The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 29

PEHFOHMANCE CAPS HUGGED WEEK neva Did The Counted ob when It By DAVE OVERPECK As far as the record is concerned, Tom Sneva turned his first 200-mile-an-hour lap at the Speedway when it counted. Yesterday. In qualifying But Sneva is confident he got the job done a day earlier. "They had me at 201 coming out of No. 4 sideways yesterday (Friday)," after he electrified a crowd of 200,000 or more at Tony Hulman's playpen yesterday.

That was V-E-R-Y sideways. Like, just after the clocking, Sneva tagged the outside wall with the left front wheel as he was pointed north. That is exactly 180 degrees wrong for coming down the front chute. DAMAGE WAS minor to Sneva and the No. 8 Norton Spirit McLaren-Cos-worth.

But it left it's impression on the former schoolmaster from Spokane, Wash. After laps at 200.401 and 200.535, Sneva dropped down to 197.628 and 197.032 on his final trips for an average of 198.884. "The car just started to give up a little bit it got too loose in the rear BUT DESPITE that and despite Friday's brush with the cement, Sneva says he didn't feel there was any pressure to produce or perish yesterday. "That's behind us now," said he. "Thpy (the Penske braintrust) thought maybe it was the driver last year, but I think they found out it wasn't." Not that Sneva doesn't feel some pressure from being teamed with 1969 500-Mile Race winner Andretti, a prime candidate to capture the world road-racing title this year.

"Naturally, you feel you want to compete with your teammate. If he goes well, you want to do at least as well yourself," he said. BUT SNEVA has very little more to prove at this point. He won the 200-miler at Texas International Speedway in March. And yesterday he set a milestone at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Many of the best have tried harder and done less. day in a row as he broke onto the south short chute on his second and fastest lap. It is an opinion that "Snively" circumvented but did not deny. 'You gotta use the whole race track to get around here fast," he said, adding etc. and etc.

WHEN THE circumnavigation ended, a cynic needled, "In other words, you touched the wall." "It's possible," laughed Sneva, "but not enough to slow us down any." Obviously. And it wasn't as if Sneva didn't have anything to prove. A ride in Penske equipment is one of the most coveted in racing. Sneva got it at the start of his third season of championship racing. He wasn't a failure but he didn't exactly convince everybody, most importantly car owner Roger Penske, that he was driving up to the car.

He was "benched" for the last three races last year in favor of teammate Mario Andretti. easy week for Sneva and the Penske Racing crew that backs him. "We've had a tough week," he said. "First, we had some engine trouble on Thursday and then I crashed. So we haven't had that many laps.

'The car didn't feel really good this morning, either. But we went back to the garage and made some changes and they all worked out right." Sneva was experiencing something of a new sensation when he saw his times on the pit board. "THAT'S THE first time I've asked for my speeds during he said, "because I wasn't sure I could handle them. 'It's all psychological. If the speed you see is fast, you might back off too much.

If it's slow, you might try to hustle it too much. "But today I felt like I could handle it." The public address system suggested yesterday that Sneva might have touched the outside wall for the second end," he said after erasing Johnny Rutherford's 4-year-old one- and four-lap records. "I didn't want to hit the wall again. I got away with that once." By then, Sneva knew or at least thought he had two awfully good laps in. "THEY (HIS CREW) gave me '0' on the he said, "They told me they'd give me the last digit, and I was hoping that was 200 and not 190." But when you're riding the ragged edge, you know the difference between 190 and 200, so Sneva had to be pretty certain he was traveling in uncharted territory.

"I knew the first couple laps were pretty good," he said afterward, "because I didn't have to lift off the throttle very much." Anyone who watched already knew that. WHAT THEY may not have known was that the first official 200-mph laps the Speedway has seen did not cap an BMP p. tiie Indianapolis Star gj jjf SECTION 2 Financial SUNDAY, MAY 15, 1977 MUST now BOBBY UNSER 6 Cobre Tire Spl. LIGHTNING DRAKE AL UNSER 21 American Racing Spl. PARNELLI COSWORTH TOM SNEVA 8 1st National City Spl.

McLaren cosworth TIME SPEED :45.42 198.151 :45.26 198.851 TIME SPEED 16.15 195.016 :45.69 196:980 :45.83 196.378 46.05 195.440 Totals 3:03.72 195.950 TIME SPEED :44.9 200.401 :44.88 200.535 45.54 197.628 :45.68 197.032 Totals 3:01.01 198.881 :45.52 197.282 fx :45.87 196.207 Totals 3:02.17 197.618 SECOND now GORDON JOHNCOCK 20 STP Spl. WILDCAT DSS MARIO ANDRETTI 9 CAM2 Motor Oil Spl. A. J. FOYT 14 Gilmore Racing Spl.

