The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 15

Section PORTS 7-8 MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1987 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR Michael takes Marlboro 500 1. Bobby Rahal 119 2. Michael Andretti 110 3. Emerson Fittipaldi 67 4. Roberto Guerrero 65 5.

Mario Andretti 62 6. Al Unser Jr 57 7. Arie Luyendyk 50 8. Danny Sullivan 46 9. Fabrizio Barbazza 37 10.

Al Unser 36 By ROBIN MILLER STAR ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Brooklyn. Mich. Sunday's Marlboro 500 wound up being a typical 500-mile race for Mario Andretti and a new experience for Michael Andretti. As he did last May at Indianapolis. Mario had everyone covered at Michigan International Speedway only to be KO'd again by mechanical problems.

But Mario's misfortune was a godsend for his talented 24-year-old son as Michael inherited the lead from his luckless father and went on to capture the first 500-mile race of his career. Young Andretti. who also roared right back into the CARTPPG championship picture, won the fastest Indy-car 500-miler ever by 9.11 seconds over Al Unser Sr. at an average speed of 171.490 miles per hour. Unlike years past, it was a much safer show as only one major yellow slowed the pace and sent Ed Pimm to the hospital with a broken right arm.

and Danny Ongais hit the wall in Turn 4 on lap 184 UNITCD PRESS INTERNATIONAL of the Marlboro 500. Basically, the crowd of 68.000 only had two drivers to cheer for all afternoon and they both had the same last name. The Andretti family led 247 of the 250 laps around the two-mile MIS high banks. After leading 1 18 of the first 156 laps and lapping everyone at least once. Mario was felled by a blown engine in his llanna Car Wash LolaIlmor-Chevy.

Mario's departure left Michael (who was a lap ahead of third place) in the top spot and he never relinquished it as he led the final 94 laps in the Kra-coSTP March 87CCosworth. "We had a lot of problems in the pits because we couldn't clear the engine up on the bottom end." explained Michael, who started on the pole and led 129 laps. "I had trouble getting the car in gear and that's how I lost a lap to dad. "1 was holding my breath on WW Woolfolk might wear Colts colors lk l. every pit stop, praying lo God it would catch and go in gear." Hut Michael, who only trails delending CART champion Bobby Rahal by nine points heading to I'ocono in two weeks, was realistic about the fifth CART triumph of his life.

See MICHIGAN Page 5 think of myself as a complete hack. I can block and catch the hall as well as run with It." Two years ago he eaughl 80 passes. Coach Won Meyer confirmed (he Colts are still Interested in attempting to sign Woolfolk. "lie catches the ball well." said Meyer. "He seems to be in good enough shape, lie seems to still have quickness and speed." Meyer was also satisfied with the Iwo-hour workout in lull gear.

The temperature was 97 at the start of practice and the heal index was 105. "I'm sure the players were happy we gave them Saturday afternoon off because of the rain," said the coach. "They looked pretty strong today." Ken Daniel, obtained a year ago Irom the Giants, has Impressed Meyer with his play al lelt corner. "Ken came in here (. compete for I he Job and he's doing well," noted Hie coach Meyer also singled out Willie Tullis.

James I'erryman and Chris Goode for (heir performance al lelt corner. John lloll. who started at the position in the finale lasl year against (he Raiders, is a holdoul this summer. F.ach day he is absent lloll falls lurther behind In the battle lor the ob. The contestants lor the left corner position are doing so well that Meyer has no Intention al the moment of even considering moving Leonard Coleman back lo the place where he started 14 games In 1986.

Coleman is now working at strong safely and Nesby Glasgow at free safely. Meyer also praised defensive end Booker Reese, a free agent who Joined (he club late lasl week. "He has shown mi: a little spark," Meyer said of Reese. "The skill Is there. He has to exhibit it at a consistent level." Defensive lineman Harvey Armstrong did not practice because of what Meyer termed a "chronic knee Injury that Is nol serious.

