The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 43

SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1982 SOUVENIR 3 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR 1 led. oiaiiy fc v- -s i I 11 -r A nr. yV4 leading at the time of the stop. Eight laps later, veteran racer Danny Ongais slammed his Interscope Special into the short chute wall between turns three and four, causing the car to disintegrate, and inflicting multiple injuries on Ongais. There were happy moments.

In a month where rookies and youthful drivers gained considerable attention, the race seemed particularly kind. Rookie of the Year Josele Garza, who quickly gained popularity with the fans and media, crashed on lap 138 after a suspension failure. As he walked away uninjured, the fourth turn contingent gave him a standing ovation. He smiled and waved in return after one of the more triumphant crashes in Speedway history. ALMOST UNNOTICED was Kevin Cogan, who came to Indianapolis as a driver for Jerry O'Connell and within a year would be part of the slick Penske team.

Cogan drove his car to a fourth place finish, three laps behind the winnerts). Cogan, whose Southern Californian beach boy looks made him a natural for the Penske operation, would wait for another year before grabbing headlines. Finishing fifth was another rookie, Geoff Brabham, and in seventh place was Tony Bettenhausen. who completed the race in a 1979 McLaren dubbed "Old Hound." Many veterans found themselves a long way out of the money. Johnny Rutherford was the second man out of the race when his fuel pump broke on lap 25.

Tom Sneva was out on the 96th lap with car problems. Al Unser spent much of the day in the pits before finishing the race in 17th place. A.J. Foyt was a distant 13th in pursuit of an unprecedented fifth visit to Victory Lane. Nearly two hours of the race were conducted under the yellow light, reducing the average speed to 139.084 mph and took just more than Vi hours.

The Victory Lane toasts were sweet for Unser, whose car had performed magnificently. The coffee on the morning after was bitter. Old friends were at odds in the months thereafter, the Speedway and its operation were under the looking glass. Money was lost (for the lost advertising endorsements could have added to Unser's riches), but the matter finally was resolved. But as Unser could have told the fans that May afternoon, it was Bobby's race.

It took five months before the people who counted could agree. By CRAIG McKEE The winner in Indianapolis is Bobby Unser no, Mario Andretti no, Bobby Unser again. Events at the 1981 Indianapolis 500-Mile Race played like a bad, indecisive production of the Academy Awards. It now is clear, once and for all, that Bobby Unser won the 1981 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. His drive was decisive on race day; only the controversy of the following months could make the victory indecisive or questionable.

Circumstances took the fun out of winning and left far too many losers including the sport and its fans. Race Day 1981 belonged to Bobby, however. The 47-year-old Unser took his third Indy victory in Roger Penske's sleek Norton Spirit. Unser led 90 of the 200 laps and defeated Andretti by slightly more than five seconds. The crucial moment the instant the racing world would rehash for months after the race had ended came on the 149th lap as Unser returned to the track from the pits.

He drove on the apron, past much of the traffic slowed by a yellow light. ABC cameras captured the moment, and Andretti later would allege the maneuver was a violation of the race's "blending rule" a difficult statute to understand and one, it became clear, that was difficult to enforce. On the ABC broadcast, Jackie Stewart was nearly breathless in his criticism of Unser's entry on the track. Unser would later blame ABC's concentration on the pit exit as crucial to the reversal of Unser's victory. MARIO ANDRETTI and car owner Pat Patrick threat ened to file a protest almost immediately after the race.

Unser denied any wrongdoing. But the Monday morning posting of the official finish made the protest unnecessary: Chief Steward Tom Binford assessed a one-lap penalty against Unser, and the winner was Andretti. Penske and Unser countered with an initial and unsuccessful appeal, and the United States Auto Club determined a full-scale investigation was in order. Former USAC president Reynold MacDonald, Charles Brockman and Louisville law professor Edwin Render were appointed to hear the case. Testimony and evidence made the appeal drag through the summer months.

In October a decision was announced, a split decision in Unser's favor and nearly as stunning as the original reversal of the original finish. Unser was fined $40,000 for his misconduct, but regained his crown soiled though it was. Foyt leader in miles Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt has driven in more races (24) and has covered more miles (9.045) than any other driver in history. Here are the top drivers in order of miles completed at the Indianapolis Motor (AP Photo) Mario Andretti and Hobby Unser discussing last year's finish? Speedway: I.

A.J. Foyl Rookies of the Year The winner in Indianapolis was Bobby Unser again. The USAC panel report stated Binford had checked on a complaint after lap 149. Track observers simply had missed Unser's move. Had a one-lap penalty been invoked during the race, Penske asserted his car and driver easily could have regained the lead.

With observers asleep at the switch. Binford was powerless to act during the race. UNFORTUNATELY, the lap 149 disaster was not the race's only sorry moment. On lap 58. Rick Mears' pit area was engulfed in invisible flame during a routine pit stop, injuring the driver and three crew members, and ending any chance to gain a second Indy victory.

Mears had been 045 6.577 6. 147' 6.097' 7 6.050 5 07' 5.877' i 5.737' i 5517 5.397 5.317 5.715 5 137' i 4 860 4.679 i Bobbv Unser 3 Clitf Berge.e 4 Lloyd Ruby 5 Maun Rose 6 Al Unser 7 Gordon Jonncot 8 Jim Rathmann 9 Roger McCluskey 10 Wilbur Shaw 1 1 Louis Meyer 12 Eddie Johnson 13 Roduer Ward 14 Ted Horn 15 Jim McElreath 16 Johnny Rutherlord 1971 Denny Zimmerman, 8th 1972- MiKe Hiss, 7th 1973- Graham McRae. 16th 1974- Pancho Carter, 7lh 1975- Bill Puterbaugh, 7th 1976- Vern Schuppan, 18th 1977 Jerry Sneva, 10th 1978 -Pick Mears, 23rd. and Lar 1979- Howdv Holmes, 7th 1980- Tim Richmond. 9th 1981- Josele Gara, 23rd inoianapohs 500 Rookies ol the' Year since the award's inception in I9S2, and the position each tt rushed in the race W-Art Cross, ith 1953 Jimmy Daywalt, 61 I9M-Larry Crockett, 9th 1955-AI Herman, 7th l9SA-6ob Veith, l95-Don Edmunds, 19th 19M George Amick, )959Bobby Grim, 1960 Jim Hurtubise.

18th 1961 ParnelM Jones, I2th, and Bobbv Marshman 1962 Jim McElreath, th 1963 Jimmy Clark, 2nd 1964 Johnny White, 4th 1965 Mario Andretti, 3rd 1966 Jackie Stewart, 6th 1967 Denis Hulme, 4th 1968 BiM Vukovich 7th 1969 Mark Donohue, 7th 1970- Donrtie Allison, 4th 1 W'? 1 1 JJoo nnji a i i 1 1 it i i i v. Budweiser Kip WUU VL' NG Of BttbANMt JSIR BubCM Nt 5' i.OJ5.