DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – This is what the Daytona 500 is all about – surprises.

Remember Derrike Cope’s win in 1990? Ward Burton in 2002? Ryan Newman last year?

You don’t have to be a big name to win NASCAR’s biggest race, which is more of a crapshoot than anything. Heck, it took Dale Earnhardt 20 tries to win the 500 and in his day no one was better at Daytona than him.

Matt Kenseth’s win Sunday in the 51st running of the Great American Race is as surprising as any of them, partly because he led only one green-flag lap – the last one – and partly because that last one was Lap 152 of what was supposed to be a 200-lap event.

As it turned out, rain was the push Kenseth needed to win at Daytona. Had it come 30 seconds earlier, Elliott Sadler, out of job a month ago and ready to go to court to save it, would have won. Or had it come 30 seconds later, Kevin Harvick, who’s made a habit of winning races at Daytona late, might have overtaken Kenseth.

But as it happened, rain, which cupped the Daytona area like a crescent moon most of the afternoon and into the evening, came just after Kenseth passed Sadler and before Harvick could make a run for the lead.

And that’s how Kenseth became your 2009 Daytona 500 champion.

“I was a little nervous because it was Elliott and then Reed [Sorenson] and [AJ] Allmendinger and all the teammates lined up there,” explained Kenseth, who didn’t win a race last season, “and I was able to get outside Elliott a little bit, and our car was honestly a fair amount quicker than his and I was able to get a run on him and get by him.”

Lame?

Some will say so, but as they say, that’s racin’.

Weather is always a factor when you’re competing outdoors. And though NASCAR could have held off a little longer than the 16 minutes it did between the time the rain came and the time the race was called, it did the right thing. The rain continued to fall long after the weather-induced checkered flag flew and NASCAR certainly didn’t want to crown the champion of its biggest race in the wee hours of the morning (like it did in the July race a few years ago).

So call it what you will, but it is what it is.

In the end, this race will be remembered for two things: weather and the nine-car pileup sparked by Dale Earnhardt Jr. that took out the most dominant car and driver in the race, Kyle Busch.

That one came on Lap 125. To that point, Busch had led 88 laps.

Afterward, Busch was none too pleased with Earnhardt, who had spent most of his day rallying from self-induced pit-road mishaps.

“I think we were the best car,” Busch said. “It’s unfortunate that a guy that’s messed up his whole day on pit road and screwed up, that he has to make our day worse.”

In his defense, Junior blamed it on Brian Vickers, who appeared to block Earnhardt just before Junior tagged Vickers’ bumper, sparking the melee.

Regardless of fault, that wreck opened up an already wide-open field. Out of contention were Busch, Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray and Carl Edwards – all front runners.

What was left was a bunch of non-factors who suddenly found themselves as contenders. If there is a bitter pill to swallow, this is it. Yes, Kenseth, who did run near the front for much of the race, won, but his victory has a “musical chairs” feeling to it. He just happened to be the guy standing in front of the empty seat when the music stopped.

It’s not the most exhilarating way to kick off a season, especially not the so-called Super Bowl of racing, but again, it is what it is.

So how do you celebrate a boring ending?

“Oh man, I’m going to paint the town plaid,” Kenseth said.

CARNAGO, Italy (AP)—AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti remains hopeful to sign David Beckham on a permanent contract, despite the Los Angeles Galaxy ruling out further talk about a deal.

“We’ve still got 20 days to close the deal. Galaxy has forced the situation, but there’s time before March 9,” Ancelotti told the ANSA news agency Saturday. “My wish is that he can play in other derbies.”

On Friday, the Galaxy said Milan had failed to meet the MLS deadline to make an improved second bid for Beckham, who has stated he wants to remain in Italy when his three-month loan period ends on March 9.

The coach also denied for a second time that he would be taking the vacant Chelsea manager’s job when caretaker coach Guus Hiddink steps down at the end of the season.

“For me there is zero possibility of this being my last derby against Inter,” he said. “The rumors about my future have troubled me. I’ve still got a year and a half left before I have to renew my contract, so there’s time. It’s not a priority.”

TEMPO Interactive, Washington: Senate and House of Representatives United States agree economic package U.S. $ 787 billion. This stimulus package was President Barack Obama to restore the country's flagging economy.

Approval in two rooms with the Congress to vote on Friday (13 / 2) towards the middle of the night or Saturday (14 / 2) in Indonesia. Nearly all members of the Republic Party and Democratic Party members all support this package.

