2012 » course is brand-new and was built especially for then Game

MONTREAL -- Nico Rosberg is the one a roll, but its Mercedes AGM teammate Lewis Hamilton who may have the upper hand at the always unpredictable Canadian Grand Prix. The son of 1982 world champion Keke Rosberg has won the pole position at the last three races on the Formula One calendar and is coming off a victory at the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks ago. But the quick and difficult Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve has become Hamiltons track, having won there three times in his career, including last year. "I enjoy this track and Im confident coming here," Rosberg said Thursday. "Qualifying will be exciting and important. "Maybe a little less important (than at Monaco) because you can overtake, and tire degradation is going to be an issue, so theres going to be a lot happening in the race. But, as at all tracks, its always a big challenge to try to be ahead of Lewis in qualifying because hes very quick." And he likes his chances to claim a fourth straight pole. "Our car has been the quickest in qualifying for quite some time now," he said. "We just have a very fast car. "Im confident Ill be quite far up the grid in qualifying here." Hamilton jumped from McLaren Mercedes to Mercedes AGM this year and has yet to win in six races this season, although he has been in the top-5 five times. Sebastian Vettel leads the drivers championship and is on course for a fourth straight F1 title, but the Red Bull cars have been less dominant this year against Kimi Raikkonens Lotus, Fernando Alonsos Ferrari and the Mercedes. And Vettel has yet to win the Canadian Grand Prix, although he was second to Jenson Button in 2011 and fourth in 2010 and 2012. The McLaren team has won the last three times. The 4.361-kilometre track is especially punishing on brakes with its long straightaways leading to tight turns, including a hairpin. It is also tough on tires, an issue that has Mercedes in the midst of controversy. The team has been called to a hearing with the international tribunal of FIA, the sports governing body, to answer questions about a possibly illegal tire test after the Spanish Grand Prix last month. If found in violation of rules barring unauthorized in-season testing the team could be fined or even banned from the constructors championship. The Red Bull and Ferrari teams complained that Mercedes gained an unfair advantage by running 1,000 kilometres over three days on a new, more durable tire that Pirelli will introduce this week. Teams were concerned with tires breaking down during races, so Pirelli came up with a stronger version. It will be available for use only during practice on Friday at the Canadian race but is expected to be in full use for the British Grand Prix on June 30. Rain is forecast for Friday, which would restrict use of the new tires, and for qualifying on Saturday. Skies are expected to clear up for the race on Sunday. Vettel blasted Mercedes in the German media this week, saying "every kilometre (of testing) is an advantage." Also at issue was that Mercedes used their 2013 car. Some tests by Ferrari in their 2011 car this year were allowed. And they used their F1 starters, rather than reserve driver Sam Bird. "That was what the team decided," said Rosberg. "I think also for Pirelli its better if were in the car because Sam doesnt drive much and for sure he wont be able to go on our pace and bring the Pirellis through the laps exactly as we would." The Mercedes team issued a statement this week saying it "welcomes the opportunity to explain the full facts" of the tests to the tribunal.Stitched NFL Jerseys . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. http://www.wholesalejerseysonline.net/ . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans. China Jerseys Online . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. China Jerseys NFL . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times.RIO DE JANEIRO -- At times, Victoria Lovelady has to pause to take it all in. The Olympic Games are in her home country of Brazil, golf has returned to the Olympics for the first time since 1904, and she was fortunate enough to qualify.Although the mens tournament is being played this week at the Olympic Golf Course, Lovelady, 29, was on site to practice and play, one of the neat aspects to the event that saw a smattering of the women at the venue Monday.Adding to the experience was the fact that Lovelady was asked to play a practice round with Germanys Martin Kaymer and Spains Rafael Cabrera-Bello.Oh my goodness, Lovelady gushed prior to hitting off the 10th tee. When I found out the Olympics was going to be in Brazil and that golf was coming back, it became part of my daily mental routine. There was not one day I didnt think about the Olympics. I was finishing college at the time.My whole motivation to turn pro after college was based on the Olympics. I was ready to turn pro and pursue my dream of playing in the Olympics. Its been a huge goal for me.Lovelady, who played college golf at USC when she went by her maiden name Victoria Alimonda, is a perfect example of how golfs return to the Olympics has been an inspiration. Lovelady has yet to make the LPGA Tour in two tries and this year is competing on the Ladies European Tour, where travel is difficult and purses are sparse..@RickieFowler and @vic_brasil_golf hammed it up after practice round @Rio2016_en on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/nsz4MKsYxL- USA GOLF (@USAGolf) August 8, 2016But she kept after it because of the Olympics, and scrambled to earn world ranking points when it was coming down to the wire for qualification last month. Only one Brazilian golfer was guaranteed a spot in the field (same for the men), so Lovelady was not a lock. She was running close to the other Brazilian golfer in the womens field, Miriam Nagl, and in the end they both made it.It was a super adventure, said Lovelady, who will begin the competition on Aug. 17. All because of the importance I gave to the Olympics being in Brazil, golf coming back to my country. I dont know what Id be doing with myself right now if I wasnt here.dddddddddddd For the past year, every day somebody asked me, Are you going to the Olympics? I thought, My God, Ive got to be there. Not only for my personal goal but also the whole vibe around me. And being one of the only Brazilians on tour. That topic was a hot question.Lovelady took up golf at age 12 due to the influence of her grandfather and father, who was the rare person in Brazil who was a member of a private club. She earned a scholarship to USC after spending time in California as an exchange student, where I was able to study and play golf at the same time, she said. Brazil has some 200 million people but only about 20,000 golfers. You have to have a golf tradition in your family, she noted, something Lovelady said she hopes the Olympics will help change.The Olympic Golf Course, which she described as one of the best courses Ive played in my life, is the first public course ever in Rio. The course is brand-new and was built especially for then Games. How it is treated, and how the public has access to it after the Olympics, will go a long way toward more people becoming interested in the game.There will be more curiosity, more access, she said. I hope it opens up more opportunities.For now, Lovelady is taking advantage of hers. Monday was the last day she could practice on the course until next Monday, two days prior to the first round of the womens competition.But the women are allowed to use all of the practice facilities here throughout the week. And it will be a time to enjoy everything that comes with it.The opening ceremony was literally the best moment of my life, she said. It was beautiful. To be able to be received by so many people in my country. We were singing the anthem and chanting. And one of the cool things was I saw my dad in the first row. He called out my name and all of a sudden I see him, and hes hugging me. He played such an important role in my athletic life.And that would not have happened if the Olympics were somewhere else. ' ' '