Category: Sports

Sports news, viral moments, athletes, teams, and major competitions.

Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx: A Friendship That Has Endured for Nearly 60 Years

Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx built two of the most distinguished careers in motorsport history, achieving success across Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, endurance racing and rally raid. Yet their enduring friendship may be just as remarkable as their racing records.

When the two legends joined Motorsport.com for a special double interview, the video call felt like a reunion between old friends. Andretti and Ickx first met at the 1968 Mexican Grand Prix and later became team-mates at Ferrari in both Formula 1 and the World SportsCar Championship. Nearly six decades later, their admiration and affection remain as strong as ever.

“You have to explain to me how you stay in such good condition, because you look good,” Ickx said of Andretti.

“I understand, yesterday you won [IndyCar’s Freedom 250] and you finished on the podium. You have many reasons to smile. We hope at Genesis to be like you.

“You are amazing, my dear Mario. It brings me some emotions to think that what we did more than almost 60 years ago – yes, almost 60 years ago.

“You are the most famous driver – the celebrated, the iconic Mario Andretti. I had the fortune to share with you, it was yesterday, I believe, 1972, in a Ferrari 312 PB. So thank you very much.”

Clearly touched by Ickx’s praise, Andretti replied:

“No, thank you. You were the best.”

Endurance racing brought Andretti and Ickx together

Jacky Ickx, Mario Andretti, Ferrari 312 PB
Photo by: Rainer Schlegelmilch / Getty Images

The mutual respect between Andretti and Ickx helps explain why they became such a formidable partnership. They first shared a garage in 1971, when Ferrari paired them across a dual programme in Formula 1 and sportscar racing.

Reliability limited Ferrari’s results in F1, but both drivers claimed a victory. Andretti, who was not competing full-time, drove Ferrari’s 312B to victory on his debut outing for Enzo’s team.

Their partnership flourished in sportscar racing. Their similar physical dimensions simplified the work for Ferrari’s designers, while their trust and understanding made them exceptionally effective as team-mates. Ickx even allowed Andretti to qualify the car according to the American driver’s preference.

Ferrari dominated the 1972 season, with Andretti and Ickx winning four of the 11 races they contested together. Their victories came at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Brands Hatch. Ferrari skipped Le Mans after deciding that its Formula 1-derived engine was not suitable for a 24-hour race; with the Daytona event reduced to six hours that year, Andretti and Ickx would otherwise have been among the leading contenders at La Sarthe.

Andretti said sharing a car in endurance racing brought the pair closer and laid the foundation for a friendship that has endured ever since.

“Long-distance racing taught me a lot,” he said. “You’re sharing the moment with someone else to do the same thing.

“There’s no bigger pleasure when you’re in victory lane together with your partner. The ones that have accomplished the same thing for you – and with you.

“We all depend on each other to minimise the mistakes – and make no mistakes – to be able to bring it home.

“You’re sharing your victory in a different way when you’re driving in long-distance races. We’re both in the same seat during the race at one time or another and we’re both experiencing exactly the same thing. That’s something that brings you together.

“Jacky, specifically, from the long-distance racing factor, I did most of my long-distance races with him. That’s why I said he’s my best buddy, my best team-mate.”

Andretti and Ickx remain connected by motorsport

Following his Ferrari career, Ickx became one of the most successful sportscar drivers ever. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans six times, along with the Spa 24 Hours and Bathurst 1000, before moving into rally raid and winning the Dakar Rally on his third attempt.

Andretti also achieved nearly every major goal he set for himself. His victories included the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500, while he also won the Formula 1 and IndyCar championships.

Although both drivers have retired from active competition, their passion for motorsport remains undiminished in their 80s. Andretti, patriarch of one of America’s biggest racing dynasties, works as a director for Cadillac’s new F1 team. Ickx is a brand ambassador for Genesis Magma Racing and recently drove the GMR-001 at Paul Ricard.

Their lives are now divided by geography, with Andretti based in Pennsylvania and Ickx spending much of his time in Africa. That distance has done little to weaken their relationship. They continue to follow each other’s careers and want to see the other succeed.

“I’ll be watching with interest,” said Andretti. “I wish you guys all the very best. Whatever your endeavours are, maintain your objectives and always go for the sky.”

