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FONTANA, Calif. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] . - Will Power raced with his head instead of his gut. Only a catastrophe was likely to derail his IndyCar Series championship, and the Australian knew he had to throttle the aggression that has made his career — and occasionally wrecked it.Yet after Power moved patiently and safely through the Fontana field, a restart gave him a chance to seize the lead, if only for a few laps.Power couldnt resist. With one last daredevil move, he pulled in front for just long enough to ensure he wouldnt back into his long-awaited title.On that restart, I thought, Ive got to lead a lap and not go backward, Power said. That was the key to the race. No mistakes. Stay on top of the car. ... Its such an emotional moment for me. Im so grateful to have this opportunity.Power won his first series championship Saturday night, finishing ninth in the final race before raising the Astor Cup for the first time in a career filled with agonizing misses.Tony Kanaan won the 500-mile, double-points race under the lights at Fontana for his first victory of the season, but Power easily preserved his healthy points lead over second-place teammate Helio Castroneves to wrap up Team Penskes first IndyCar title since 2006.Power felt enormous stress, but didnt show it.That was one of the hardest races ever, Power said. Oh my God, I was crying. It just went on and on. I slowly made up position, and it was great.Starting from the back after a poor qualifying run, Power patiently picked his way through the field to the front. After that restart with 62 laps to go, the Australian roared into the lead with authority before falling back into a safe parade to the finish.Kanaan earned his first victory for his new Target Chip Ganassi Racing team, and the 17th of his career. The Brazilian is the 11th driver to win a race this season, tying the North American open-wheel record set in CART in 2000 and 2001.But the season belongs to Power, who showed much more relief than elation while overcoming still-fresh memories of heartbreak. He led the IndyCar points standings heading into the final race in 2010 and 2012, and he led with two races left in 2011 — but he failed to claim the title each time, a fact that loomed in his mind for 250 laps at Fontana.Im so mentally exhausted right now, Power said. My hands are numb from holding onto the wheel so tight.Powers mother and wife watched from the pit area, sometimes turning their heads away in nervousness as the laps wound down and the spectre of Powers past loomed.They didnt need to worry: The pride of Toowoomba, Australia, finally is a champion.Roger Penskes team completed a dynamic season by claiming three of the top four spots in the overall standings, with fourth place wrapped up by Juan Pablo Montoya, who led the most laps at Fontana.Power and Penske jointly held up an Australian flag on the victory podium before Power raised the Astor Cup.Theres no question that Will deserves this championship, Penske said. He won a number of races, a lot of poles, and really brought some momentum to this team. He deserved it. He was the best road racer, and to see him operate on the oval this year showed me hes got it.Castroneves was essentially finished after a drive-through penalty for a pit entry violation with 31 laps to go, sliding out of the groove onto the track on his way into the pits. The penalty paved a championship finish for Power, who has been dinged numerous times this season by pit road penalties.For the sixth time in his career, Castroneves missed the title despite entering the final two IndyCar races in the top two in the points standings.It stings a little bit, but thats what motivates me, Castroneves said. Its good to be upset when you finish second in a championship. It gives me another reason to come back stronger next year and fix what we can fix to win a championship.Power beat Castroneves by 62 points for the title. Scott Dixon, the 2013 series champion, ended up third in the standings after a strong finish to the season.Rookie Mikhail Aleshins frightening crash late in a practice session reduced the field, but it didnt change Powers strategy. He was concerned by multiple crashes in the Fontana race in previous seasons, including his own spectacular flop in 2012.Instead, the race was nearly uninterrupted — and Power did everything correctly.Thats 15 years of hard work, Power said. Its just surreal, man. I cant believe it. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] . Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Fiorentina levelled on aggregate in the 14th minute when Joaquin Sanchez Rodriguez headed back a long ball from David Pizarro and Pasqual smashed home an angled volley. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] . With Washington teammate Nene drawing double-teams coming off his big game against the Lakers, Gortat scored 25 points on 11-of-12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Wizards to a 100-92 win in overtime over Milwaukee on Wednesday night. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] .C. -- Charles Oakley, one of the NBAs all-time tough guys, may not return to the Charlotte Bobcats bench next season because of a painful back condition he says was caused during an assault last year in Las Vegas.CHICAGO - Mike Dunleavy scored all of his 21 points in the second half, Joakim Noah flirted with another triple-double and the Chicago Bulls posted a 111-87 wire-to-wire victory over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. Noah finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in 34 minutes. He was headed for his fourth triple-double of the season, but sat down with about three minutes left because of the lopsided score. Kirk Hinrich scorred 19 points for Chicago, going 5 for 6 on 3-pointers, Carlos Boozer added 18 points, D. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych]. J. Augustin 13 and Jimmy Butler 11. The Bulls improved to 2-2 on their six-game home stand. The Rockets have dropped two straight. Reserve guard Jeremy Lin led Houston with 21 points, while Dwight Howard had 12 points and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes. James Harden had eight points on 2-for-7 shooting in 27 minutes. ' ' '