, have had success by bringing back former players like Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in executive roles -- a policy Ferguson says he admires.

"They're a great club, It's a club run in the proper foundation of it," Ferguson told MUTV ahead of Bayern's visit to Old Trafford for the Treble reunion game on Sunday. "Former players who run it really -- Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge -- they run the club in the right way and they are always winning the league in Germany. They're a great club."

Ferguson was back on the Old Trafford touchline on Sunday as he oversaw his 1999 Treble winners beat Bayern Munich's legends 5-0.

Solskjaer, an early substitute for Andy Cole, got the first before David Beckham rounded off the scoring in the final minutes on the 20-year anniversary of United's Champions League triumph over the German side at Camp Nou. The game, which attracted 61,000 fans, raised £1.5 million for the Manchester United foundation.

Atalanta and Inter Milan secured their spots in next season's Champions League group stage, earning wins in a wild last day of the Serie A campaign.

Atalanta locked up third place by defeating Sassuolo 3-1, while Inter hanged on to a 2-1 win over Empoli for fourth place.

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Atalanta finished with 69 points, ahead of Inter Milan on their head-to-head record. It is the first time that Atalanta have secured Champions League play in club history.

"The Champions League for Atalanta is a goal that has never been conquered during the club's history and comes to us in a very honourable way. In my opinion, we will do well," said Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini. "The lads have been marvellous, extraordinary."

Inter needed a late goal from Radja Nainggolan to give them the win over a gallant Empoli, who were relegated.

"I expected a match like this," said Inter coach Luciano Spalletti, whose own future is still uncertain with media reports suggesting that the club want to replace him with former Juventus and Chelsea coach Antonio Conte.

"It was always going to be a night of suffering. We needed to put our hearts into this match and we did. I'm very unhappy to see Empoli in Serie B, I have a lot of friends there. They deserved to be saved. But we never gave up until the end."

Inter finish one point ahead of rivals AC Milan, who will settle for Europa League play despite a 3-2 win over SPAL.

Atalanta and Inter join league champions Juventus and runners-up Napoli in the Champions League next season.

AS Roma finish in sixth place and two points behind AC Milan, and will also compete in the Europa League. The Romans beat Parma 2-1 in captain Daniele De Rossi's farewell match.

Mark Wood's World Cup hopes remain in the balance with three days to go until England's opening fixture against South Africa at The Oval, despite optimistic signals from within the England camp.

The results of the precautionary scan on Wood's troublesome left ankle have not yet been revealed, after he opted to leave the field midway through his bowling spell in England's warm-up fixture against Australia at the Ageas Bowl on Saturday, rather than risk further aggravation.

Although Wood himself is understood to be feeling more confident of a full recovery after 24 hours of rest, privately, England still fear that a joint that has been the source of endless disruption to Wood's career could have flared up once again at the most inopportune moment imaginable.

Wood has bowled just 13.1 overs in the English season to date, after his return to action for Durham in the Royal London Cup was thwarted by consecutive washed-out matches. However, he bowled with pace and hostility in his solitary ODI against Pakistan earlier this month, regularly touching 90mph en route to figures of 2 for 71.

The entire England World Cup squad gathered in central London this morning to take part in the Ruth Strauss Foundation Westminster Mile, the inaugural charity event in memory of the wife of the former England captain, Andrew Strauss, who died of cancer in December.

The entire group walked the mile, with the exception of Wood, who rested during the event, and Ben Stokes, who chose to jog the mile with his son and wife.

England's World Cup party was reduced to such bare bones in the midst of their Australia fixture that the fielding coach, Paul Collingwood, who turned 43 today, was pressed into action as a substitute fielder.

However, there should be a fuller complement of players to choose from in Monday's second warm-up against Afghanistan, which takes place at The Oval.

Adil Rashid, who has been nursing a shoulder injury, was fit to bowl in the nets at The Oval, under the supervision of the bowling coach, Chris Silverwood, and a decision on whether he takes part in the match will be made in the morning.

Joe Root, who missed the Australia game following the death of his grandfather (but took the field as a substitute fielder) is likely to play, alongside Jofra Archer, who also caused England some alarm when he jarred his leg while fielding in the same game.

Liam Dawson, who split the skin on his right ring finger, is likely to be rested while the wound heals fully, while Chris Woakes - who played as a specialist batsman against Australia - is likely to have his first bowl since the Pakistan series.

Meanwhile Eoin Morgan, the captain, is making encouraging progress following the "flake fracture" to his index finger that forced him out of the Australia match. He is expected to be sufficiently fit to take part in the World Cup opener, but may choose to rest against Afghanistan as well.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson wrote on Facebook on Sunday that he is facing a four-game suspension for a failed test in March of the NFL's substances policy.

Watson, who had originally planned to retire after the 2018 season, explained the situation in detail on Facebook.

"After my contract expired last March, I told my doctors I was finished playing, went through a series of medical tests and was prescribed Bio Identical Testosterone Cypionate to assist in healing my body and mind," he wrote.

"On March 29, nine days after I started therapy, I was randomly tested under our substance policies. I complied out of habit, never thinking in the moment I'd want to come back. In late April, some clubs expressed interest in me playing and after much deliberation and prayer, I decided I wanted to return. Considering myself previously retired, I had forgotten all about my test in March until I got a letter on May 3rd saying my results were positive. I was devastated and for obvious reasons did not want to proceed.