Polling in the House of Representatives, all members of the Republic of party - 176 people - refused. Seven Democrats also rejected. However, this package passes because there are 246 others who support the vote.

After the House approved, the package was brought to the Senate. There, similar to its occurrence. Although here, the three members of the Senate of the Republic of voice support so that support to 60 against 38. Two independent Senator also supports this package.

This agreement makes Obama sign to stay on Monday (16 / 2) and the budget could be disbursed.

According to the Republic, because they reject the package is different from that in campaign by Obama. Republic leaders in the House of Representatives, John A. Boehner, said that when the process started, this package is made to create new employment opportunities. But, in it, "Only contain expenditure, expenditures, and spending more."

It is cutting its own taxes, labor-intensive projects, education, health, energy, and technology. The amount is smaller than that originally proposed by Democrats.

According to the Congress Budget Office, more than 74 percent of the budget will be in kucurkan in 18 months so that will not immediately appear successfu.

Ryan Giggs has agreed a new one-year contract extension with Manchester United.

The deal commits the 35-year-old winger to the Old Trafford club until June next year.

Giggs, who made his first team debut for the club nearly 18 years ago, said: 'I feel fit and I'm enjoying my football more than ever.'
He added on his club's official website: 'This is an exciting young team and the spirit is great in the dressing room.

'I want to be a part of that and achieve even more success.'
Giggs scored the only goal in Sunday's Barclays Premier League win at West Ham and manager Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to his professionalism.

'Ryan is a true professional of the game,' Ferguson said. 'His lifestyle, the way he looks after himself, his desire to always want to win is a credit to him and also an inspiration to any young kid who wants to become a footballer.

'He is like a young boy in the way that he plays and, although he wants to play every game, he understands that by using his experience when it matters is a benefit to him and the team.

'It would be easy for him to be complacent after all he has achieved but he isn't and that speaks volumes of why the club wanted to extend his services and use that experience.'
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Wide boys: Ronaldo (right) congratulates Giggs after his winner at West Ham

Companies, which make the expansion to the market in 2006 with the purchase DMarc Broadcasting Inc., are seeking buyers for a software program to set up ads on the radio. Google will discontinue the sale of radio ads on 31 May and will focus on streaming audio, according to any posts in the blog today.

Step shows that the failure of Google to strengthen its dominance in Internet advertising to offline media. Months ago the company wanted to close the business that sells ad space in newspapers.

Google spent U.S. $ 102 million in cash for DMarc and agree to pay U.S. $ 1.14 billion in installments depending on performance.

"They try to penetrate the media that really old and institutions," said Sameet Sinha, an analyst from JMP Securities LLC in San Francisco.

The growth of radio advertising has been stopped in the last three years. Ad revenue rose 0.4 percent in 2006, and down 2.3 percent in 2007, according to Mark Fratrik, an analyst from Bia Financial Network in Chantilly, Virginia.

Meanwhile, preliminary figures show a decline 8.5 percent in 2008, and Fratrik reduction estimate of 10 percent this year.

BOY dad Alfie Patten yesterday admitted he does not know how much nappies cost — but said: “I think it’s a lot.”

The baby father ... Alfie Patten with little Maisie

Lee Thompson

Baby-faced Alfie, who is 13 but looks more like eight, became a father four days ago when his girlfriend Chantelle Steadman gave birth to 7lb 3oz Maisie Roxanne.

He told how he and Chantelle, 15, decided against an abortion after discovering she was pregnant.

The shy lad, whose voice has not yet broken, said: “I thought it would be good to have a baby.

“I didn’t think about how we would afford it. I don’t really get pocket money. My dad sometimes gives me £10.”

Little family ... Alfie, Chantelle and baby Maisie

Lee Thompson

Alfie, who is just 4ft tall, added: “When my mum found out, I thought I was going to get in trouble. We wanted to have the baby but were worried how people would react.

“I didn’t know what it would be like to be a dad. I will be good, though, and care for it.”

Alfie's story, broken exclusively by The Sun today has sparked a huge political storm with Tory leader David Cameron saying: "When I saw these pictures this morning, I just thought how worrying that in Britain today children are having children.

"I hope that somehow these children grow up into responsible parents but the truth is parenthood is just not something they should be thinking about right now."

