The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Jeff Gordon apologized Wednesday for skipping Victory Lane after his win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

NASCAR did not punish him but said it expected all winning drivers to follow post-race protocol in the future.

Gordon did not drive into Victory Lane after his win Sunday in the Brickyard 400. Instead, he celebrated on the race track with his team. In avoiding the official celebration, Gordon was not photographed with a bottle of sports drink that is a NASCAR sponsor but conflicts with his own endorsement deals.

PowerAde, a Coca-Cola product, is the official sponsor of Victory Lane. Gordon, like several other drivers, is sponsored by Pepsi and has resisted being seen with the large blue beverage bottle.

Gordon said he was caught up in the emotion of winning his fourth Brickyard, and that is why he celebrated on the track.

"When I got out of the car, it was my intention to get back in and drive to Victory Lane after waving to everyone in the stands," Gordon said. "Our team certainly would not disrespect any procedures on purpose, and I truly apologize to everyone at the Speedway for any problems we may have caused.

"It was a classic case of being caught up in the moment. I plan to support NASCAR's Victory Lane protocol going forward."

NBA

WARRIORS: The Golden State Warriors re-signed free agent swingman Calbert Cheaney on Wednesday. Cheaney averaged 7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists last season, playing 26.2 minutes a game.

The 33-year-old Cheaney, an 11-year NBA veteran, started seven games for the injury-plagued Warriors, who missed the playoffs for the 10th straight season.

HEAT: Miami signed free agent swingman Wesley Person.

Person, an 11-year NBA veteran, should give the Heat another outside shooting threat to complement Eddie Jones and help take pressure off Shaquille O'Neal in the middle. He could compete with Rasual Butler for the starting small forward spot.

NHL

THRASHERS: Forward Dany Heatley will be arraigned next month on vehicular homicide charges in the 2003 crash that killed teammate Dan Snyder.

Heatley will enter his plea in Superior Court on Sept. 16, two days before the Thrashers open training camp.

Heatley, 23, was driving his black 2002 Ferrari, with Snyder in the passenger seat, when it ran into a brick pillar and iron fence outside an Atlanta condominium Sept. 29.

Authorities estimated the car was traveling between 60-90 mph in a 35 mph zone.

If convicted, Heatley faces up to 20 years in prison and fines totaling $5,000.

Tennis

PROKOM OPEN: Top-seeded Marat Safin and his sister, Dinara Safina, both lost in straight sets Wednesday in the second round in Poland.

The defending women's champion, Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi, also was eliminated. She lost to wild-card Marta Domachowska 7-6 (4), 6-1.

French Open champion Anastasia Myskina advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Zuzana Ondraskova.

Safin, who entered the tournament to help prepare himself for the Athens Olympics, was beaten by Marc Lopez 6-3, 6-2. Lopez advances to face Marc Rosset in the quarterfinals.

Safina, the 2002 women's champ playing her first event since a back injury at Wimbledon, was downed by Lubomira Kurhajcova 6-2, 6-4.