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SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Sebastian Vettel found himself spinning around on the track just after the start, watching helplessly as other cars whizzed past him. His Formula One title hopes seemed to be drifting away with them. It was only the start of Vettels problems Sunday in what he called the toughest race of his career. But he overcame all of them and walked away with the only prize that mattered -- his third straight championship title. Vettel shook off a first-lap crash and other difficulties to finish sixth at the Brazilian Grand Prix, good enough to protect his lead over challenger Fernando Alonso and become F1s youngest three-time champion at age 25. "Its very difficult to find the right words, especially after the race today," he said. "Everything that could go wrong went wrong." Jenson Button of McLaren won the race at Interlagos, with Alonso second and Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa third. Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, F1s most successful driver, finished seventh in his final race after 19 seasons. But they were all overshadowed by Vettel, who had to overcome a poor start, the early crash, a damaged car, a broken radio, a botched pit stop and pouring rain to capture the championship title. "Just look at the stuff that went wrong. It was for sure the toughest race," Vettel said. "We kept believing. It was never game over." Vettel appeared to be in big trouble when he was bumped shortly after the start and spun. He dropped to last place before he could turn his car around and begin a difficult pursuit. But he steadily worked his way up the field despite a slightly damaged car and no radio communication. "You are the man, you are a triple world champion," a team official told Vettel on the radio after he crossed the line, without being able to hear the drivers response. Vettel is the first driver with three titles in a row since Schumacher won five straight from 2000-04. The only other driver to win at least three consecutive championships was Juan Manuel Fangio from 1954-57. "Its unbelievable," Vettel said. "Its still full of adrenaline. Incredible race today." Schumacher was the first to congratulate Vettel, having just bid his own farewell to the sport. Minutes before the race, he lapped the track with a flag with the words "Thank You" written on it. He used the radio to thank the mechanics and engineers he has worked with, as well as his fans watching on television. The 43-year-old German is retiring for the second time after struggling in his return with Mercedes. He had ended his career following the 2006 season and managed only one podium finish after retuning in 2010, at the European GP in July. Schumacher is leaving F1 with numbers unmatched by any other driver. He retires with the most wins (91), pole positions (68), fastest laps (77) and most podium finishes (155). Vettel needed to finish fourth or better to clinch the title regardless of Alonsos result. The Spaniard, who needed to finish on the podium to have a chance of overtaking Vettel, looked to have the advantage after a superb start and a chaotic first lap, but in the end couldnt erase Vettels 13-point lead in the standings. Lewis Hamilton was leading in his final race with McLaren when Nico Hulkenberg crashed into him while trying to pass on a slippery track with 17 laps to go. Hamilton received a standing ovation from his McLaren team when he returned to the garage. "I feel a bit numb," said Hamilton, who will replace Schumacher at Mercedes next season. "Its been a day of mixed emotions. Im sad that I didnt finish the race, but Im excited about the future." While the race was filled with drama and potentially title-deciding swings, it had an anticlimactic finish behind the safety car after Paul Di Resta crashed just before the final lap. That meant Vettel could simply cruise safely toward the title. It rained on and off throughout the race, making conditions difficult and forcing drivers to come in and out of the pits several times. "It was more or less was what we wanted, mixed conditions and very, very difficult race," Alonso said. "It was one of the most difficult races we ever drove. You feel you are with the wrong tire every lap. It was a risk to crash and have an accident on every lap. Obviously you are not in control of what your rivals do. We were hoping for a little miracle." And for a while, they had reason to believe in one. Alonso moved from seventh to fifth after the first corner, while Vettel dropped from fourth to seventh. Vettel then was hit from behind by the Williams of Bruno Senna and spun at the end of the back straightaway, dropping to last place after sitting backward on the track with several cars having to go around him. "I had a lot of cars coming and I was in the wrong way," Vetter said. Moments later, Alonso passed Massa and Vettels Red Bull teammate Mark Webber at the same time to move to third. But the Spaniard lost a position after locking his front tire and briefly running off the track at the first corner. Vettel began making his way back to the front, easily passing the slower cars near the end of the pack. He was already in sixth by lap 15. Alonso briefly had the title in his hands again after more rain fell with 14 laps to go. Red Bull lost time while putting the wet tires on Vettels car, dropping him to 11th place while Alonso moved into third. "The (tires) werent ready because we had no radio communication, they couldnt hear me," Vettel said. But after all cars pitted, Vettel was back in sixth place. Alonso moved to second after passing Massa, but he needed Vettel to drop a few more spots to take the title. Hamilton started from the pole and kept his spot for a few laps before being overtaken by teammate Button on the sixth lap, and Hulkenberg got past the British driver on Lap 18. Hamilton retook the lead with 22 laps to go, but was hit by Hulkenberg when the Force India driver came in too hard to make the pass. Vettel got off to a slow start this season, winning only once in the first 13 races, but he eventually picked up the pace with Red Bull and won four straight beginning at the Singapore GP to get back in contention for the title. "We really had to fight until the end," Vettel said. wholesale jerseys china . Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte face off Saturday in the 400-meter individual medley, a grueling race encompassing all four strokes and an appropriate next chapter in this most intriguing of rivalries. wholesale jerseys . Alejandro De Aza hit a two-run single before leaving the game after an outfield collision, and the White Sox rallied against Yu Darvish to beat the Texas Rangers 9-5 Friday night for their fourth win in a row. http://www.chinacheapnfljerseysstore.com/ .E.I. Rocket 6-1 on Sunday afternoon in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. It was the first-career QMJHL hat trick for the 20-year-old centre and he now has nine goals and 26 points in 22 games. cheap jersey . Akers made four field goals to give him 42 this season, most in league history, and San Francisco eliminated Seattle from post-season contention by holding off the Seahawks 19-17 on Saturday. cheap jerseys from china . One of my many bosses is Brett Bailey, a good guy and as a boss has the role and authority to tell where they need you to go, what to cover and when to go. PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger can hold his newborn son Ben Jr. in his injured right arm just fine, thanks. When the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback will be able to say the same about a football, even hes not sure. Roethlisberger practiced in a limited role Thursday and appears a long shot to return for Sundays game in Baltimore. "Theres always a chance," Roethlisberger offered somewhat hopefully. The lengthy list of issues still plaguing Roethlisberger more than two weeks after he sprained his right shoulder and suffered a dislocated rib in a 16-13 overtime win against Kansas City, however, suggests hes still a week away from giving it a go. Though the pain isnt quite as intense as it was in the days after Kansas City linebacker Tamba Hali drilled Roethlisberger into the soggy Heinz Field turf, the two-time Super Bowl winner can still only sleep in certain positions at night. And while hes tested the shoulder this week, hes uncertain if he can make all the throws necessary to attack Baltimores secondary. "Can I put a lot of zip on the ball, throw it really hard before people like Ed Reed and defenders can get to the ball?" Roethlisberger said. "If I cant Im not putting us in the best situation to win the game." The Steelers (6-5) have struggled in Roethlisbergers absence, needing overtime to beat the woeful Chiefs before looking listless at times and sloppy at others in losses to Baltimore and Cleveland. A season that looked promising after a 24-20 win over the defending Super Bowl-champion Giants in New Jersey on Nov. 4 is suddenly on very shaky ground. Still, dont expect Roethlisberger to push too quickly. Its something hes done in the past, with less than desired results. He played on a battered right ankle in San Francisco last year, limping around in a 20-3 loss. He ended up sitting out the next week and wasnt the same when he returned. "Weve had people talk about last year in San Francisco, if I would have rested maybe I would have been better off the next couple games but to me, I live for the here and now," he said. "Im going to do everything I can to be out there and if it doesnt work then Ill do what I can about the next week." Offensive co-ordinator Todd Haley said Roethlisberger threw "a little bit" on Thursday but the team continues to prepare as if Charlie Batch will make his second sstraight start.ddddddddddddBatch completed 20 of 34 passes for 199 yards and three costly interceptions against the Browns, mistakes Haley attributed to rusty timing more than physical ability. "I dont think theres any limitations to what Chuck can do," Haley said, "or needs to do with the guys we have." Roethlisberger remains optimistic Batch can muster some of the magic that helped him lead the Steelers to three victories since 2010 while filling in for his good friend. "I firmly believe that," Roethlisberger said. "They know what hes capable of. Hes been doing it a long time. They respect him. I think hes ready to rise to the occasion." Something the Steelers need to do if they want to build any momentum going into the final quarter of the season. A loss in a place they struggle to play well in -- no matter who is behind the centre -- would leave them with no wiggle room whenever Roethlisberger gets back to work. The games importance is not lost on Roethlisberger, who will wear "juiced up" pads to protect his shoulder, though doctors have told him the dislocated rib no longer poses a threat to his aorta. Thats welcome news for a guy in the first days of fatherhood. Roethlisberger called being a dad "pretty cool" and while hes enjoyed the time at home, hes also eager to go back to his job. If he doesnt play on Sunday hell do what hes done the last two weeks and stand on the sideline -- earbuds in place -- and provide the kind of insight Batch has imparted on him so many times though the years. "Its hard for me," Roethlisberger said. "You watched me during these games. Ive been on the field more than most of the coaches because Im just antsy to get out there." That anxiousness, however, figures to be around for at least another week. ------ NOTES: While Roethlisberger is doubtful, S Troy Polamalu appears ready to play for the first time since Oct. 7. Polamalu practiced for the second straight day and barring a setback should be on the field in Baltimore. Polamalu has been limited to just five quarters all season due to a strained right calf ... Rookie G David DeCastro continued to make progress in his first week on the active roster after recovering from right knee surgery in August. Haley said he expects DeCastro to make an impact on the field before the end of the season. ' ' '
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