begin training camp July 29.Pennie and Crowell t

BARCELONA, Spain -- Tires shredded like paper, rubber flew everywhere and cars flitted in and out of pit lane like shoppers in a supermarket parking lot. On a frustrating day for drivers and fans alike, nearly 80 pit stops were made during Sundays Spanish Grand Prix, highlighting what has become a major concern for Formula One teams five races into the season -- the vulnerability of Pirellis tires. "At this rate, F1 is going to become a pit-stop contest with a few race laps thrown in," 1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve said during television commentary. Things wont get much better in time for the showcase Monaco Grand Prix next week, as Pirelli said it wont be able to make changes to the tires before the Canadian GP next month. However, tires should be less of an issue in Monaco because the course layout makes it difficult to pass and speeds are slower than in other races. Most drivers had hoped for a three-stop strategy on Sunday but instead had to settle for four. "Im not here to defend four pit stops. We know its too complicated," Pirellis motorsport director Paul Hembery said. "It wasnt what we wanted. However, theres also many factors behind that and we have to make sure we get it back in line with what weve been asked to do, which is two or three (stops)." It was a confusing sight at the Circuit de Catalunya with leading drivers pitting as early as the ninth lap. With so many stops, it was hard for spectators to keep track of which driver was actually in the lead. "With this years degradation and this years tires we see the races keep changing all the time. Whoever keeps the tire alive normally is on the podium at least," said Fernando Alonso, who won the race. "If its too much confusion for the spectators? There is no doubt. I think its impossible to follow one race now. ... If Im sitting in the grandstand, without any radio, telephone or something, you only see cars passing." Strips of rubber were shooting off Jean-Eric Vergnes rear tire less than 40 laps into the race, and championship leader Sebastian Vettel, who was fourth, fears races are being more influenced by tires than driving skills. "We are not going to the pace of the car, we are going to the pace of the tire," Vettel said, adding that Red Bull got its strategy wrong. "I think we tried to hang on to the three-stop for too long in the race and had to admit toward the end we wouldnt make it." Red Bulls team principal Christian Horner echoed Vettels concerns. "They are black and round and called Pirelli," he said. "And whoever masters and understands these tires best and most consistently will emerge (victorious) at the end of the year." Pirelli made modifications to its hard compound before the Spanish GP, and gave drivers an extra set of hard tires to practice on, but this made little difference on race day, where orders barked out over race radio were usually about sparing the tires. "Theres something wrong. This is the pinnacle of motor sport," former champion Jenson Button said. "We shouldnt be driving round so slowly to look after the tires." For the Canadian GP, Hembery said Pirelli will try to provide teams with tires that mix the stability of the 2012 tires and "the performance of the current ones." Hembery, however, thinks some of the criticism has been unfair, especially as Pirelli has had to do testing on older F1 cars. "Its all right to sit there and criticize. Were not exactly given the tools to do a precise job," he said. "We have absolutely no in-season testing. We dont have access to these cars that are going around now. We have to run around on a 2010 car." Although Kimi Raikkonen chose a three-stop strategy on Sunday, finishing second, the sight of top drivers changing tires early seemed to cause a panic reaction. "Sometimes its driven by the strategy of the first people that pit. If anyone was thinking of doing three, it might have been influenced by everybody else coming in and already deciding to go on a four," Hembery said. "Having seen it though, four was probably the right call. Kimi was hanging on.." Even before Sundays race, there were clear signs of degradation when Force India driver Paul di Resta lost the tread on his left-rear tire in practice. "Completely unexpected, in the middle of a high-fuel run," technical director Andrew Green said. Pirelli believes debris was to blame for both of Felipe Massas punctures in the Bahrain GP three weeks ago. Fears that the tire is not resistant enough were also highlighted by Lewis Hamiltons left-rear tire failure during Bahrain practice. "As long as it doesnt blow up at 300 kilometres per hour, thats OK. Touch wood, weve never had a problem with them for Lotus," Frenchman Romain Grosjean said. "But its sure that you have to be careful, and it doesnt make things easy." Jermaine Whitehead . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Al Del Greco .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. https://www.cheapnfljerseyschina.co/bruce-gregory-jersey-for-sale/ . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. Ping Bodie . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Hank Lauricella .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell attended the funeral Saturday of one of the five Dallas police officers ambushed and killed by a gunman July 7 in the city.Crowell attended at the invitation of Sgt. Demetrick Pennie of the Dallas police. Pennie is also president of the Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation.Although, he was initially afraid and skeptical of the environment that he was entering, he traveled to Dallas overnight and met with me for an extended period of time in an attempt to find some resolve in understanding, Pennie wrote in a long post on the Fallen Officer Facebook page.Pennies invitation was intended to open dialogue after Crowells post on social media that showed a hooded man attacking a police officer. Crowell took the post down almost immediately?and later apologized with a statement and a Facebook video.He promised he wanted to be part of the solution in the future. His first step: an offer to donate his first game check to the foundation.I reached out to Mr. Crowell and expressed a disinterest in his money, Pennie wrote. Rather, I told him that I did want an opportunity to educate him about the policing profession and the meaning of police service and sacrifice.Pennies LinkedIn page states that he has been a Dallas police officer and head of the Fallen Officer Foundation since 1999. Before that he spent four years as a corporal in the U.S. Army.I, like most other police officers, was disgusted by the posting; however, to me Mr. Crowells posting represented something much more than just an offensive post. It represented a disconnect in understanding that existed between the pollice and many in the Black community.ddddddddddddA misunderstanding that I have personally been subjected to from my own family, Pennie wrote.Crowell was not available for comment. He is expected to address the media for the first time when the Browns begin training camp July 29.Pennie and Crowell talked for an extended time before the funeral about shared experiences growing up in the inner city. Crowell explained he was caught up in the provocative rhetoric that spewed through the media on a daily basis, Pennie wrote, following police killings of two black men -- Philando Castile just outside Minneapolis and Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.As Crowell expressed remorse, Crowell told Pennie he had received death threats after the post. Crowell fought back tears, and his voice rattled as he spoke, Pennie wrote.On Saturday, Pennie and Crowell spent eight hours together. Crowell met with several high-ranking officials in the state, including Texas police commissioner Rob Kyker. He also met with officers from around the country attending the funeral. Pennie said those officers expressed their appreciation for him seeking forgiveness for his actions and having the courage to admit that he was wrong and making an attempt to redress the problem.The post includes several photos of Crowell interacting with police officers.Crowell told Pennie his visit was humbling, Pennie wrote. He also said it gave him a different outlook on the sacrifices that police officers make every day. ' ' '