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INDIANAPOLIS -- Scott Dixon insists that Ganassi Racing wasnt trying to bamboozle anybody. After struggling last week and failing to put a car in the fast nine for qualifying, the team led by defending Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan staged a rally on Carb Day. Kanaan was left atop the leaderboard Friday with a lap of 227.838 mph, while Dixon was next-fastest at 227.773 mph. "We definitely didnt do it on purpose," said Dixon, who will start in the middle of the fourth row Sunday. "We would like to roll out straightaway and be quick. I think we are normally." Kanaan will start on the inside of the sixth row as he attempts to become the first back-to-back winner since Helio Castroneves in 2003. Teammate Charlie Kimball will start in the ninth row. "We feel good about it," Kanaan said. "We worked pretty hard together to make up for our Saturday qualifying. We have great people back in the engineering office at Target Chip Ganassi Racing, and it really showed a little bit after qualifying and today." The turnaround by the Ganassi stable brought back memories of 2012, when the team struggled throughout the month of May. But by the time Carb Day rolled around, Dario Franchitti had posted the fastest lap of the day, and Dixon was close behind in second. That was how they would finish on Sunday. Franchitti went on to win his third Indy 500, and Takuma Satos last-lap spin into the Turn 1 wall allowed Dixon to finish second. Townsend Bell, three-time winner Helio Castroneves and rookie Mikhail Aleshin joined Kanaan and Dixon among the five fastest laps Friday. Andretti Autosport teammates Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti were next on the speed chart, while Juan Pablo Montoya was ninth-quickest. Kurt Busch stepped into Andrettis backup car and climbed to 15th on the chart. Busch wrecked his primary car in practice on Monday, forcing his team to convert a car that Andretti had planned to use at Detroit from a road-course setup to an oval setup. "Just had to get back on my horse," said Busch, who will attempt to run the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte on Sunday. "As the NASCAR guys always say, Got to thank my crew, but honestly, this is a thank-the-crew moment from Andretti Autosport." On a busy Carb Day at Indianapolis, here are five more things that happened: ANOTHER DOUBLE: As Busch becomes the fourth driver to attempt double duty, theres been speculation more NASCAR drivers may someday try the grueling feat. Buschs younger brother, Kyle, has said hell make an attempt if he ever wins a Sprint Cup championship. "I dont know why more NASCAR guys dont do it," former IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay said. "You only live once. Its two of the biggest races in the world, so why not do it?" BLOCKING RULES: An unofficial poll of drivers indicated very few want to be the leader in the closing laps of Sundays race. But Dixon and Kanaan believe murky rules mean the leader could potentially block attempts at a pass for the win without risking a penalty from race control. "We havent gotten clarification on that. You can defend now," Dixon said. If blocking occurs, Kanaan hopes it is fair. "I dont think its fair enough sometimes to be the leader that hell be exposed and hes going to lose the race because he was in the lead. It does not make any sense," Kanaan said. "There is a certain amount of defending that should be allowed." INDY IN (SLOPE)STYLE: Olympic snowboarder Nick Goepper, who took home the bronze medal at the Sochi Games, stopped by the speedway to check out the festivities. Goepper grew up near Cincinnati in Lawrenceburg, just on the Indiana side of the state line, and plans to watch Sundays race from the infield pagoda. "I remember the movie Rush that came out, the whole racing atmosphere. These guys are incredible drivers," Goepper said. "They have so much composure. Its amazing." GETTING COMFORTABLE: Paul Tracy still wants to be in a race car, but his time appears to have passed. Now, the popular Tracy has landed a part-time gig with NBC Sports Network. The original deal called for Tracy to work in the booth for six races, but it was expanded to include NBCs limited coverage of preparations for the Indianapolis 500, as well as two additional events later this season. Tracy said he struggled initially, and but "Ill get it figured out." Michael Bennett Jersey . Spencer Abbott and Trevor Smith scored third-period goals erasing a 2-1 deficit giving Toronto a late 3-2 lead. Harold Carmichael Jersey .Brothers B.J. and Justin Upton each homered and had an outfield assist, and the Braves held on for a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night. http://www.officialphiladelphiaeaglesfoo...ey-womens.Simon will work with head coach Gord Dineen and associate coach Derek King behind the bench of the Toronto Maple Leafs American Hockey League affiliate for the 2014-15 season. Stefen Wisniewski Jersey . "This is my city," the Toronto native said upon his arrival Wednesday night. And the 35-year-old former league MVP says he is hoping to making 2014 a memorable year. Destiny Vaeao Jersey . Sources tell TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger that the team is quietly gauging interest on the Senators captain, though Spezza has a limited no-trade clause and carries a large contract.The debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messis legacies has been ongoing for almost a decade. Both players are generational wizards who seem to amaze the football world every year. However, there is a new kid on the block looking to make their rivalry three-headed. Barcelona signed Luis Suarez for 75 million pounds from Liverpool in the off-season to add another star to the mix. Who will have a better La Liga season: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez? There were no surprises in who led the Primera Division in goals last season. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a league-best 31 with Lionel Messi not too far behind tallying 28. However, neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid won the La Liga title last year for the first time in nine seasons. Atletico Madrid took that honour. Both players had world class seasons, but theyre looking to bring the trophy back to their respective clubs. Last season was one of Ronaldos most memorable years with Real. CR7 led Madrid to its first Champions League title in 14 years thanks to a record setting 17 goals in the tournament. He also led the club to their second Copa del Rey title in four years. The Portuguese international won the FIFA Ballon dOr Award, dethroning Messi in the process, who had won the hardware for three-straight years. Since joining Real Madrid in 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 252 goals in 246 overall competitions for the Spanish club. Of those, 177 have come in 165 La Liga matches. Madrids starting XI is arguably one of the best in the world, with the likes of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, as well as new signings James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos in the lineup. A squad with that talent can help bring the Portuguese international to another level. However, with such talented stars, can Ronaldo continue to be as dominant or will his production fall for the good of the team? Lionel Messi didnt have as decorated a season as Ronaldo, but he is coming off a strong showing at the FIFA World Cup, something that Ronaldo couldnt emulate with Portugal.dddddddddddd Although Messis Argentina squad fell short to the Germans in extra time of the World Cup final, Leo won the Golden Ball, as the tournaments best player. The 27-year-old scored four goals in seven games and created a tournament-high 23 chances. His success on the world stage this summer could translate to an even more successful league season. Since joining Barcelonas top squad in 2004-05 from their B team Lionel Messi has scored 243 goals in 277 La Liga matches, putting him just eight back of the all-time record of 251 goals set by Telmo Zarra from 1940 to 1955. By the end of the season, Messi will most likely be the all-time leading scorer in La Liga history and hes only 27. Last season, the Argentinian scored his lowest goal total since 2008-09, but he still commanded the pitch. However, with the likes of Suarez and Neymar also playing forward, will Barcelonas front line be too crowded for Messi to flourish? Or will a three pronged attack with a 4-3-3 system open the flood gates for Barcas number 10? Luis Suarez is coming off a career year with the Reds. The 27-year-old won the Golden Boot in the Premier League last season with 31 goals while leading Liverpool to a second-place finish. Suarez added to his hardware collection winning the Professional Footballers Association Player of the Year, becoming the first non-European to win the award. Will Suarez be able to put up the same numbers in Barcelona as he did in Liverpool? Suarez is still facing a four-month ban from FIFA after biting Giorgio Chiellini of Italy at the World Cup, so Camp Nou wont be able to see him play until the end of October. Although Suarez can now practice with the team, will he be match fit and ready when his ban is over? 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