We just have to limit his activity a little." hoping lor a red Hag so I could fix it. "Five hundred miles at this place without many yellows is tough real tough." About the only thing Michael had to battle, besides boredom, was a sluggish engine which made exiting the pits very tricky. TmmT" ntebb iV .1 S' ASSOCIATED PRESS Cubs won, 3-2. See baseball Page 2. innings.

Jerry Don Glcaton got the final two outs. Seitzer singled with one out in the first, went to third on a pop fly double by Brett and scored on Danny Tartabull's grounder for a 1-0 lead. Rookie Sam Horn walked in the second inning ahead of Evans' home run for a 2-1 Boston lead, but Seitzer tied the score with a solo homer in the third. Seltzer singled home Ross Jones', who had singled and moved up on a sacrifice, to put Kansas City ahead. 3-2.

in the fourth against starter Bob Stanley (3-11). Singles by Greenwell and Spike Owen and Marc Sullivan's sacrifice fly cut the Royals' lead to 4-3 in the fifth, then the Royals scored four times in the bottom of the inning. The cars of Ed Pimm (right) "I'm happy but I'm tired that's the hardest race I've ever driven and I've never gone 500 miles." gasped Michael, who was taking a nap in his motorhome an hour after taking his second checkered Hag of 1987. "My neck strap broke early and when we had that brief shower I was 1 tag. The roundups, Brett, the perennial All-Star who moved to first as Seltzer took over at third this season.

His seven RBI ties a team record held by several men. Including Brett and rookie Bo Jackson, who accomplished the feat in April against Detroit. He set the team record with 39 extra base hits for a rookie and raised his average to .324. "I wanted to have a perfect day and I thought if I got that sixth at-bat. maybe it wouldn't happen for me." he said.

"Dale Ford (home plate umpire) I think gave me a couple of close pitches today, too. When I got the fifth and sixth hits, he called a couple of balls that could have gone either way. Like I said, everything went my way today." Mark Gubicza (9-10)" allowed eight hits. Including Dwlght Evans 21st and 22nd homers, in Spinks if i i i I Hats off to you Chicago's Andre Dawson loses his helmet as he makes a slide into second while trying to steal the base. Philadelphia shortstop Steve Jeltz makes the By J0HNBANSCH STAR STAFF WRITER Anderson, hid.

Butch Woolfolk paid a quick visit to the Indianapolis Colts' training camp Sunday. He may return to stay later this week. The fleet running back waived last Thursday by Houston came for a physical examination and workout, then stayed around to watch practice under a broiling sun. Woolfolk was I -pressed with what he saw and revealed he is "leaning" toward signing with the Colts. "The players are awesome," said the former All-America from Michigan Woolfolk who was a first-round pick of the New York Giants in 1982.

"Get the right coaching staff with that talent and they'll get some wins." Woolfolk returned home to Houston Sunday night to discuss his future with his wife. Saturday he visited the Detroit training camp and he received telephone calls over the weekend from Cleveland and San Francisco. He would like to be In camp Tuesday. A dislocated shoulder sidelined Woolfolk during the 1986 season. He said the shoulder Is well and described himself "fit as a fiddle.

The Colts x-rayed the shoulder and tugged on it and could find nothing wrong." In-said. Woolfolk is not the greatest fan of the one-back offensive set Indianapolis will feature this season, but says he has the tools to play in any system. "1 tied the single-game rushing attempts record In the one-back offense," he noted in recalling the game In 1983 when he carried the ball 43 times against Philadelphia. "I Seitzer says luck was part of big day After another single in the fourth he hit his ninth homer, a three-run shot. He added a single in the seventh.

Then, with two out and two on in the eighth, the 25-year-old rookie hit a 3-2 pitch into right field which Mike Greenwell lost in the sun momentarily. The ball bounced past his glove for a ground-rule double and a slx-for-six day that will never be forgotten by Seitzer. "If this had been a night game, that would have been an out," Seitzer said. "Like I said. I caught every break I could possibly catch." Seitzer is only the second Kansas City player to have six hits in a game.