Secret

PM Gordon Brown refused to comment directly on the story but said it was important that the Government did all it could to prevent teenage pregnancies.

Alfie’s dad Dennis yesterday told how the lad does not really understand the enormity of his situation — but seemed desperate to be a devoted and responsible father.

He wanted to be the first to hold Maisie after the hospital birth. He tenderly kisses the baby and gives her a bottle.

And Dennis, 45, said: “He could have shrugged his shoulders and sat at home on his Playstation. But he has been at the hospital every day.”

Maisie was conceived after Chantelle and Alfie — just 12 at the time — had a single night of unprotected sex.

They found out about the baby when Chantelle was 12 weeks pregnant.

But they kept it a secret until six weeks later when Chantelle’s mum Penny, 38, became suspicious about her weight gain and confronted her.

Devoted ... Alfie holds and cuddles Maisie

Lee Thompson

After that Alfie’s family told only those closest to them for fear he would be “demonised” at school.

Chantelle gave birth to Maisie on Monday night after a five-hour labour at Eastbourne Hospital, East Sussex.

Last night she told The Sun: “I’m tired after the birth. I was nervous after going into labour but otherwise I was quite excited.”

Chantelle told how she discovered she was expecting after going to her GP with “really bad” stomach pains. She said: “Me and Alfie went. The doctor asked me whether we had sex. I said yes and he said I should do a pregnancy test. He did the test and said I was pregnant. I started crying and didn’t know what to do.

“He said I should tell my mum but I was too scared.

“We didn’t think we would need help from our parents. You don’t really think about that when you find out you are pregnant. You just think your parents will kill you.”

But Penny figured out what was going on after buying Chantelle a T-shirt which revealed her swelling tum.

Chantelle admitted she and Alfie — who are both being supported by their parents — would be accused of being grossly irresponsible. She said: “We know we made a mistake but I wouldn’t change it now. We will be good loving parents.

“I have started a church course and I am going to do work experience helping other young mums.

“I’ll be a great mum and Alfie will be a great dad.”

Caring ... Alfie bottle feeds his little daughter

Lee Thompson

Chantelle and Maisie were released from hospital yesterday. They are living with Penny, Chantelle’s jobless dad Steve, 43, and her five brothers in a rented council house in Eastbourne. The family live on benefits. Alfie, who lives on an estate across town with mum Nicola, 43, spends most of his time at the Steadmans’ house.

He is allowed to stay overnight and even has a school uniform there so he can go straight to his classes in the morning.

Alfie’s dad, who is separated from Nicola, believes the lad is scared deep down.

He said: “Everyone is telling him things and it’s going round in his head. It hasn’t really dawned on him. He hasn’t got a clue of what the baby means and can’t explain how he feels. All he knows is mum and dad will help.

“When you mention money his eyes look away. And she is reliant on her mum and dad. It’s crazy. They have no idea what lies ahead.”

Dennis, who works for a vehicle recovery firm, described Alfie as “a typical 13-year-old boy”.

He said: “He loves computer games, boxing and Manchester United.” Dennis, who has fathered nine kids, told how he was “gobsmacked” when he discovered Alfie was to be a dad, too.

He said: “When I spoke to him he started crying. He said it was the first time he’d had sex, that he didn’t know what he was doing and of the complications that could come.

“I will talk to him again and it will be the birds and the bees talk. Some may say it’s too late but he needs to understand so there is not another baby.”

Lovely

Chantelle’s mum said: “I told her it was lovely to have the baby but I wish it was in different circumstances. We have five children already so it’s a big financial responsibility. But we are a family and will pull together and get through.

“She’s my daughter. I love her and she will want for nothing.”

Last night Michaela Aston, of the anti-abortion Christian charity LIFE, said: “We commend these teenagers for their courage in bringing their child into the world.

“At the same time this is symptomatic of the over-sexualisation of our youngsters and shows the policy of value-free sex education just isn’t working.”

Today Sussex Police and the local council's children services said they have investigated the case and pledged continued support for the young parents.

Britain’s youngest known father is Sean Stewart. He became a dad at 12 when the girl next door, 15-year-old Emma Webster, gave birth in Sharnbrook, Bedford, in 1998. They split six months later.

The visit is a step approach to the forces in Asia in the global economic crisis, climate change, and nuclear weapons. Then, with its elected Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and China, reflecting long-term search strategy to confront changes in the dynamics of political, economic, and military strength.

