AUTO RACING: Team Penske aims to follow up NASCAR-IndyCar sweep in Indy oval return, Toronto streets

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NASCAR CUP SERIES

Brickyard 400

Indianapolis

Schedule: Friday practice, 2:35 p.m.; Saturday qualifying, 1:05 p.m.; Sunday race, 2:30 p.m. (NBC).

Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Race distance: 160 laps, 400 miles.

Last year: Michael McDowell dominated the 200-mile Cup race on the 2.439-mile road course, leading 54 of 82 laps in a Ford before holding off Chase Elliott's Chevy by 0.937 seconds.

Last race: Team Penske driver and reigning Cup champion Ryan Blaney led the final 44 laps, a race high, to win Pocono Raceway's 400-mile event for his second victory in five starts and 12th in his career. Denny Hamlin led 31 laps and finished second with Alex Bowman third, a week after winning on the Chicago street course.

Fast facts: NASCAR resumes racing on Indy's iconic 2.5-mile oval for the first time since 2020 after three years on the road course. ... Kevin Harvick, who's retiring after this season, claimed the previous oval win. ... Fords have won the past oval starts. ... Chase Elliott finished ninth to take over the points lead by three over Kyle Larson (13th), 15 over Tyler Reddick and 20 over Hamlin. Blaney is 76 points back in seventh place.

Next race: Aug. 11, Richmond, Virginia.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

Pennzoil 250.

Site: Indianapolis.

Schedule: Friday practice, 1:05 p.m., Saturday qualifying, 12:05 p.m., Saturday race, 3:30 p.m. (USA).

Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Race distance: 100 laps, 250 miles.

Last year: Ty Gibbs started fourth and dominated by leading 28 of 62 laps on the road course, including the final 17 to win by nearly eight seconds over Sam Mayer with pole winner A.J. Allmendinger third. The race featured 10 lead changes.

Last race: Cole Custer grabbed the lead from Justin Allgaier with nine laps remaining after a restart and held on to win by 0.670 seconds in a Ford for his elusive first victory this season at Pocono. The defending series champion clinched a playoff spot with his 14th career victory and became the first series driver to win multiple races at the track.

Fast facts: The series returns to IMS for the first time since Kyle Busch won from the pole in 2019 and led 46 laps in a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. ... Custer's first win among eight top-fives and 15 top-10s has provided a 51-point series lead over Justin Allgaier (Chevy) with Chandler Smith (Toyota) 59 back.

Next race: Aug. 17, Brooklyn, Michigan.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

NASCAR TRUCK SERIES

TSport 200.

Site: Indianapolis.

Schedule: Friday practice, 3:30 p.m., qualifying, 4:05 p.m., race 8:30 p.m. (FS1).

Track: Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Race distance: 200 laps, 137.2 miles.

Last year: Ty Majeski started second and ran away with the race after seizing the lead on lap 40, leading the final 161 circuits for his lone victory last season. Christian Eckes and Layne Riggs were next in Chevys.

Last race: Corey Heim emerged from a weather delay with 10 remaining and won the CRC Brakleen 175 at Pocono, the series' first Friday race at the track. Heim's Toyota dominated, leading 55 of 70 laps and the final 34 after starting second. Grant Enfinger and Christian Eckes were next in Chevys in a race that featured just three lead changes.

Fast Facts: Chevys have won three of the past five at IRP. ... Eckes leads Heim by 32 points in the standings with Nicholas Sanchez 113 behind. The three drivers have combined to win 10 of 14 races this season, topped by Heim's five victories.

Next race: Aug. 10, Richmond, Virginia.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

FORMULA ONE

Hungarian Grand Prix.

Site: Mogyorod, Hungary.

Schedule: Friday practices, 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.; Saturday practice, 6:30 a.m., qualifying 10 a.m.; Sunday race, 9 a.m. (ESPN).

Track: Hungaroring.

Race distance: 70 laps, 306.63 kilometers (190.531 miles).

Last year: Max Verstappen started second and led all 70 laps for the victory by 33.731 seconds over Lando Norris.

Last race: Lewis Hamilton held off points leader Max Verstappen at Silverstone for his record ninth British Grand Prix victory, the most by an F1 driver at any track. The seven-time champion also earned his 104th career win to snap a career-long drought of more than 50 races dating back to the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Lando Norris was third, followed by Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz Jr.

