‘I don’t know how I won that’ says Perry 
By SEAN REUTHE in Hull 

England No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry and Egypt’s World No.2 Mohamed ElShorbagy sent defending champions Nour El Sherbini and Miguel Rodriguez out of the 2019 Allam British Open, PSA World Tour Platinum tournament after an action-packed quarter-finals day at Hull’s Allam Sport Centre.

Perry, the 2017 British Open runner-up, has taken a while to get back to full fitness after undergoing elbow surgery in December, but the World No.6 played some of her best squash to recover from a game down, winning 8-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-8 to reach her first Platinum semi-final since November’s Hong Kong Open.

The 29-year-old from Birmingham was at the mercy of a rampant El Sherbini in the opening game as the World No.2 played some sumptuous attacking squash to take a one-game lead.

The two-time British Open winner looked set to double her advantage as she opened up a 7-2 lead in the second game, but a dogged Perry stayed in the rallies and came back to take the game on the tie-break. From there, the Englishwoman rose to the occasion and outplayed her opponent in the next two games to complete an 8-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-8 victory in 49 minutes.

“I don’t really know how I won that,” said Perry. “As everyone saw, I was very down in that second game, I actually told myself ‘don’t worry about this game, just play your way back in like you did in the first game’ and then every time I won a point the crowd was right behind me, and that helped.

“I just wanted to keep the home crowd happy and have some home fans cheering me on tomorrow. I’ve got a tough match tomorrow, but it’s great to see the crowd packed. We don’t get to play in England that much so it’s fantastic and thank you to everyone who has put the tournament on.”

Perry will line up against 2015 champion Camille Serme for a place in the title decider after the World No.4 defeated Belgium’s Nele Gilis 11-4, 14-12, 13-11.

World No.1 Raneem El Welily also fell on quarter-finals day as she went down in straight games to a rampant Nouran Gohar, meaning both of last year’s women’s finalists have crashed out of the tournament.

Gohar had lost her previous six matches against El Welily – including in last month’s El Gouna International final – but her trademark hard-hitting style was in full flow in Hull as she crashed the ball around the court to win 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 in the day’s opening match.

“She has beaten me in the last three tournaments,” 2016 runner-up Gohar said. “It has been so long since I have beaten Raneem, and I think the head-to-head shows that. I’ve beaten her one or two times on the PSA Tour, so it is huge for me today.

“I just tried to keep it simple and play the basic things because if you make it too complicated, then it is so hard against her, so I just tried to straighten it up and play the normal game.”

She will take on World No.3 Nour El Tayeb in the semi-finals, with El Tayeb putting in an immaculate performance to dispatch New Zealand’s World No.4 Joelle King 11-8, 11-3, 11-6 in just 28 minutes.

In the men’s draw, World No.2 ElShorbagy avenged his defeat to Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez in last year’s final. The 28-year-old stormed to an 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 victory to move to within one win of a fourth British Open final.

ElShorbagy and Rodriguez contested one of the greatest finals in the tournament’s 90-year history 12 months ago, with the latter winning a five-game, 102-minute epic to become the first South American ever to win the iconic trophy.

ElShorbagy has won all four of their matches since that match though, and the form book was never in danger of being thrown out of the window as he powered to the win in straight games.

“Miguel is, of course, a very dangerous opponent, and when he is playing well, he is one of the toughest opponents to play on tour,” ElShorbagy said after the match.

“Every situation is different and I have been in a lot of situations in my career where I have had to perform differently to try and get the best result possible to be able to come back the next day and still be able to perform at my best.”

Former World No.1 Karim Abdel Gawad awaits ElShorbagy in the semi-finals after he defeated Germany’s World No.5 Simon Rösner 3-2 in a gripping, 89-minute encounter, which is the longest match of the tournament so far.

New Zealand’s Paul Coll also advanced to the last four as he became the first Kiwi in 30 years to reach the semi-finals of the British Open. The World No.6 twice saw a one-game lead slip through his fingers against World No.34 Hesham, but put in a composed performance in the decider to close out the win.

Coll, 27, is the first New Zealander since Ross Norman in 1989 to claim a semi-final berth, and he will now look to end a seven-match losing streak against World No.1 Ali Farag, who beat fellow Egyptian Mohamed Abouelghar to reach the semi-finals here for the first time.

“It’s coming towards the end of the season, and my body is one piece and feeling match fit, so I’m taking each day as it comes and just trying to keep it together and keep pushing, I’m looking forward to my next semi-final today,” Coll said.

“I have massive respect for Ali, he has achieved so much, on and off court he is a deserving No.1, but that doesn’t mean tomorrow that I’m not going to come out and try and smash him.” 

2019 Allam British Open, University of Hull Sports and Fitness Centre, Hull, England.

Men’s Quarter-Finals: 
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [7] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-8, 11-9, 11-4 (37m)
[4] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Mazen Hesham (EGY) 11-3, 5-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6 (74m)
[5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [3] Simon Rösner (GER) 11-8, 11-6, 14-16, 10-12, 11-9 (89m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [6] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (43m)
Semi-Finals:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) v [4] Paul Coll (NZL)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)

Women’s Quarter-Finals:
[7] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (36m)
[3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [5] Joelle King (NZL) 11-8, 11-3, 11-6 (28m)
[4] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Nele Gilis (BEL) 11-4, 14-12, 13-11 (51m)
[6] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 8-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-8 (49m)
Semi-Finals:
[7] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
[6] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v [4] Camille Serme (FRA)

Report by SEAN REUTHE (PSA PR and Media Manager). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Pictures courtesy of  PSA

ANDERSON, Ind. – Three drivers were bumped from the starting field and then found enough speed to make the grid for Saturday’s 71st running of the Pay Less Little 500.

Bobby Santos set the pace during Bump Day on Friday at Anderson Speedway, after not posting a time on Thursday.

Santos was the first car out and turned four laps at an average speed of 78.12 miles per hour. He will start 16th on Saturday night.

The driver missing the field for the second consecutive year was Doug Dietsch, who was bumped out by rookie Joey Schmidt.

Dietsch’s first qualifying attempt found him turning 12-second laps, needing 11.77 to bump Chris Jagger.

With just minutes remaining, Dietsch made the final run of the day but was never able to turn laps quicker than 11.8-seconds.

Santos’s qualifying run bumped Florida driver Johnny Gilbertson from the field. But Gilbertson then found enough speed to knock Chris Jagger out of the field.

Jagger’s final run at 76.46 mph was good enough to bump Dietsch from the field.

“I’ve been in this position before,” Jagger said of having to make his way make into the field. “I was bumped out in 2002 and 2004 and only made it back in once.”

Jagger said on his first qualifying attempt the car was bouncy after changing the shock absorber set up.

“I got some help from Tom Brewer on air pressure and had more bite off the corner.”

Pierce’s team made wholesale changes on Schmidt’s car after the first qualifying attempt and went back to the car set up used in the morning practice session.

Defending Pay Less Little 500 winner Kody Swanson will lead the field to the green flag at 8 p.m. Saturday at Anderson Speedway.

Swanson is joined on the front row by 2017 race winner Kyle Hamilton and late model ace Tyler Roahrig.

Three rookies will be making their first Little 500. USAC veteran Justin Grant will start 26th, with Trey Osborne starting 30th and Schmidt in 31st.

Osborne’s car lost an engine during practice and the Mike Blake Racing team is making a change overnight.

INDIANAPOLIS – The best way to sum up Friday’s Freedom 100 presented by Cooper Tires Indy Lights race was: smashing start; thrilling finish.

At the end, it was Oliver Askew of Jupiter, Fla., celebrating the big win by the length of the front wing of his No. 28 Idex Invest Dallara.

Askew charged past Andretti Autosport teammate Ryan Norman coming down the frontstretch to win the Freedom 100 by the fourth-narrowest margin in race history. He crossed the finish line .0067 seconds ahead of his teammate to claim the trophy in the centerpiece race of the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires season.

“I can’t really put words together to describe it,” Askew said. “I woke up this morning, I felt good. I honestly, like this is the most calm I’ve ever been this week. I don’t know what it is. But just – it’s still sinking in, the emotions of winning at such a historical track and with such a historical team, as well. Unbelievable. 

“I was screaming on the radio after I won. Honestly, I was just in the right place at the right time. It could have been anybody’s race, honestly, and I was just happy to take the opportunity that presented itself.”

A massive two-car crash involving Chris Windom and David Malukas in turn four on the opening lap brought out the red flag to stop the race. Luckily, neither driver was injured, but both cars were destroyed and the SAFER Barrier had to be repaired.

Malukas spun and collected Windom, a USAC driver making his Indy Lights debut. Windom was also involved in a crash in the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Thursday night when his car flipped.

The crash didn’t keep Windom from leaving IMS quickly to compete in the pavement USAC Silver Crown race at Lucas Oil Raceway Park.

