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MONTMELO, Spain -- Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso is telling his local fans to keep their expectations low for this Sundays Spanish Grand Prix. Stan Musial Cardinals Jersey . The two-time former Formula One champion downplayed his third-place finish three weeks ago in China and said progress is going slow for Ferrari as it tries to make up ground on Mercedes. "If I say we will fight for the podium I will probably be lying to you, and I dont want to disappoint our fans," Alonso said on Thursday, a day before practice begins at the seasons first event in Europe. Alonso sits third in the standings with 41 points after Mercedes pair Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton swept the first four races of the season. Rosberg leads the standings with 79 points with Hamilton four points behind. Ferraris last win came at Montmelo one year ago when Alonso got his second career victory on the circuit. Since then, it is on its longest streak without a victory in almost two decades after Red Bulls Sebastian Vettel dominated the end of last season before Mercedes took the lead this year. Alonso has yet to crack the top three spots in qualifying so far in 2014, while Kimi Raikkonen has fared even worse in his return to the team that he won the world title with in 2007. The Finn hasnt finished in the top six spots in any race, and has also lacked speed in qualifying. "We finished ninth and 10th in Bahrain and did podium in China because we had some things (come) together on that Sunday, but it is not that we are in a position to say we will fight for the podium here," Alonso said. "Barcelona is a good point to check how competitive we are." Alonso said Ferraris upgrade package is "nothing out of the world" and that the biggest advantage he will have is his knowledge of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with its single straightaway, which he hoped would reduce Mercedes ability to leverage its better overall speed. The race will be Ferraris second under new team principal Marco Mattiacci after he replaced Stefano Domenicali. Mattiacci, a former president of Ferrari North America but with no experience in F1, arrived to Shanghai in time to watch Alonso steer to a third-place finish. Alonso said Mattiacci was meeting with everyone on the team-- from drivers to engineers and crew members-- but needed time to learn the sport before he put his stamp on the Italian team. "At the moment everything is more or less the same," Alonso said. "Everything is calm, no big changes. In China, Marco arrived with little experience in motor racing and lots of experience on the management side, but he is listening and learning as much as he can. I dont think Marco wants to become an engineer, but he will need some time to settle down and make some decisions. "It is a good thing for Ferrari to move forward and past some historical mistakes." Harrison Bader Jersey .com) - On a night the Bulls played without Derrick Rose, it was time for Pau Gasol to take charge. Kolten Wong Cardinals Jersey . The cause of his death is as of yet undetermined, but police said foul play is not suspected. http://www.authenticcardinalspro.com/cardinals-lou-brock-jersey/ . -- Ben Bishop had a milestone game against one of the NHLs greatest goalies.WASHINGTON -- A member of Congress is requesting a hearing on the Washington Redskins name, calling it "another example of racial insensitivity in sports" in the wake of Donald Sterlings lifetime ban from the NBA. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., sent a letter Friday to the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce citing the derogatory nature of the word "redskins" and suggesting the committee use its influence to persuade team owner Dan Snyder and the NFL to change the name. Waxman appears unlikely to get the hearing before the committee, which is chaired by Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., and oversees professional sports. "The committee really hasnt been focused on the names of pro sports teams," committee spokeswoman Charlotte Baker said Friday in an email, "and there are no plans to schedule a hearing on this isssue. Albert Pujols Cardinals Jersey. " Waxman pointed that Los Angeles Clippers owner Sterlings recent ban resulted from racist comments made in a private, then added: "In the case of the Washington football team, the offensive conduct is public, not private." "Unlike NBA Commissioner (Adam) Silver, the commissioner of the National Football League, Roger Goodell, has publicly defended the owner," Waxman wrote. "In fact, he stated in a letter that the name is a unifying force that stands for strength, courage, pride and respect." Waxman suggested the committee could call both Snyder and Goodell as witnesses to explain "how their actions are consistent with the public interest." The Redskins declined comment on Waxmans letter. Snyder has vowed never to change the name, calling it a "badge of honour." ' ' '