Gästebereich » Malzahn will be available for an interview

TORONTO -- Ryan Briscoe knows all about Toronto hospitals. Briscoe broke his wrist in the first race of the doubleheader at the Honda Indy Toronto last year, an injury that kept him from competing in the second race and later led to surgery. Three years ago Briscoe also made a visit to a local hospital, albeit with a less serious injury, after a wheel-to-wheel incident with Tony Kanaan. "Ive still got a little lump on my hand from that," said Briscoe. Just finishing the claustrophobic 85-lap, 2.81-kilometre street course at Exhibition Place in one piece is difficult enough for IndyCar drivers. Surviving two races, which run Saturday and Sunday, on a crash-prone track requires plenty of strategy and a bit of luck. Briscoe has seen a bit of everything at the race. The 32-year-old Australian driver for Chip Ganassi Racing finished second when the race returned from a hiatus in 2009. But the following year he was bumped off the track by Graham Rahal and finished two laps off the pace in 18th. In 2011 Briscoe finished seventh and earned his first hospital visit for the trouble. A collision in 2012 with Dario Franchitti ended Briscoes day, and last year he broke his wrist after failing to let go of the steering wheel when Justin Wilson bounced off a wall and smacked into Briscoe and Charlie Kimball. Like most drivers, Briscoe is still trying to figure out how to win Toronto. "You never know," he said. "Everyone will say qualifying at the front of the track position is very important, but the way these races have been working out this year you really just got to be heads up all the time, get that strategy right, work the tires the right way, especially the red soft compound tires. "And then, with a track where accidents are going to happen, you dont want to be caught out on track when the yellow comes out because the pits close and then youre hosed." There are plenty of spots for potential accidents on the 11-turn track. Two in particular stand out to Briscoe: a tight right at Turn 1 and a deceptive Turn 3 hairpin where drivers often think they have more room than they do at the end of a long straight. Briscoe has been guilty in the past of being one of those drivers. His first injury in 2011 came at Turn 3 when he tried to pass Kanaan on the inside and bounced the Brazilian out of the race. "I think if theres any track where you just have to give a little extra room its there in Toronto," said Briscoe. For Marco Andretti, who finished fourth and ninth last year, the final four turns are just as hard to get out of. A bumpy Turn 8 leads into three final high-speed turns. IndyCar teams set up their vehicles differently depending on the track and weather conditions, and the high speeds of Turns 9-11 dont mix well with the street-car setup usually employed in Toronto. "You normally just have to hang onto the car thats probably not going to do what you want through there, so that normally makes it tough, but its character, its fun," said Andretti. Complicating matters is a gruelling weekend set in the middle of a busy schedule. Toronto caps a set of races that has been going on at least once every weekend since June 28. Drivers get just two 45-minute practice sessions Friday. The weekend is much busier, with qualifying held in the morning before the afternoon race Saturday and Sunday. Briscoe, who is juggling the IndyCar season with life as a new father since daughter Finley was born in December, said the event can be unforgiving and require hard work. "I mean these races are so physical," he said. "Especially in the middle of summer when its so hot. ... You just really need to be on it, and on it quickly, and on the physical side its just all about staying hydrated, really." Unlike most street races, however, a good qualifying result in Toronto doesnt guarantee a checkered flag. Andretti describes the race as "attrition." "Its not as track-position dependent, meaning you dont have to lead right from the start to win at the end," he said. "If you have something happen, if you qualify bad, which unfortunately I have in the past, it gives you a shot at it because theres just so much carnage that goes on." Even some legendary family experience isnt much of an advantage for Andretti in Toronto. His father and boss, Andretti Autosport owner Michael Andretti, won Toronto an unmatched seven times during his career. But his fathers victories between 1989 and 2001 dont give Marco Andretti an upper hand. He has yet to step onto the podium in Toronto. "Ive been strong at other places, I dont have seven wins at one place, but you cant explain why. It just happened that way," said Marco Andretti. "If you look at his track record, he was probably more dominant at Indianapolis and he has no wins there. "So sometimes it just clicks, sometimes it doesnt. He did nothing different here than he did anywhere else. Thats the tough part. A lot of it I just have to learn by going out and doing it." Winning both races in Toronto will be crucial to the overall championship. Last year Scott Dixon swept the doubleheader en route to winning the series title. This year, Helio Castroneves holds a slim lead at the top heading into the race with 471 points. There are at least 100 points available in Toronto, meaning the championship wont be won but could be lost this weekend as the season draws to a close Aug. 31. Andretti, who is seventh overall with 337 points, said his season will be decided in Toronto. "For me in particular this is the weekend if I want to win a championship. This is the make or break," he said. "You know, if I come out of here fourth in points then Im still in striking distance but if something goes wrong then Im done. This weekends huge for me, for