He will also race in the 71st annual Little 500 at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway Saturday night.

Norman led 29 of 40 laps on the IMS oval and was ahead exiting Turn 4 on the final lap. But Askew got a run and slid inside to pull out what he called the “biggest race I’ve ever won in my life.”

Meanwhile, Norman was left dejected after a heartbreaking runner-up result. 

“It’s definitely the most disappointing podium finish I’ve ever had,” Norman admitted. “We had a little bit of a rough start this year, and definitely it was good to put the car back up there and going to definitely take this momentum into the next races and just keep this going. 

“I still got a long way in the season, so I’m looking for the next one.”

On the final lap, Askew stalked Norman’s car and was able to get a tremendous run off turn four, perfectly timing the pass so that the momentum would put him ahead of Norman at the checkered flag.

“It was important just to stay flat in 4 and then he was trying to break the draft and I just slingshotted by him,” Askew said. “I didn’t know when the finish line was going to come. I was just hoping it was going to be late enough for me to get back by him.

“Unbelievable. Big thanks to everybody involved and all my supporters who are here today, as well, and sitting next to J-F (Thormann, Andretti Autosport President), as well. We’re in a long conversation to get the season started, and I’m just glad that they gave me the opportunity to do this.”

The triumph allowed Askew to stretch his championship lead to 21 points over Rinus VeeKay of Juncos Racing, who finished third.

Friday’s back-and-forth race officially featured 12 lead changes at the start/finish line.

The finish:

Oliver Askew, Ryan Norman, Rinus VeeKay, Toby Sowery, Dalton Kellett, Jarett Andretti, Lucas Kohl, Robert Megennis, Aaron Telitz, Chris Windom, David Malukas.

INDIANAPOLIS – After a rainy start to Friday’s Carb Day festivities at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Tony Kanaan set the fastest time in the final practice session before the 103rd Indianapolis 500.

Kanaan, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner, ran 40 laps in a 90-minute practice session with the 33 car and driver combinations turning a combined 1,755 laps.

A huge crowd turned out for the Carb Day activities at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which also included the Indy Lights Freedom 100 and the annual MotoGator Pit Stop Competition.

Afterwards, two of the 1970s most famous musical groups played at the annual concert – “Kool & The Gang” and “Foreigner.”

Kanaan’s fast lap in the No. 14 ABC Supply Chevrolet for AJ Foyt was 225.517 mph. That was faster than rookie Santino Ferrucci’s fast lap at 225.486 mph after he ran 64 laps.

“A good day for us,” Kanaan said afterwards. “Obviously, conditions look like pretty similar to what we’re going to see on Sunday hopefully, so you know, it was a pretty easy day for us. I wasn’t really happy with my car on Monday, and I was extremely vocal about it, and I think my engineers heard me, so we made it better today.

“Today, now you know where you’re starting, so I was really working on my car, the level of downforce and grip that I wanted to have starting 16th. We worked in traffic a lot and trying to find the grip and scan to some of the items that we had on the list to be able to — once we put ourselves in the front during the race, to know what to do.”

Takuma Sato, the winner of the 101st Indianapolis 500, was third at 225.468 mph in a Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Jordan King was fourth in another RLL Honda at 225.337 mph.

James Davison rounded out the top five at 225.314 mph in a Dale Coyne Racing Honda.

Rookie Ben Hanley of England was the slowest of the full field that practiced on Friday, with a fast lap at 219.719 mph. The margin between the fastest to the slowest was 1.0531 seconds in time, but the difference between first and 32nd is only 0.6873 seconds.

“It’s the most competitive field I’ve ever seen in my 18 years here,” Kanaan said. “Qualifying was extremely hard, and it’s really tight. I think it’s going to be a difficult race. I do strongly believe that everybody, every single guy is starting this race, and girl, they think they can win this race, which is true.

“I’ve known the scenarios. I’ve known how to be patient and not to get desperate if you’re 10th halfway through the race and you think, oh, I’m not going to win this race,” Kanaan added. “This race really is going to start shaping up on the last pit stop, so let’s say last 35, 30 laps to go. So for me, the experience, it only helps me to keep understanding what’s going on with my car, so when I make that last stop, I will make the right decision on wings and stuff that we can choose so I’ll be in a position to win the race.”

Kanaan also had a very strong performance in last year’s Carb Day, but it didn’t equate into a good result in the race. He believes he has a better car for race conditions this year.

He also believes there will be more passing in this year’s race over last year.