Fast facts: Haas has extended its engine partnership with Ferrari through the 2028 season. ... Verstappen has won 51 of the past 78 F1 races and leads Norris by 84 points and Charles Leclerc by 106 as he seeks his fourth consecutive series title.

Next race: July 28, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.

Online: http://www.formula1.com

INDYCAR

Indy Toronto

Site: Toronto, Ontario.

Schedule: Friday practice, 3 p.m.; Saturday practice, 10:30 a.m., qualifying, 2:45 p.m.; Sunday race 1:30 p.m. (Peacock).

Track: Streets of Toronto.

Race distance: 85 laps, 151.1 miles.

Last year: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Christian Lundgaard won from the pole, leading three times for 54 of 85 laps including the final 24. Alex Palou, Colton Herta, Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden rounded out the top five.

Last race: Will Power rallied to win Sunday's Hy-Vee One-Step 250 oval race at Iowa Speedway, his first on the track in 18 attempts, to complete a weekend sweep for Team Penske. Power crossed the finish line as a scary four-car, last-lap crash unfolded behind him, injuring Sting Ray Robb. Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter and Kyle Kirkwood were also involved. Palou, pole winner Scott McLaughlin, Dixon and Herta rounded out the top five. The day before, McLaughlin earned his first IndyCar oval win in Iowa's doubleheader opener, leading 164 of 250 laps after starting second. Pato O'Ward was a half-second behind in second, followed by Newgarden, Dixon and Rinus VeeKay. Power finished 18th despite starting fourth.

Fast facts: Robb was examined and released from a hospital on Sunday night. ... IMSA and 2023 Indy NXT series runner-up Hunter McElrea will make his IndyCar debut in the No. 18 Honda for Dale Coyne Racing. ... Sunday will mark IndyCar's final event before breaking for the Paris Olympics and closing the season on ovals. ... Palou leads Power by 35 points in the standings, with O'Ward 52 behind and Dixon 57 back.

Next race: Aug. 16, Madison, Illinois.

Online: http://www.indycar.com

NHRA DRAG RACING

Northwest Nationals.

Site: Kent, Washington.

Last event: Antron Brown won in Top Fuel and Bob Tasca III won in Funny Car at Norwalk, Ohio, on June 30.

Fast facts: Brittany Force announced she will return to her John Force Racing Top Fuel dragster with her father, Funny Car legend John Force, responding positively to treatment for a traumatic brain injury following a fiery crash in Virginia on June 23. The 75-year-old Force left a Richmond hospital last week to begin neurological rehab. ... Doug Kalitta leads Top Fuel by 134 points over Justin Ashley and 136 over Shawn Langdon. Austin Prock leads Funny Car by 178 points over Tasca and 181 over Matt Hagan.

Next event: July 26-28, Sonoma, California.

Online: http://www.nhra.com

WORLD OF OUTLAWS

Last events: Carson Macedo and Donny Schatz won weekend events at Wilmot, Wisconsin. Macedo dominated Friday's event for his third consecutive win at the track. Schatz rebounded from sixth on Friday to dominate on Saturday for his second Badger 40 victory. The 10-time champion's third win this season snapped a 20-race drought dating back to April.

Fast facts: The Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic is being held Tuesday night in Attica, Ohio. ... David Gravel leads Schatz by 58 points and Macedo by 64 in the standings.

Next events: Friday and Saturday at Rossberg, Ohio.

Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Scott McLaughlin, center, celebrates after winning an IndyCar auto race, Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Scott McLaughlin crosses the finish line as he wins an IndyCar auto race, Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Scott McLaughlin celebrates after winning an IndyCar auto race, Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Will Power, left, gets sprayed with champagne by Scott McLaughlin, right, after winning an IndyCar auto race, Sunday, July 14, 2024, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Will Power celebrates after winning an IndyCar auto race, Sunday, July 14, 2024, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Will Power crosses the finish line as he wins an IndyCar auto race, Sunday, July 14, 2024, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Ryan Blaney drives down the front stretch during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Ryan Blaney celebrates in the victory lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Ryan Blaney celebrates his win with a burnout after a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

PHOENIX (AP) — A lawyer for Rudy Giuliani said Monday that the charges against his client in Arizona’s fake elector case should be thrown out because Giuliani did nothing criminal in contesting Joe Biden’s narrow 2020 victory in the state over Donald Trump.

