Sports briefs 9/26/05

Auto racing

• Dan Wheldon won his first Indy Racing League title Sunday, clinching the championship at the inaugural Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix.

The 27-year-old Englishman secured the title when the third and final road race on the IRL schedule became official at the halfway point, the start of lap 31 at Watkins Glen International.

Wheldon, who won the Indianapolis 500 this season, entered the race with 570 points, 102 more than defending champion and Andretti Green teammate Tony Kanaan.

Tennis

The United States kept its spot in the top tier of the Davis Cup on Sunday when Andy Roddick capitalized on his booming serve and a disputed call in the fifth set to defeat Olivier Rochus and give the Americans an unbeatable lead against Belgium.

Roddick won 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3 in 4 1/2 hours to put the U.S. ahead 3-1 in the best-of-five playoff.