“I think we do now, so pretty much it’s to have a consistent car in traffic and be able to stay behind people and be able to just – to pass some cars and stay up front all day,” Kanaan said. “That’s what we’re working on.

“I think we’ll see more passes than last year. I believe in the beginning you guys are probably going to think that there are not going to be enough, just everybody is judging each other,” Kanaan added. “The way that we’re running so close, there is no way you want to lead because you don’t want to burn fuel. And when that happens, it’s just like it’s a pain because nobody wants to pass anybody.”

That leads to a game of cat-and-mouse, according to Kanaan.

“It’s a waiting game,” he explained. “It’s actually some sort of annoying because you’re just there, you’re like, ‘I know I can pass him, but I don’t want to do this,’ and you’ll see it will start to shape up.

“I think the guys in front will be smart enough not to get in between themselves so you can open a gap, because again, with the fuel being so close, if you open a little bit of a gap, that gap that you open between let’s say the top 5 to the guys behind, you won’t be able to catch it. So, you’ll see a lot of people working together.

“I think there will be more passing than last year. The tires are better. We have more downforce. So, I believe it will be a better race.”

INDIANAPOLIS – Formula One veteran Marcus Ericsson hopes to celebrate a victory in the NTT IndyCar Series one day.

However, Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Ericsson did get to celebrate a win over five-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon.

Ericsson’s score came in the annual MotoGator Indy 500 Pit Stop Contest, held as part of Friday’s annual Carb Day action before the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500.

Ericsson’s No. 7 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Racing Honda crew defeated Dixon’s No. 9 PNC Bank Honda team in a two-out-of-three match, a thrilling battle of upstart versus veteran.

In the final round, Ericsson’s crew – Bob Jansen (chief mechanic and inside right front tire changer), Ryan Marzec (outside rear tire), Keith Beck (airjack), Brendon Cleave (outside front tire), Timothy Lane (fueler) and Nic Kaminski (inside rear tire) – defeated the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing crew of Dixon in a best-of-three shootout.

Ericsson won the decisive third heat in 11.794 seconds, the best time clocked by any crew in the entire competition.

“We had some good starts, but what won us this competition was pit stops,” Ericsson said, referring to beating several competitors out of the starting blocks to win the preliminary rounds. “Every single pit stop was amazing. That’s why we won today. It’s a great reward because these guys have worked so hard all year, and I’ve had a couple of incidents during the season and they’ve always worked so hard to get me out there on the track again.

“For me to win a competition like today, it’s just a great reward for all that hard work that these guys put in every single day.”

In the contest, cars in each round were lined up alongside each other. The driver had to speed the car into the pit stop zone for his crew performed a four-tire change, before pulling away to the finish line.

Ericsson defeated a pair of Team Penske drivers, Josef Newgarden and Will Power, on his way to meeting Dixon in the championship round.

It provided a measure of revenge for Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, which had finished second in the competition for the past three years.

“We’ve been in second place the last three years, so it was a big motivator for us to get over that hump, and so we’re glad to finally be on the top,” Jansen said. “But Ganassi was great competition. Everybody did great stops today. I can’t say enough about all the guys, how great they did.

“We do our best to keep it fun, try to keep it light, not put too much pressure on it. Everybody knows how important the stops are. But it’s still a matter of we do a lot of training in the off-season, in the gym with St. Vincent’s and in the shop doing pit stop practice, things like that. It’s all about not stressing and not putting too much emphasis on it, even though it is obviously a key factor of every race.”

This event is a way to showcase the skill of the pit crews, but the driver also has to play an important role to be precise and not get beat off the starting line.

Ericsson is also used to “standing starts” from his days as a Formula One driver.

“I think as a driver on this competition, it’s about reactions and then try and be precise on the stops, but I wasn’t even precise on my stops, I was just a bit long on both my stops in the final, or two out of three,” Ericsson said. “I think credit goes to the guys because they managed to do amazing stops. I think they were the ones that made a difference today.

“IndyCar where it’s so tight between the field, you can win or lose races in the pits. That’s why to have a good pit crew that does good pit stops can be the difference maker in a tight race. I think for us to win this is going to give us so much momentum going into Sunday.

“I’ve never done anything like this before, but it was really cool. It’s such a cool event. This whole month has been amazing, and today was a really cool day, and to finish it off by winning made it even better.”

The Pit Stop Contest has been held every year since 1977, when Jim McElreath’s crew won for the first time. Team Penske was hoping to win for a record 18th time, but none of the Penske crews entered in the competition made it past the semifinals.