COYOTE FOYT mclaren cosworth TIME SPEED TIME SPEED 192.267 193.924 193.966 193.921 :46.13 :46.13 46.37 :46.40 195.101 195.101 194.091 193.966 :46.81 46.41 46.10 :46.41 TIME SPEED :46.23 194.679 :46.50 193.548 :46.60 193.133 46.86 192.061 Totals 3:06.19 193.351 It ft Tw muf fellMlJii Pmir IsJS Ami Mi 'Z I til Totals 3:06.03 193.517 Totals 3:05.03 194:563 THIKD KOYT DL'ANE CARTER JR. 48 Jorgensen Eagle EAGLE DRAKE MIKE MOSLEY Sugaripe Prune Spl. LIGHTNING DRAKE DANNY ONGAIS 25 Interseope Racing Spl. PARNELLI COSWORTH IT TIME SPEED TIME SPEED 193.632 193.507 192.472 192.555 :46.48 46.51 :4fi.76 46.74 TIME SPEED :46.86 192.061 46.60 193.133 46.71 192.678 :46.89 191.939 Totals 3:07.06 192.452 16.92 191.816 :47.48 190.355 :47.13 190.961 18.08 187.188 Tolals 3:09.41 190.064 Totals 3:06.49 193.010 TECHNICAL TALK-Frank Del Roy (left) of the United States Auto qualifications yesterday at the Speedway. (Star Photo by Bob Club technical inspection team, discusses pop-off valve problems Davis) with A.

J. Foyt (center) and Gordon Johncock in the pits during QUALIFIES TWICE IN SAME Alt I O'KTH ROW JOHNNY PARSONS 60 STP Spl. WILDCAT DGS WALLV DALl.ENBACH 40 STP Spl. WILDCAT DOS SHELDON KINSER 97 Genesee Beer Spl. DRAGON DRAKE TIME SPEED TIME SPEED A.

Foyt Adds Another Record 189.155 188.561 188.917 190.396 47.58 47.73 :47.64 47.53 :47.64 47.49 :47.74 189.354 188.916 189.314 188.521 TIME SPEED 46.95 191.693 :47.29 190.315 47.64 188.917 :48.03 187.383 Totals 3:09.91 189.563 13 Totals 3:10.22 189.255 Totals 10.40 189.076 1 FIFTH ROW BOBBY OLTVERO 78 Alex Foods Spl. LIGHTNING DRAKE AL LOQUASTO 86 Frostie Root Beer Spl. mclaren drake GEORGE SNIDER 18 Simon Associates Spl. wildcat DGS TIME SPEED TIME SPEED TIME SPEED was ailing to motor man Howard Gilbert. "The valve malfunction the first time actually hurt his engine," explained Gilbert.

"The valve was hanging open, which overspeeds the blower and builds up the back pressure which, in turn, chokes the horsepower. "All this increased the internal engine heat and it just wasn't running the second time out." AND IF ALL THAT weren't enough to rankle that tough, Texan's skin, the fans' reaction was. They, about 15 per cent of the estimated 200,000, booed the King following his second drive. "Yeah, I was a little bit teed off when I heard 'em booing," replied A.J. "They were flapping their jaws about something they didn't know anything about.

"We had a lot more to lose than they did and that's what they don't understand." But the thing that's really hard to understand is nether you made your 20th or 21st 500, A.J. ROBIN MILLER A.J. Foyt, who's done just about everything a race driver can ever hope for, added another first to his list yesterday. He qualified twice -in the same car for the 61st Indianapolis 500. That's right, the three-time winner opened the first day of time trials at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a four-lap average of J93.465 miles an hour.

Now that didn't exactly thrill the four-time Indy pole-sitter, but he accepted the speed and told the public address announcer he'd be ready come May 29th. But as his rocket red Coyote was going through the post-qualifying technical inspection, a United States Auto Club official removed the mandatory pop-off valve and found their piece of equipment to be defective. Foyt was informed of the situation and told that he could qualify again if he chose. Well, that's like asking Pete Rose if he wants a fourth strike. SO TIIE GILMORE racing crew hustled No.

14 back out to the pits, Super Tex put his uniform back on and the fans began buzzing when they saw what was happening. With the pressure relief valve performing up to par, A.J. bested his initial run, by more than a mile an nour, and finished with a 194.563 average. Once again, it was far from the day's top time, but it was better. "I knew we weren't going to run any 200 mph laps before I even went out the second the 42-year-old legend who's won 58 USAC champ races.

"The track was slower and we weren't expecting any miracles. "But I had to try." FOYT, ONE OF THREE 200 mph travelers the last week of practice, was pushing so bad the first time "that a turtle could have outrun me between (turns) One and Two." Some chassis adjustments were made prior to the second trp, but Foyt's eight-cylinder engine 47.75 :47.82 :47.96 :48.32 188.482 188.206 187.656 186.258 189.235 188.838 189.036 188.798 47.56 ,:47.66 .47.61 47.67 :47.79 47.77 47.78 47.69 188.324 188.403 188.363 i 188.719 Totals 3:10.50 188.976 Totals 3:11.85 187.647 Totals 3:11.03 188.452 1,. SIXTH KOW JERRY SNEVA 36 21st Amendment Spl. mclaren drake TIME SPEED FMioT-itmv tun wav fm off Royals' Colborn No-Hits Texas; First Of Season :48.16 186.877 47.91 187.852 48.33 186.220 48.51 185.529 Rutherford Gambled, Lost Tni ale 3:12.91 186.616 Kansas City (UPI) Jim Colborn, shelleed for 18 hits in losing his last two starts, last night fired the first no-hitter of his career and the first this season in pitching the Kansas City Royals to a 6-0 victory over the Texas Rangers. Colborn, who struck out six walked one and faced just 28 Inside Sports Al Chasing 3d He had a strong 196 average going.

