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WEST ALLIS, Wis. -- While awaiting medical clearance to resume driving after a concussion, James Hinchcliffes thoughts of competing in the Indianapolis 500 went from apprehension to appreciation. "It was the not knowing, that was the hard part," said Hinchcliffe, who qualified second for the 500 after being cleared to return. "As a racing driver, were all control freaks basically, and not knowing and having your future in someone elses hands like that in a sense, it was very nerve-wracking." Hinchcliffe sustained a concussion when struck in the head by debris from another car in the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 10. He missed five days while waiting to be cleared and then qualified second, despite limited practice time. "You feel like youre falling behind," the 27-year-old Canadian said Tuesday at an Indy Car event in Milwaukee, site of a race in August. "The nature of this sport is, the guys that win are the guys that work harder than the other people. Thats in life. Thats a pretty universal truth. So, Ive always lived by that and Ive always worked very hard. Ive always tried very hard. It was so counterintuitive that in this case, to do the best job and to try the hardest, it was to do nothing." After most of Fridays practice was rained out, and one day of qualifying runs on Saturday, Hinchcliffe averaged 230.839 mph in Sundays qualifying, which was the fastest until Ed Carpenter averaged 231.067 mph as the last driver to attempt to qualify. "Basically, I had a day," Hinchcliffe said. "If I couldnt have a single run before attempting to qualify, they probably wouldnt have felt comfortable putting me in a car. "But, I did get one run on Friday and then I think we did one run on Saturday morning. So, I think my first qualifying attempt was like my ninth lap of the month." Carpenter shared the Milwaukee appearance with Hinchcliffe. Carpenter said he was glad that Hinchcliffe was cleared to race. "It would be torture," Carpenter said. "Honestly, all the drivers were so happy that he was able to make it back, because to have to miss that race of all races. Every one of us waits the whole year to get back to Indy every year. "It wouldnt be fair for any driver to have to sit out for an injury." Hinchcliffe agreed that the fact that it was the Indianapolis 500 as opposed to another race made it more difficult. "Racing is difficult to compare to other sports for a lot of reasons in a lot ways," Hinchcliffe said. "For us, this our playoffs, this is our Super Bowl, this is our World Series. Nobody wants to be sidelined for any race, but if you have to be sidelined for one, good god, anything but the 500." As part of the event at the Milwaukee Mile, fans were allowed to walk the oval behind a slow-moving minivan carrying Carpenter and Hinchcliffe. The drivers faced backward out of the van and answered questions from track officials and fans in an informal conversation. "That was really impressive," said Hinchcliffe, adding that he had never been part of an event like that. "I think it gives the fans a unique perspective on everything and gave them an opportunity to ask a lot of questions, which was great. And actually get out on the racing surface. It was very cool." Scott Gerloski, 51, who lives in the Milwaukee area and described himself as an avid race fan, appreciated the chance to meet and talk with the drivers in an informal setting. "Its a great way to connect with the fans," Gerloski said. "It just made me have new favourite drivers in the sport. I dont follow Indy as closely as I once did only due to driver unfamiliarity, but these two guys I know now. I know these guys, I like these guys and Im going to pull for them." Wholesale NCAA Jerseys Authentic . Brooks replaces right-hander Yordano Ventura, who left his last outing with a sore elbow. Ventura is expected to miss one start. 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The loss drops Winnipegs record to 3-4 during this past weeks seven-game homestand.SAN DIEGO - In a tournament that was up for grabs, Scott Stallings hit a 4-iron worthy of a winner Sunday in the Farmers Insurance Open. Stallings was in a five-way tie for the lead when he hit his second shot on the par-5 18th hole as hard as he could. It was enough to barely clear the water, and he took two putts from 40 feet for birdie and a 4-under 68 at Torrey Pines. That was enough for a one-shot victory when no one could catch him. It was the third career PGA Tour victory for Stallings, who earned a return trip to the Masters and should move high enough in the world ranking to qualify for the Match Play Championship next month in Arizona. K.J. Choi had the best score of the week on the South Course with a 66 and was among those who tied for second. The pins were set up in favourable positions for birdies, making the course play the easiest it had all week. But that didnt make it easy — not for Gary Woodland, Jordan Spieth, Pat Perez and so many others who squandered a good chance to win. Woodland appeared to have the best chance to catch Stallings. He was one shot behind — with plenty of length to reach the 18th in two — until he chose fairway metal off the tee on No. 17 and hooked it into the canyon. He felt he had to make his 45-foot par putt to have any chance, and three-putted for double bogey. Woodland, who had a one-shot lead going into the final round, missed an easy birdie attempt on the 18th and closed with a 74. "This will be hard to swallow," Woodland said. "I felt like I kind of gave one away today." Marc Leishman of Australia had the last chance to force a playoff, but his drive on the 18th went well right and bounced off the cart path and a fan. He had no shot at the green in two, and his wedge for an eagle stopped a few feet to the side of the hole. His tap-in birdie gave him a 71 and a share of second. Stallings finished at 9-under 279. Jason Day (68) and Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., (68) each made birdie on the last hole to tie for second. So did Perez, the San Diego native who grew up at Torrey Pines and whose father is the longtime starter on the first tee at the Farmers Insurance Open. Perez missed a 10-foot birdie chance on the 17th. He closed with a 70. "Its great and bad," Perez said about his runner-up finish.dddddddddddd "This is the one I want to win more than anything in the world, and I came up short. ... I thought today would have been my day. I would like to be in that position again." Spieth didnt make a birdie over the last 15 holes, and he fell back with back-to-back birdies late in the round. The 20-year-old Texan made a meaningless bogey on the last hole that only cost him a spot in the top 10. By then, his day was over. He closed with a 75. "I just lost control of the golf ball," Spieth said. He also revealed that he tweaked his ankle Friday and felt it kept him from getting into the right position on his back swing. Woodland went from a chance to win to a tie for 10th. Deep into tournament, nearly 20 players were separated by only two shots. It was similar to when Jimmy Walker won the Sony Open two weeks ago in Honolulu, emerging from the pack with a late burst of birdies. Stallings made six birdies over his last 11 holes, along with a pair of bogeys. Most remarkable is that he managed to hit only four fairways in the final round. But one that he did was important — the 537-yard closing hole, giving him a chance to get home in two for a birdie at worst. He said caddie Jon Yarbrough — fired by Woodland late last year — told him in the 18th fairway, "Lets see what youve got. Youve worked your butt off." "I hit 4-iron as hard as I could," Stallings said. It was just enough to clear the water, and while it trickled off the front of the green, he could still use his putter. He lagged it up to 30 inches for a short birdie putt that turned out to be the winner. Charley Hoffman, another San Diego native, made a hole-in-one on the third hole and closed with a 67 to tie for seventh, along with Ryo Ishikawa of Japan and Will MacKenzie, who each had a 70. Six players finished in the top 10 that are not in the Phoenix Open next week. Ordinarily, a top 10 gets a player into the next open tournament. In this case, the field already is full and they only can be alternates. That list includes Justin Thomas, who was playing this week on his fourth out of seven allotted sponsor exemptions. Thomas shot 69. ' ' '