AUTO RACING

Knaus’ six-race suspension overturned, but crew chief put on probation

NASCAR’s chief appellate officer overturned the six-race suspension of five-time championship winning crew chief Chad Knaus on Tuesday.

Chief appellate officer John Middlebrook ruled that Knaus and car chief Ron Malec, who also was suspended six races, instead will be on probation through May 9.

The $100,000 fine levied by NASCAR stands.

Last week a three-member appeals committee had upheld the suspensions imposed after the car Knaus presented on opening day of the Daytona 500 failed inspection. NASCAR said the sheet metal between the roof and the side windows had been illegally modified on Jimmie Johnson’s car.

Johnson also was docked 25 points, which will be restored.

GOLF

EXHIBITION: Tiger Woods made it through two days of a golf exhibition in Orlando, Fla., without any trouble with his left Achilles tendon.

Woods withdrew from the final round at Doral on March 11 with tightness in his left Achilles tendon, the same one that forced him to miss two majors last year. Woods later said he was being smart about his injury, and that it turned out to be a minor strain.

If he makes the cut this week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, it will be seven straight days of golf in his final competition before the Masters.

PGA: The PGA Tour pulled the plug on nearly 50 years of Q-school as a way to get to the big leagues.

In a massive overhaul of its structure and season, the tour’s policy board approved starting the official season in October and making the Nationwide Tour the primary path to getting a PGA Tour card.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said Q-school still will be held, but it would only offer Nationwide Tour cards.

Cards would be awarded at a three-tournament series blending Nationwide Tour and PGA Tour players.

SOCCER

PLAYER RECOVERING: English player Fabrice Muamba showed encouraging signs in his recovery from a cardiac arrest, three days after collapsing on the field during a match.

Despite the quick attention from medical personnel at the FA Cup quarterfinal Saturday at Tottenham, the Premier League said it will consider improving medical screenings throughout the year.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Chelsea released reserve-team midfielder Jacob Mellis after he admitted setting off a smoke grenade at the club’s training ground March 2.

MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps striker Darren Mattocks burned his upper right arm and shoulder while making dinner, and is being treated at a hospital.