Bob Oliver, also a rookie, had six hits on May 4. 1969, against California. Seltzer's 13 total bases tied a team record held by George ASSOCIATED PRESS Kansas City. Mo. Going six-for-six and driving in seven runs made Kevin Seitzer feel like the luckiest man In baseball.

"I'll probably never have a feeling like I had today." said Seltzer, who tied or broke several team records Sunday in leading Kansas City past the Boston Red Sox. 13-5. "Everything was just perfect today. I caught every break I could possibly catch. Every ball I hit hard dropped.

Last night, 1 hit two line drives that got caught." Seitzer. who was named an All-Star alternate at third base this year by Boston Manager John McNamara. began his big day in heat that team officials said reached 154 on the field with a first-inning single. In the third against Bob Stanley, he hit his eighth home run. not on Tyson's dance card fiiD Hay Leonard, three-time world champion, in his post-fight analysis on 1 1 BO.

"The public wants to see Mike Tyson fight Michael Spinks. It's an Inevitable confrontation." Tyson plans to fight in December or January, and again March 21 in Tokyo. No opponents have been named. "What Inxlles are they going to dig up now?" Holmes asked. Tyson, who has 27 knockouts, was disappointed to go the distance against Tucker, but he won by a wide margin.

Tucker. 35-1 with 30 knockouts, did hurt Tyson In the opening seconds with a left hook that lifted Tyson's legs. "I want a rematch bad." said Tucker, who was an 1 1-1 underdog. "Maybe me and Michael Spinks can get It on and the winner can fight Tyson." Tucker said his right index finger was injured in training a week before the bout and It bothered him after the second round "He was very game, he took some shots." Tyson said. Afterward.

Tyson was crowned at a garish hour-long coronation ceremony orchas-trated by King. Celebrities Eddie Murphy. Dennis Hopper and Heather Thomas were part of the proceedings and the crown was placed on Tyson's head by Muhammad Ali. The Tyson camp says Spinks gave up his title rather than fight Tyson. Butch Lewis, the promoter for Spinks.

says Tyson's camp is trying to punish Spinks for pulling out of the HBO unification series that concluded Saturday night. Lewis said promoter Don King and HBO officials are pressuring Jacobs and co-manager Bill Cayton to avoid Spinks. If Spinks stayed in the series, he would have met Tyson May 30 on HBO. If they fight in the future. It will be on closed-circuit television and worth more money to the fighters.

Spinks' brother Leon was the last undisputed champion, holding the WBC and WBA crowns In 1978. Michael Spinks was stripped of his IBF title for refusing to fight the top-ranked Tucker. He instead met Gerry Cooney and scored a fifth-round knockout June 15. Spinks says he is champion because he has not lost in the ring after winning the IBF title from Larry Holmes in September 1985. Many boxing people feel a Tyson-Spinks bout will come about because it is the fight the people want.

"It's actually in public demand." said UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL Las Vegas, Nev. Mike Tyson owns all three official heavyweight championships and says he will defend against all legitimate contenders except perhaps the most worthy. Tyson won a unanimous 12-round decision over Tony Tucker Saturday night, add-ding Tucker's International Boxing Federation title to his collection. Tyson already held the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association championships. "I'm the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

I ll fight any man who wants to fight," Tyson said after defeating Tucker at the Las Vegas Hilton. Apparently, that doesn't Include Michael Spinks. whose 31-0 record matches Tyson's and who also claims to be the true heavyweight champion. "He's not on our agenda." said Tyson, who will probably next meet Tyrell Biggs Oct. 16.

Tyson's co-manager Jim Jacobs was more emphatic. "We have no plans to fight Michael Spinks. and you can write that with an exclamation point." Jacobs said. ASSOCIATED PRESS Mike Tyson sports a crown signifying his unified heavyweight boxing title Saturday night in Las Vegas..