pair of TDs in an opening 33-233 win over No.

Simon Pagenaud has run just 25 oval races in his lifetime.Hell complete two more between now and Aug. 27, and how the 32-year old Frenchman fares in those races at Pocono Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway could be the determining factor in whether he is able to secure his first Verizon IndyCar Series championship.On the strength of four road racing wins, including the most recent IndyCar event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Pagenaud leads his Team Penske teammates Will Power and Helio Castroneves in the standings by 58 and 111 points respectively.With four races remaining that will unfold quickly over the next five weeks -- Pocono, the continuance of the rained-out Texas race that started in June, and natural terrain road courses Sonoma and Watkins Glen -- Pagenauds points lead is comfortable but not quite cushy. Adding a couple quality results on the Pocono and Texas ovals could end the championship drama early, and Pagenaud believes hes ready for that breakthrough oval victory.I think were there, really, he said. I think this year we took a big step forward. For the first time on the short ovals, weve shown a lot of strength -- second at Phoenix, and we were running second for the whole race at Iowa before we had a little bit of a mechanical issue at the end and finished fourth. At Indy, I felt we would have contended for the win as well if we didnt have another mechanical issue.At Texas, I felt really strong during the race -- he was running 15th after a pit stop when the red flag flew after 71 of 248 laps -- and I was disappointed we had to go home. But this year has been a big step forward. Ive had a tremendous car and we found stuff that I really like that gives me confidence to keep pushing on ovals.For a lifelong road racer like Pagenaud, adapting to oval racing isnt as simple as it seems. Aside from learning the nuances of driving a car set up to only turn left, the races unfold at a faster pace, and pit strategy can play a much bigger role.Power won a half-distance twin?race at Texas in 2011 in his 24th oval start but felt he carried a burden for not winning a full-length race until he won the 2013 season finale at Fontana.Castroneves, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, required 29 oval starts before scoring his first win. Four-time IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti made 45 starts over nearly five full years before scoring his first oval triumph in 2001.Im better at the game, Pagenaud said. At the end of the day, its a game: How does the race play out? On a road course for me, its very natural. On an oval, Im still learning how it plays out in the end. Its always in the last 30 laps that you win the race.Now I feel like Im there, he added. Its just a matter of time and having the opportunity.The first chance comes at Pocono, the unique 2.5-mile Pennsylvania tri-oval. With 500 miles on tap Sunday, theres ample opportunity for anything to happen.Pagenauds 58-point cushion with four races to go is the largest lead a driver has enjoyed at this point in the season since 2010. Team Penske drivers have led the standings with four to go four times in the past six years but failed to convert the late advantage into a championship.Holding down the top three spots in the standings this year, Penske looks likely to get the job done. Josef Newgarden lies fourth in the standings but will not restart the Texas race after crashing out of the first segment. Four-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing is next up, 127 points behind Pagenaud.Running 1-2-3 is a good problem for Roger and for the entire team, Pagenaud said. This team works so hard and deserves to do so well. They leave nothing unturned. I just want to be the one who gives them that gift of winning the championship. Being 1-2-3 in the championship is amazing, and I hope we finish that way. But I just want to bring these guys what they deserve.Power, who missed the season opener with concussion-like symptoms, has done an excellent job in rebounding to become Pagenauds closest championship contender. The Australian knows he needs to be virtually perfect over the next four races to defeat his teammate.We have a lot of momentum right now, and Pocono is a track that weve had some good performances, Power said. Were in the championship hunt, and thats all I could ask at this point after missing the first race.While much attention is focused on the frosty relationship between Mercedes-Benz F1 teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, the four Team Penske IndyCar drivers get along famously. Power and Pagenaud sometimes clashed as Indy car rookies in the Champ Car-sanctioned series in 2007, but the past two years under the Penske umbrella have been harmonious.I wouldnt say we had a bad relationship, Pagenaud said of his 07 pairing with Power at Walker Racing. Back then it was more a language barrier. Now its a different deal because I understand the subtlety of the language and weve had a really good two years together.The Penske duo has had several memorable on-track battles this year, most notably at Detroit Belle Isle and in the most recent race at Mid-Ohio. Pagenauds race-winning pass on Power was a thing of beauty, the two Penske cars running side-by-side for most of a lap, occasionally banging into each other, before Pagenaud finally muscled ahead.Pagenaud and Power have demonstrated all season that they are this years top IndyCar Series drivers. And even though the championship seems to be playing out within the confines of one team, things have never been boring for the fans -- or the main protagonists.For me, its really enjoyable, said Pagenaud. Will is driving really well, and we know we have the best cars. At the end of the day, youve got to take your gloves off and go for it, but that doesnt mean you cant get along outside the racetrack or outside the car.Obviously when it comes crunch time, were probably not going to have our ice cream together, he added. But still, were going to be back at the trailer together to talk. I mean, we have to be together because were fighting to be first and second, and for that we need to work together. Andy Isabella Womens Jersey . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Byron Murphy Cardinals Jersey . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/zach-allen-cardinals-jersey-wj/ . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Kyler Murray Cardinals Jersey . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. Andy Isabella Jersey . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. No. 6 Houston (2-0, 0-0 American Athletic) at Cincinnati (2-0, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. (ESPN).Line: Houston by 8.Series Record: Houston leads 14-10.WHATS AT STAKEHouston has more riding on a matchup between two schools campaigning to get into the Big 12. The Cougars are ranked in the top 10 for the first time since 1980. Cincinnati is looking for a signature win that would get the Bearcats back in the national conversation coming off a 7-6 season.KEY MATCHUPRedshirt sophomore QB Hayden Moore vs. the Houston defense: Moore regrouped from a sloppy opening game and accounted for five touchdowns during a 38-20 win at Purdue. Hes never faced a defense like the Cougars unit, which hasnt allowed another team to rush for 100 yards in the last four games and leads the nation with 111 forced turnovers since 2013.PLAYERS TO WATCHHouston: QB Greg Ward Jr. sat out a 42-0 win over Lamar with a sore shoulder. He has grown from more of a running threat into a complete quarterback, completing 23 of 40 passes for 321 yards and a pair of TDs in an opening 33-233 win over No.dddddddddddd 3 Oklahoma.Cincinnati: S Mike Tyson. He had three of Cincinnatis five interceptions in the win at Purdue, including one in the end zone and one at the Cincinnati 15-yard line. The Bearcats have seven interceptions in the first two games. It took them nine games last season to get that many.FACTS & FIGURESThe last three games in the series have been decided by 18 points total, with Houston winning 33-30 last season. ... Cincinnati has won six straight over Houston at Nippert Stadium, where the Cougars havent won since 1971. ... Cincinnatis last win over a top 10 team came against Rutgers in 2006. ... The Cougars held Lamar to 73 total yards, a school-record low for their defense. Lamar didnt cross midfield. ... In the last four games, Houston has held Temple, Florida State, Oklahoma and Lamar to a combined 199 yards rushing.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '