1.   Capps, who finished a close second to Force in Funny Car last season, also failed to qualify at one event.

2.   He also finished a close second on the road that year.

3.   Several Chinese swimmers, including Lu Bin, who finished a close second to van Almsick in Rome, have been suspended for failing drug tests.

4.   A large group of Nationalists left with Soong, who ran as a maverick candidate and stunned pollsters by finishing a close second.

5.   Buryskaya will be joined by Irina Slutskaya, who finished a close second at the European Championships, and Yelena Sokolova.

6.   Donie finished a close second to Lenzi at the U.S. trials in June.

7.   Former Olympic champion Dieter Baumann finished a close second Sunday to Sydney gold medalist Million Wolde in his first race since a two-year doping ban ended.

8.   He finished close enough to the man for whom the green jacket was destined to know his measurements by heart.

9.   However, FUNCINPEC finished a close second and forced another coalition deal that made Ranariddh president of the National Assembly and freed Sirivudh from exile.

10.   Leading opposition contender Anderson Mazoka, who finished a close second to Mwanawasa, has earlier declared himself the winner.