“I wish you to enjoy life in your projects,” Ickx adds. “We are in very good company. We are lucky to still be active, to be in good health.

“We are very lucky, Mario. I keep in mind these days the years we have shared together, where we have shared long-distance racing.

“Of course, I follow you in your championships, F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, Midget.”

Mario Andretti, Jacky Ickx, Ferrari 312 PB
Photo by: David Phipps / Sutton Images via Getty Images

As the interview ended, Andretti and Ickx said goodbye. They could have spent the hour revisiting their greatest victories, but the conversation repeatedly returned to the time they shared both on and off the track.

“You have been a real friend and such a talented driver,” concludes Ickx. “I was tempted to say I love you, but you’re not supposed to say that.

“Mario, stay safe, please,” he adds. “Stay safe. And thank you very much for your friendship.”

09/01/2026
5 Drivers Most Likely to Win the Italian Grand Prix

We examine the betting market to identify the five drivers most likely to win at Monza.

Source: www.formula1.com

09/01/2026
Bernal on Barcelona Competition with Rodri: ‘That’s a good and healthy thing’

Marc Bernal Discusses Barcelona’s Winning Start and Competition with Rodri

Barcelona midfielder Marc Bernal, who started for the third consecutive game, reflected on last season’s 5-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano and the competition with Rodri.

“We have to keep working, three wins out of three, and try to achieve all our objectives,” said Bernal

“This is Barça, the biggest club in the world.

09/01/2026
Breaker Raygun Reflects on What Happened at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Rachael Gunn suffered a panic attack in the Olympic village just hours before representing Australia at the Paris 2024 opening ceremony.

Surrounded by experienced athletes, Gunn began to understand the scale of the challenge ahead. Her professional background was as a university lecturer, but she was about to compete in breaking, the breakdancing event making its Olympic debut.

Known as Raygun when competing, the 38-year-old described her anxiety in a new Netflix documentary about her experience at the Games.

“I felt like an imposter,” said the 38-year-old breaker.

She also explained how she reacted after seeing someone she recognised from the Olympic team.

“I just could not stop crying… I had a panic attack. ‘What am I doing? What have I done? Should I be doing this?’” she said.

Just a few hours later, Gunn was sailing down the River Seine alongside the rest of the Australian delegation, waving to onlookers.

Raygun’s Olympic breaking performance goes viral

Less than a fortnight later, her Olympic journey was over. Gunn lost all three of her round-robin battles at the Games, but said she was pleased with how she had performed.

“Finishing my last round, the world champion Nicka [Dominika Banevic] gave me props for my moves, the MC celebrated my stuff and the vibe was just generally good,” Gunn told BBC Sport.

What she had not expected was the global reaction to one of her routines, in which she introduced unconventional moves including a sprinkler and a kangaroo hop.

The performance quickly became a viral sensation. It inspired memes and a sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Adele referenced it during one of her concerts, while Chris Hemsworth defended Gunn in an interview with Jimmy Kimmel. In August 2024, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also spoke out, praising Gunn for having “a crack”.

“It was pretty wild the way I became a topic of conversation in spaces I never thought I would be,” said Gunn.

Conspiracy theories affected Rachael Gunn’s mental health

Alongside the teasing, Gunn faced more serious online attacks, including conspiracy theories alleging nepotism. One claim suggested that her husband and trainer, Samuel Free, had been on the selection committee when she qualified to represent Australia at the Games. He had not been.

“It was really tough when mine and Sammy’s credibility, ethics and motivations were being called into question,” Gunn said.

“You could just spend 30 seconds researching and find plenty of sources to debunk these conspiracies, but that’s not how people use the internet anymore.”

The intense scrutiny took a toll on Gunn’s mental health.

“I felt like my whole life was just kind of crumbling before me.. .and I was just trying to get through the day,” she says in the documentary.

While making a film about that period, Gunn said she had begun to regain a sense of control over her story.

“It’s taken a long time for me to process what happened,” Gunn told BBC Sport.

“It’s really exciting for me to finally have a voice again.”

09/01/2026
Marc Casadó Prepares Barcelona Exit With Bayer Leverkusen as Preferred Destination, Reports Say

Marc Casado Makes Decision on Barcelona Future

Marc Casado’s future has reached a decisive stage during this transfer window. The Barcelona midfielder has attracted interest from several clubs in recent weeks, including teams from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as well as potential destinations in England, Italy and Germany, with RB Leipzig among the options.

Despite the growing interest, Casado has now established his priorities as clubs assess a possible move.

Source: tribuna.com

09/01/2026
US Open 2026: Naomi Osaka Pays Homage to NBA Star Allen Iverson in New York Outfit

Naomi Osaka’s performance during Monday night’s session was less polished, but the Japanese 13th seed dug deep to defeat Anastasia Zakharova and reach the second round.

The former world No. 1, who won the US Open at Flushing Meadows in 2018 and 2020, made a strong start before facing a determined fightback from Zakharova.

Osaka broke serve at the first opportunity to move 2-0 ahead in the opening set. Although she could not convert another chance to take a 4-0 lead, she appeared comfortable after moving 5-2 in front.

Zakharova responded with resilience, forcing the set into a tie-break. The 22-year-old also recovered from another early break in the second set, but Osaka’s powerful serve proved decisive.

Osaka established a commanding 5-1 lead in the second tie-break and completed the victory shortly before 00:30 local time, avoiding the need for a deciding set.

Osaka will face Czech Republic player Katerina Siniakova in the second round and promised fans another surprise with her outfit.

“I wanted to play well because I wanted to show you guys some more outfits,” she said.

“I love expressing myself through clothes – because I don’t like talking too much.”

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

09/01/2026
Jamie Carragher Labels Arsenal ‘Arguably the Best Team in World Football’ After Aston Villa Victory

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher shared his analysis on Sky Sports after Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa in Matchday 2 of the Premier League season.

“Arsenal have fantastic structure behind the ball, which allows their full-backs to play very boldly.

Source: tribuna.com

09/01/2026
US Open 2026 Results: Novak Djokovic’s Tearful Exit Raises Fresh Questions About Tennis Great’s Future

Novak Djokovic has repeatedly silenced doubts about his ability to compete at the highest level. But his latest US Open defeat has raised fresh questions about the 39-year-old’s future after an emotional first-round exit in New York.

Djokovic was once again challenged to prove himself after falling outside the world’s top 20 during a two-year drought without a major title in 2018. He responded by winning four of the next five Grand Slam tournaments, taking his total to 12 majors over the following six years.

Djokovic suffers emotional US Open defeat

Three years have passed since Djokovic won his men’s record 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open. On Sunday night, however, the Serbian struggled to find a response as he fought back tears during his latest match at Flushing Meadows.

Facing the prospect of his first opening-round Grand Slam defeat since 2006, one of the greatest players in tennis history was beaten 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 by Argentina’s Navone.

Djokovic has spent years defying the effects of time and, at times, appeared to be improving with age. That was evident at this year’s Wimbledon, where he defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime, 14 years his junior, in a five-set quarter-final that became the longest in the tournament’s history.

Even in his late 30s, Djokovic remained one of the players capable of challenging Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the leading forces in men’s tennis.

At the Australian Open in January, Djokovic ended Sinner’s bid for a third consecutive title with a remarkable five-set comeback victory. He then took the opening set against Alcaraz in the final before fading to a four-set defeat.

Australian Open may be Djokovic’s best remaining chance

Following early exits in Paris and New York, there is an inevitable sense that Melbourne represented Djokovic’s strongest opportunity to win an outright record 25th major title and add another landmark to a career unmatched by almost every statistical measure.

Djokovic was despondent after the match, saying he “despised every moment I spent on the court for that”.

“When it comes to the match itself, and the overall feeling of how I felt with my body and playing, it was really not enjoyable,” Djokovic said.

“But, from the perspective of the crowd and support, it was incredible.”

“I’m very sorry that I didn’t perform as well as I should have, could have, or wanted – for them.”

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

09/01/2026
Former Dallas Cowboys Player Emerges as Candidate to Replace Shedeur Sanders

The Cleveland Browns face a complicated quarterback situation entering the season. The team currently has four quarterbacks under contract, but only three are on the active roster after Dillon Gabriel was placed on injured reserve with a back injury that is expected to sideline him for at least the first month.