An indictment said Giuliani spread false claims of election fraud in Arizona after the 2020 election and presided over a downtown Phoenix gathering where he claimed officials made no effort to determine the accuracy of presidential election results.

Attorney Mark Williams said Giuliani was exercising his rights to free speech and petition the government. “How is Mr. Giuliani to know that, oh my gosh, he presided over a meeting in downtown Phoenix,” Williams asked sarcastically. “How is he to know that that’s a crime?”

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Bruce Cohen is hearing arguments over whether to dismiss charges against Republicans who signed a document falsely claiming Trump won Arizona and others who are accused of scheming to overturn the presidential race’s outcome.

Cohen hasn’t yet issued decisions on the dismissal requests. Arguments over whether to throw out the case will continue Tuesday.

While not a fake elector in Arizona, the indictment alleged Giuliani pressured Maricopa County officials and state legislators to change the outcome of Arizona’s results and encouraged Republican electors in the state to vote for Trump in mid-December 2020.

At least a dozen defendants are seeking a dismissal under an Arizona law that bars using baseless legal actions in a bid to silence critics. The law had long offered protections in civil cases but was amended in 2022 by the Republican-led Legislature to cover people facing most criminal charges.

The defendants argue Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes tried to use the charges to silence them for their constitutionally protected speech about the 2020 election and actions taken in response to the race’s outcome. They say Mayes campaigned on investigating the fake elector case and had shown a bias against Trump and his supporters.

Prosecutors say the defendants don’t have evidence to back up their retaliation claim and they crossed the line from protected speech to fraud. Mayes’ office also has said the grand jury that brought the indictment wanted to consider charging the former president, but prosecutors urged them not to.

Dennis Wilenchik, an attorney for defendant James Lamon, who had signed a statement claiming Trump had won Arizona, argued his client signed the document only as a contingency in case a lawsuit would eventually turn the outcome of the presidential race in Trump's favor in Arizona.

“My client, Jim Lamon, never did anything to overthrow the government,” Wilenchik said.

Prosecutor Nicholas Klingerman said the defendants’ actions don’t back up their claims that they signed the document as a contingency.

One defendant, attorney Christina Bobb, was working with Giuliani to get Congress to accept the fake electors, while another defendant, Anthony Kern, gave a media interview in which he said then-Vice President Mike Pence would decide which of the two slates of electors to choose from, Klingerman said.

“That doesn’t sound like a contingency,” Klingerman said. “That sounds like a plan to cause turmoil to change the outcome of the election.”

In all, 18 Republicans were charged with forgery, fraud and conspiracy. The defendants consist of 11 Republicans who submitted a document falsely claiming Trump won Arizona, two former Trump aides and five lawyers connected to the former president, including Rudy Giuliani.

So far, two defendants have resolved their cases.

Former Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis, who worked closely with Giuliani, signed a cooperation agreement with prosecutors that led to the dismissal of her charges. Republican activist Loraine Pellegrino also became the first person to be convicted in the Arizona case when she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to probation.

The remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their trial is scheduled to start Jan. 5, 2026.

Former Trump presidential chief of staff Mark Meadows is trying to move his charges to federal court, where his lawyers say they will seek a dismissal of the charges.

Trump was not charged in Arizona, but the indictment refers to him as an unindicted coconspirator.

In a filing, Mayes' office said as grand jurors were considering possible charges, a prosecutor asked them not to indict Trump, citing a U.S. Justice Department policy that limits the prosecution of someone for the same crime twice. The prosecutor also didn’t know whether authorities had all the evidence they would need to charge Trump at that time.

It also accused him of pressuring Maricopa County officials and state legislators to change the outcome of Arizona’s results and encouraging Republican electors in the state to vote for Trump in mid-December 2020.

Eleven people who had been nominated to be Arizona’s Republican electors met in Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign a certificate saying they were “duly elected and qualified” electors and claimed Trump had carried the state in the 2020 election.

President Joe Biden won Arizona by 10,457 votes. A one-minute video of the signing ceremony was posted on social media by the Arizona Republican Party at the time. The document later was sent to Congress and the National Archives, where it was ignored.

Prosecutors in Michigan, Nevada, Georgia and Wisconsin have also filed criminal charges related to the fake electors scheme. Arizona authorities unveiled the felony charges in late April.

FILE - Kris Mayes smiles before a debate on Sept. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)