At the time, it was a cinch for the first row middle thereof, in fact. But defending 500-Mile champion Johnny Rutherford rather team manager Tyler Alexander turned it down. Among the great decisions of this world, it ranks right alongside Napoleon's and Hitler's to invade Russia. Instead of starting in the front row, Rutherford now stands to start no better than 17th in the 33-car field on May 29. Late in the afternncn he tried his backup car.

He'd bettered 196 in practice with it. batters, needed four brilliant running catches by outfielders Tom Poquette and Al Cowens to preserve his gem. Colborn had a perfect game through 4 2-3 innings before hitting Toby Harrah with a pitch. Harrah stole second, but Colborn fanned Bump Wills, his third strikeout of the inning. Only one other Ranger reached second base against the 6-1, 190-pound right Victory Vatje 2 Oily Flunked hander.

By V-8s Pa ye 2 POQUETTE MADE a running over-the-shoulder grab of a "You just try to play the game. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose." Now there is only one thing available to the McLaren crew: Lock to today. "WE'LL BE READY for tomorrow (today)," said Rutherford. "It's like a fresh day. Stewing about what might have been today isn't worth it.

"I was mad in '74 because that was a decision of the judges (when he started 25th and still won). But I'm not disappointed now. "The big difference is we made this decision and lost. I'm disappointed, but this time we gambled and lost." Despite the disappointment Rutherford seemed under control. He had the first row in hand and threw it away to go for his fifth straight pole this season.

IT DIDN'T WORK that way. The gremlins of racing with which Rutherford isn't thoroughly familiar stepped in yesteraay. So now, Rutherford shoots for what's left. That doesn't mean he isn't hunting for the best qualifying time. "Sure, if we can go 204 mph comfortably, I'm going to do it.

I alj'i-ys go as fast as the car will go." Still, it isn't the pole bATS OVEPECK BUT STJXL SHORT of the green flag for a qualifying attempt, the No. 12 (No. 2 again to your eyes, folks) car quit. "It was like I shut off the switch," Rutherford said afterward. Despite the results, Rutherford wasn't crying any crocodile tears.

"We thought we had a chance at the pole. We gambled and we lost," he said. "Maybe tomorrow which doesn't count we'll be fast enough for the pole. We've been faster than anybody else all month. Today we thought we could do better than we did on the first try.

"WE HAD PROBLEMS with the engine today. We aren't getting full boost. We'd been running 198 with 7T inches." Despite the disappointment of yesterday, Rutherford isn't scrubbing his chances for making it two "500" victories in a row and three in four years. "That's the only consolation," said Rutherford. "It's not where you start that counts, it's where you finish.

"Still, I'd like to a been ready tor qualifying and to have qualified up front." Alexander put if in a nutshell. "What the hell are you gonna do about it?" he asked. TV Sports Mike Hargrove fly ball in the first inning and then deprived Willie Horton of a hit on another running stab in the seventh. Cowens robbed Bert Campaneris in the seventh inning on his bid for a Texas Leaguer and then took away what would have been a likely extra-base hit from Tom Grieve in the tltialilyiny Quote Vuye 2 Cheaters. Hun It eighth.

Itubbers Vuye Fred Patek knocked in two of the Kansas City runs with a TODAY BASKETBALL NBA PUrofll, 11:30 f.m., CMnntl I. TENNIS WCT SinqlM Finals, 1 p.m., Cnanml AMERICAN SPORTSMAN Bins Crosby, Phil Harris, and curt Gowdy hunt aeist, and Christopher Plummer guides an underwater ship excavation, 2:30 p.m.. Channel 13. GOLF Fourth-day coversee of tha Colonial Open, 3 p.m., Channel 13. TENNIS World's Invitational Classic with Martina Navratilova and Vipjinia Wade, 3:30 p.m., Channel 13.

QUALIFICATIONS Indianapolis 500 time trials, 4:30 p.m., Channel a. ODYSSEY Story of Jonnny Rutherford, 7 p.m., Channel I. QUALIFICATIONS Indianapolis 500 time trials, 10:30 p.m., Channel 13. sixth-inning bunt single and an eighth-inning triple, while Poquette gave Colborn the only run he needed on a third-inning triple after Dave Nelson had walked. Kansas City catcher Darrell Porter, who came to the Royals from Milwaukee in the same trade as Colborn this past December, drove in one run with a triple in the sixth and scored another after leading off the eighth with a double.

6 Bob Collins 2 Lines 1 Shots 15 Big Fish 15 Harness 12 Scoreboard 18 Hoosier Golf 17 'ir Pass 7.