That situation raises the possibility that Cleveland could add a fifth quarterback by claiming Joe Milton III, whom the Dallas Cowboys released on Monday, August 31.

Jared Mueller of Dawgs By Nature, part of SB Nation, raised the possibility of the Browns pursuing Milton after Dallas made the roster move.

“Just like Cleveland, the Dallas Cowboys continued their roster juggling on Monday, waiving QB Joe Milton, who many believed would be the team’s primary backup to QB Dak Prescott,” Mueller wrote.

Cleveland currently holds the sixth position in the NFL waiver order, which could give the Browns an opportunity to claim Milton before another team does.

“Given Milton’s athletic ability and big arm, he fits HC Todd Monken’s traits for a quarterback,” Mueller continued. “While Cleveland could choose to claim Milton and waive a player at another position, that seems unlikely. Instead, the addition of Milton would likely lead to the departure of either Shedeur Sanders or the rookie Taylen Green. With Milton’s experience and Green entering his first season, Sanders seems like the odd man out if the Browns were to claim Milton.”

Browns Could Explore a Shedeur Sanders Trade

If Cleveland claims Milton and decides to move on from Sanders, the Browns would likely explore a trade rather than expose the quarterback to waivers.

Sanders was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft and finished last season as Cleveland’s starter for the final seven games of his rookie campaign. He also spent the offseason competing with Deshaun Watson for the starting quarterback job, a competition Watson ultimately won in late August.

Sanders is nevertheless expected to open the season as Watson’s backup. He would have a significant opportunity to reclaim the starting role if Watson fails to meet expectations, a possibility that does not appear far-fetched.

The Browns’ decision to retain four quarterbacks during the initial roster cutdown to 53 players had already prompted questions about whether one of them could become a trade asset.

Gabriel was viewed as the most likely quarterback to leave, and that possibility remains. However, his back injury and placement on injured reserve make an immediate trade more difficult.

Depending on how the first four games unfold, Gabriel could return healthy and compete for a backup role behind a promoted Sanders and ahead of a demoted Watson.

If Watson remains the starter and Sanders continues as his primary backup, Gabriel could become an appealing trade option after the strong performance he delivered in the preseason finale against the New England Patriots.

Source: www.marca.com

08/31/2026
Troy Deeney’s Team of the Week: Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, Joao Pedro and Bruno Fernandes

Players praised for standout performances across the Premier League

Recent Premier League performances have drawn strong praise, with analysts highlighting influential displays from James McAtee, Bruno Fernandes, Rayan Cherki, Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa.

James McAtee earns praise after Nottingham Forest display

He absolutely ran the game at Anfield from start to finish. Getting on the ball in the pockets, half-turn, playing forward. He was the reason they were any good, and he’s very, very good, but won’t be spoken about in the same breath as the goalscorers.

James McAtee (Nottingham Forest)

Bruno Fernandes continues to lead Manchester United

There’s not much more to say. Captain Fantastic, three goals, an assist, and nearly scored from the halfway line. Where would Manchester United be without him? Relegated is the answer.

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Rayan Cherki stands out for Manchester City

My favourite player in world football to watch. Amazing the way he’s gifted with the ball, the way he manipulates the ball, and also the way he’s able to think for himself. And I just like the fact he’s carefree. He just wants to play football, so that’s great.

Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)

Anthony Elanga enjoying new momentum at Newcastle

Back-to-back weeks, another great goal, another great performance. Just looks like he’s had another lease of life under this manager. And I wonder whether we’re going to see the Elanga that we saw at Nottingham Forest, just terrorising defences with that pace. But also, before he even gets there, they’re just worried about what he can do.

Anthony Elanga (Newcastle)

Yoane Wissa’s impact highlighted at Newcastle

I had to shoehorn him in because ultimately he’s been great through the middle, but the two strikers have actually scored more and played better than him. But Wissa’s a massive part of why Newcastle have done well, although he’s not being talked about enough in terms of the application that he puts in. So much so, that Woltemade could be sold. That’s how much of a good job Wissa has done.

Yoane Wissa (Newcastle)

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

08/31/2026