sure. "Im good with the top fives, but I need the W." Cheap Air Jordan From China . -- Theres been so much talk about Mike Moustakas at the plate that the third baseman ignored the conversation Wednesday -- even after doing something positive. Wholesale Air Jordan China . LeBron James leads the Miami Heat in a quest for three consecutive championship titles, while Tim Duncan looks to add his fifth ring with the San Antonio Spurs when the series tips off with Game 1: Miami @ San Antonio on Thursday, June 5 at 9 p. http://www.wholesaleairjordan.com/. "Uuufff," was all shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria could come up with after Stantons latest mammoth shot. Cheap Air Jordan Shoes Free Shipping . Hicham Khalouas late goal improved Almerias chances of avoiding relegation in a match dominated by contentious calls, including three penalties. One day after Barcelonas 4-3 win at Real Madrid featured three penalties, referees again dominated a wide-open game that saw Almeria ultimately move out of the relegation zone and one point ahead of Getafe which took its place. Cheap Air Jordan . Those cheers seemed more special this time because the captains run on Broadway could soon be over. The adoration surely sounded much nicer to Callahan than all the recent trade talk.CLEVELAND -- The presumed favourite in the Browns coaching search says hes in the running. New England offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels confirmed he interviewed over the weekend with Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner. The team is searching for its second coach in a year and seventh since 1999 after firing Rob Chudzinski last week. "We met and thats about all there is at this point," McDaniels said Monday during a conference call. "Nothing further." The Browns began the second week of their search with no conclusion in sight. McDaniels wasnt offered the job because NFL rules prohibit teams from making offers to assistant coaches on playoff teams until they are out of the post-season. Even if the Browns want to hire McDaniels, they cant discuss a contract with him until New Englands season ends. The Patriots play Indianapolis on Saturday in a divisional playoff. McDaniels, who went 11-17 as Denvers coach before he was fired, did not divulge details of his meeting. "The opportunities are certainly flattering if they come up," said McDaniels, a native of Canton, Ohio. "That being said, I am going to try to keep my focus on the Colts and our preparation this week. Like Ive said in the past, Im fortunate to have the job I have, and I love being here. I love doing what Im doing. Each opportunity that comes along is a little different and Im going to leave it at that and continue to put my effort and attention into the Colts this week." McDaniels is one of three candidates known to have interviewed with Haslam and Banner. The Browns top brass also interviewed Seattle defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn and Arizona defensive co-ordinator Todd Bowles. The team also requested permission to interview Denver offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase, but he declined the chance to meet with the Browns or Minnesota Vikings because he didnt want to be a distraction during the Broncos playoff preparations. Denver hosts San Diego on Sunday. McDaniels immediately emerged as the front-runner to wind up in Cleveland, based mostly on his association with Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who has worked with Browns general manager Michael Lombardi. Banner, tooo, has always thought highly of McDaniels, who may be better suited for a second go-around as a head coach after some tough lessons learned in Denver.dddddddddddd The 37-year-old McDaniels clashed with quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receiver Bandon Marshall and made several questionable personnel moves as the teams de facto GM. Its still possible the Browns will hire a college coach. Bob Stoops, though, isnt the one. A person with direct knowledge of Clevelands search told The Associated Press that the Browns will not interview Oklahomas coach, who has deep Ohio roots. After his Sooners stunned Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last week, Stoops did nothing to dispel a report that said he had the "inside track" for the Browns job. But the person who spoke to the AP on Monday said the team is not pursuing him and that any reports saying so are "false." The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the search. Stoops said "you never know" when asked about the possibility of one day coaching in the NFL. His vague remarks fueled speculation about Clevelands coaching vacancy. Stoops is from Youngstown and has been linked to the Browns in the past. Cleveland is also reportedly interested in speaking with Auburns Gus Malzahn and Vanderbilts James Franklin. Malzahn will be available for an interview after Monday nights BCS national title game against Florida State. He doesnt have any NFL experience and he has made it clear hes happy at the school, but that may not prevent Haslam and Banner from making a strong run at him. The Browns were enamoured with Chip Kelly during their coaching search last year, but after a short courtship, the former Oregon coach decided to sign with Philadelphia. Franklin has one year of pro experience as Green Bays wide receivers coach in 2005. He led the Commodores to a 9-4 season and a win over Houston in Sundays BBVA Compass Bowl. Franklins impressive turnaround at Vanderbilt has caught the attention of Haslam, a Tennessee alum. Vanderbilt went 24-15 in three seasons under Franklin, who left the interview room following the win without replying when asked if he would be back at the school. ' ' '