Denny Hamlin was released from a hospital yesterday, a day after a tire failure led to a hard crash at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Hamlin was kept overnight for observation at a Birmingham hospital after his car slammed into a wall. He was alert and awake when he was transported to the UAB Medical Center on Sunday, but was complaining of a headache and possibly had a concussion. He was also favoring his right foot after a slow exit from his crumpled car.

Hamlin, one of 12 drivers racing for the Sprint Cup title, was leading midway through the race when his right front tire failed and his Toyota shot into the outside wall. He said nothing over his in-car radio after the hit and took several moments to get out of the car.

Hamlin was 39th in the race and fell to 12th in the Chase standings.

GALAXY'S BECKHAM ISSUED SUSPENSION

David Beckham will miss the Los Angeles Galaxy's final road game of the season Oct. 18 at Houston because of a mandatory one-game suspension for earning his fifth yellow card.

Beckham was penalized in the first half of the Galaxy's 1-0 loss at Columbus on Saturday. He won't be available for Sunday's home game against Colorado after being called to England's national team for two World Cup qualifiers, so Beckham will have to serve his suspension against the Dynamo.

The Galaxy are 0-2-1 in the games that Beckham has already missed this season, scoring just twice, while being shutout twice.

ELSEWHERE

New York Islanders defenseman Chris Lee was carried off the ice on a stretcher after being checked into the boards from behind by Florida's Rostislav Olesz in a preseason game last night. A team spokesman said the 28-year-old Lee had movement, was conscious and was taken to a hospital. Lee stayed on the ice for several minutes after being hit at 11:02 of the third period. ... The new Women's Professional Soccer league that launches next year will have a live Sunday night broadcast each week on the Fox Soccer Channel. The deal announced yesterday runs through the 2011 season and includes a 2012 option for both sides. Olympian Natasha Kai, a former Kahuku High and University of Hawai'i star, was allocated to the Sky Blue team in New Jersey. ... Italian cyclist Leonardo Piepoli twice tested positive for a blood booster during the last Tour de France, officials said, and German cyclist Stefan Schumacher's team suspended him for suspected use of the same substance. The two became the second and third riders to test positive for CERA, an advanced version of the blood booster EPO, during the July Tour. Italian cyclist Riccardo Ricco has already admitted to CERA use.