Preceding, Condoleezza Rice, the working visit to Europe and the Middle East. For Michael Green, former Asia adviser at the George W Bush, Hillary step to focus on the challenges and opportunities in Asia is the right policy. Believe, said Green, a crisis at this time ranging in global financial markets, the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran.

"But, historians will judge this government and that our generation has the power and switch attention from the West to the east. Article them, shining its China and India and the growing self-confidence and social and political changes in countries such as Indonesia, Japan, and Korea, "he said.

Unlike in the Middle East and Europe, which experienced a decline after the image of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.Karena, the analyst points out that in Asia it's President Barack Obama to get the U.S. position that the inheritance of a strong Bush.

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs which states that Hillary came to Asia, where U.S. forces use the software through the economy, diplomacy, culture, more influential than the strength of the military.

"Plan a visit Hillary shows Obama want government to strengthen the various challenges in that region," said Thomas Wright, the Chicago Council. Green leaders also estimate that U.S. diplomats will focus on the problem of global financial crisis and combat climate change.

In addition, Hillary will bring back the six negotiating countries (U.S., Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea) nuclear disarmament in Pyongyang. "Hillary choose Japan in the first visit to Asia to finish the fur he has a random-random," said Green.

Section, when Hillary campaigning grabs a chair with the U.S. presidency said that relations with China should be given priority compared to other. U.S. officials revealed, Hillary would be a visit to Asia with Todd Stern, a special delegation to climate change, and Christopher Hill, U.S. Ambassador candidates in Iraq.

In Tokyo, Japan's international relations expert, says Nicholas Szechenyi, Hillary will discuss the problem with the global crisis of leadership is Sakura. Possibility, Hillary will be to coordinate the various views and opinions about their position before the G20 at the upcoming April in London.

It seems that in the visit, Japan will provide important opinions about the two citizens that North Korea be stolen during the Cold War. In addition, with regard to nuclear North Korea will also be discussed in more detail the trigger international tensions.

Szechenyi said, Hillary would be in Pyongyang to discuss the visit to South Korea. Hillary chose India as the first country in Southeast Asia in the visit. Southeast Asia specialist James points out, Hillary will lay the basis for the transformation of relationships and partner of the same strategy with the Islamic countries in the world. (AFP / h éva m)

The picture theory of evolution, Charles Darwin, is installed in Sydney's Botany Park Royal, to commemorate the birth 200 years (12 / 2). Photo: AFP / Greg Wood

Niken Prathivi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Sports Council (KONI) announced Thursday a decentralized training camp for preparations for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos in December.

The camp will include 284 athletes from 20 sports, but the national archery, badminton, cycling, soccer, tennis and weight lifting federations have yet to submit their athletes' names "due to technical and administrative reasons".

KONI chairwoman Rita Subowo said the trainees were medalists at the last SEA Games in Thailand in 2007 and had good medal prospects, not just in Laos but at the following Games Jakarta will host in 2011.

The camp unveiling followed an unprecedented move last November by the State Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports to organize a training program with a view to enhancing Indonesia's medal prospects in 2011. The Top-tier Athletic Program (TAP) features 238 athletes from 20 sports.

While the two might overlap in practice, Rita said she hoped the TAP could ease the burden in preparing athletes for multi-event showcases like the SEA Games.

"With five multi-sports events this year alone, we are glad about the PAL and hopeful it will help. Together we can train and maintain our athletes to enhance their performance at those events," she said during the inauguration ceremony of the training camp in Jakarta.

The decentralized training camp will be held in North Sumatra (water polo, wushu taulo), Riau (golf, sepak takraw, weight lifting), South Sumatra (billiards, soccer), Jakarta (badminton, track-and-field, tennis, table tennis, fin swimming), West Java (cycling, volleyball), East Java (archery, diving, swimming), East Kalimantan (shooting, karate, tae kwon do, wushu shanshou, judo, pencak silat, wrestling) and Maluku (boxing).

This year, KONI plans to participate in five multi-events. The nearest event is the 1st Asian Martial Arts Games in Bangkok from Apr. 25 to May, where Indonesia will send 39 athletes.

Training camp chief for Asian Martial Arts, Madju Daryanto Hutapea, said the 39-athlete quota would not be dominated by KONI's training camp. "The chance is open to TAP athletes. We will scrutinize athletes for both programs a month before the event," he said.

He said a qualified TAP athlete must follow a training program set by KONI.