"At that point I knew my decision to return to play would include a four-game suspension and I immediately discussed this new development with the clubs."

The Patriots signed Watson to a one-year, $3 million contract on May 9.

"I am excited and thankful to return to New England but very disappointed that I will not be able to play and contribute immediately," the 38-year-old Watson wrote on Facebook.

"This is not how I would want to enter a new locker room and attempt to earn my role on a new team. However, I respect the regulations that have been collectively bargained to promote fairness on the field of play and accept the discipline associated with my infraction."

The Patriots are in transition at tight end after the retirement of Rob Gronkowski, and Watson is a top option to fill his void.

Watson will be heading into his 15th season in the NFL. He had 35 catches for 400 yards and two touchdowns with the New Orleans Saints last season.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Simon Pagenaud arrived at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this month with his job on the line and rumors swirling around Gasoline Alley that Alexander Rossi could soon replace him at Team Penske.

The Frenchman is leaving with a pair of wins, his face soon to be engraved on the Borg-Warner trophy as the Indianapolis 500 champion and an assurance from Roger Penske himself that he isn't going anywhere.

"Do I even have to answer that?" Penske asked. "Absolutely."

In a head-to-head duel for the ages, Pagenaud defeated none other than Rossi with a dramatic pass on the penultimate lap, then holding on the rest of the way to hand Penske his 18th win in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Even sweeter, it came the 50th anniversary of Penske's arrival at the Brickyard.

Pagenaud and Rossi swapped the lead five times over the final 13 laps, and the margin of victory was a mere 0.2086 seconds -- the seventh-closest finish in the 103 years of the race.

"It's a dream come true. A lifetime trying to achieve this," said Pagenaud, who dismissed the thought over job security as he celebrated his first Indy 500 win. "The milk motivated me. I was just focused on the job, man."

Pagenaud was dominant all day, leading 116 of the 200 laps, and the win was cathartic. He stopped his car at the start-finish line and hopped out to share the moment with his fans. And once he finally made his way to victory lane, Pagenaud climbed from his car and let out a primal scream, then dumped the entire bottle of milk over his head.

"I never expected to be in this position," Pagenaud said, "and I certainly am grateful."

President Donald Trump phoned Penske in victory lane from Japan, where he was meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over trade. Penske passed the phone to Pagenaud, and Trump later tweeted an invite to the White House for the winning team.

Penske, who was there earlier with Joey Logano last month to celebrate last year's NASCAR Cup Series championship, said Trump told him: "I must have been your good-luck charm."

Penske now has two consecutive Indy 500 victories -- Will Power won last year -- for the first time since 2002-03. It was his third win in the crown jewel race in the past five years and fifth in the past 14.

It was a banner day, too, with Josef Newgarden finishing fourth and Power in fifth.

Rossi lost his cool several times in the race, but the Californian had better fuel mileage than Pagenaud and the Penske cars. The 2016 race winner twice charged to the front in the closing laps.

"Horsepower. That's unfortunately the way it is," said Rossi, who was in a Honda for Andretti Autosport. "I think we had the superior car. We just didn't have enough there at the end."

Pagenaud was in a Chevrolet, and the bowtie brand was the dominant engine all May. It swept the top four spots in qualifying, won the race and took four of the top six spots.

Pagenaud is the first Frenchman to win the Indy 500 since Rene Thomas in 1914. Indianapolis records count five French winners, but Gil de Ferran in 2003 and Gaston Chevrolet in 1920, while born in France, list other nationalities. Pagenaud was the 21st winner from the pole and first since Helio Castroneves a decade ago.

As he began the traditional victory lap in the back of a convertible, Rossi was one of many drivers to walk onto the track to congratulate him. The American leaned in for a genuine embrace.

"Nothing else matters but winning," Rossi said. "This one will be hard to get over."

Rossi, who drove from the back to finish fourth a year ago, had been patient through the first half of the race and set himself up to take control after the halfway point. But a troublesome fuel hose on a pit stop caused a lengthy delay, and Rossi was angrily pounding his steering wheel while imploring the Andretti crew to get him back on track.

He really lost his cool when he couldn't get past the lapped car of Oriol Servia. As Rossi finally raced by, he angrily raised his fist at the Spaniard. A late wreck then caused an 18-minute stoppage with Rossi set to restart the final sprint as the leader, and he conveyed his mood over his team radio.

"A bunch of hungry, angry cars behind me," Rossi said. "Little do they know I'm angrier."

Pagenaud got him on the restart, though, and the two went back and forth four more times before Pagenaud locked down the win. Former champion Takuma Sato finished third as he and Rossi gave Honda two spots on the podium. Santino Ferrucci in seventh was the highest finishing rookie.

Attention had been heavy on rookie Colton Herta, but the 19-year-old driver for team owners Mike Harding and George Steinbrenner IV was the first driver out of the race when his gearbox broke.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials had prepared for rain, and perhaps even a postponement, in NBC's debut as broadcaster. But it was a bright, sunny day -- a picture-perfect showcase for Pagenaud to triumph on Memorial Day weekend.