The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 23

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 1983- iiisnm, nuuwi ISM IHt IINUIAJNATULIS STAK PAGE ZS Aedretlti 1st alt Elklhart Lake Sports i By DAVE OVERPECK Star Sportswriter Elkhart Lake, Wis. The clutch pitched on the second lap. The radios never did work. And the wastegate on the turbocharger was opening up half- -way down the straightaway. i About the only thing that saved Mario Andretti's day was that it ended in Victory That was enough, "A win is everything," he said after the checkered flag 15.98 seconds ahead of Al Unser Jr.

in a wild and woolly Provimi 200 on Road America's four-mile road course. "That's what it's all about You forget about all the trouble that came before and you go forward. Everything looks rosy. It snakes up for all the frustration and hard "work that went before." and Andretti by. When he pulled back on, he ran Mario into a corner, ran out of room and wound up in the tulies again, this time with a bent left front wing.

Garza's race finally ended on the 48th lap when he ran out of fuel. He scored 11th at the end. Garza's misfortunes put Rahal in front. Throughout the afternoon, he had been as fast as anybody and Andretti admitted afterward he couldn't have caught the Red Roof Inns March. But entering the third turn of the 47th of 50 laps, Rahal's car developed a fuel shortage of its own.

As he slowed, Andretti motored by and on to a victory that took 2:00:42.75 for an average speed of 99.410 miles an hour. It's possible that Rahal ran out of fuel. But he had made his final stop just 48 miles before. A pick up problem seemed more likely, but the crew wasn't ready to say. The only other car on the lead lap at the end was Al Unser who upped his PPG Cup point standings lead to 35 over fourth-place Tom Sneva.

The count is now 99 64. because I had to overcome a lot of obstacles." The most serious of those was the clutch, which created real problems on every turn and on his two pit stops. It put real pressure on his gear box by the end. "The last Ave laps it was jumping out of gear in third and fourth a couple times every lap," said Andretti. "And it was really tough on pit stops.

You had to hit it just right to keep from killing the engine. It was just a stroke of luck that I was able to do it twice." There were other strokes of luck that put the Budweiser Lola in the winner's circle for the first time. They were strokes that swung for Mario and against Josele Garza and Bobby Rahal. Both had Andretti handled in the final 10 laps only to fall out Garza, driving the race of his life, started dead last when the kill switch on his steering wheel in the 21st Century Health SpasMachinists Union Penske PC-10 shorted out and wouldn't let the car fire on the starting line. Once the problem was corrected, the field was on the pace lap and he wasnt allowed to leave the pits until the field took the green.

RICK MEARS, No. 3 in the standings, had his race come to an abrupt end on the 30th lap. Running seventh at the time, he and eighth-place Howdy Holmes came together in the carrousel. The result was that Mears went flying off the course and into the guard rail, destroying the front end of the Pennzoil Penske PC 11. That produced the second yellow.

The first came on the seventh lap when Desire Wilson ran into a tow truck bringing in Chris Kneifel's car which had spun out earlier. There were no injuries involved in either incident. Fifth place went to John Paul an early contender who took himself out of contention when he looped off the course on the 20th lap. Derek Daly had a strong day that was headed for a fourth place finish until he nailed a guard rail on the 48th lap. Teo Fabi.

who started in the front row with pole-sitter Andretti. wound up 15th after spinning off the course on Lap 20. In the SCCA's Trans-Am preliminary, veteran David Hobbs easily outdistanced Elliott Forbes Robinson and Tom Gloy. STILL, HE HAD charged to seventh by the 10th lap and continued to improve his position. When the green came out on the 38th lap following the second of two full-course yellows, he was fourth behind Unser Andretti and Rahal What followed were three of the most spectacular road racing laps you'll ever see.

They ended on the 40th with Garza scooting past Andretti and Rahal in the first and second turns and then outbraking Unser Jr. into the carrousel Turn 9. He drove off to a four-plus second lead as Unser Jr. went off the course when Garza passed him and Andretti and Rahal had to slow to miss Junior. But Garza came to grief four laps later on the same turn, looping out to let Rahal ANORETTI HAD a lot to forget even before his problems Sunday.

This was his first Indy car victory since Sept 20, 1981 a dry spell that had covered 26 races. "This one was doubly satisfying because I had to have a lot of assistance from the Man Upstairs," he said, "and Lewis' career turns around Bill Benner 'TWO YEARS OF preparation and seven years years of frustration ended simultaneously for Chris Lewis during a recent English fortnight Once the world's most promising -junior tennis player, the 26-year-old from Auckland, New Zealand, had become a journeyman professional nothing more, nothing less. Since 1975, when he turned professional after winning the Wimbledon juniors and becoming the U.S. Open juniors runner-up, he had never climbed higher than 32nd in the world computer rankings. And in those eight years, he had won only one Grand Prix tournament title.

To many, he was an obvious example of untapped potential. Until that English fortnight Wimbledon, 1983. TWO YEARS of hard work and practice under the auspices of erstwhile Australian great Tony Roche and the one-on-one attention of his own coach, compatriot Jeff Simpson. "It has given me a lot more incentive. I've got more belief in myself.

When you've got a Wimbledon final behind you, you've got a lot more confidence. It inspires you. You want to strive for higher things than you did beforehand, when I'd be satisfied with maybe winning a couple of rounds I was a little too easily satisfied. "But now I feel I'm a better player. And I also realize that I've got to work very hard to fulfill my potential, although that's not something I'm scared of doing.

I enjoy working on my game." For those who remember Lewis as a junior, it is not surprising that Chris reached the Wimbledon finals. The only amazement is that it took him so long. But for Lewis, the jump from juniors to pros was in retrospect too much, too fast. "YOU GO from juniors to the pros and all of a sudden you're traveling 10 months a year basically by yourself," he said. "It can be pretty tough when you're young.

If you don't make the transition from juniors into the pro ranks pretty quickly I think it's easy to sort of reach a stage where you don't think youre going to improve any more." And that is what happened with culminated in an experience that was, says Lewis, "electric." What he did was to become the eighth unseeded player in history to reach the Wimbledon finals. And even though his startling quest ended in a straight-set loss to John McEnroe 6 2, 6 2, 6 2 the significance of his achievement was not lost on the world, his tiny home country or on Lewis himself. This week, Lewis who maintains cars in Europe, the U.S. and Australia because he does not like to fly is in Indianapolis as the No. 5 seed in the U.S.

Open Clay Court Championships at the Sports Center. He brings with him a world ranking of 23rd and newfound confidence both the direct result of his stunning performance in the All England Championship. "WIMBLEDON HAS completely turned my career around in lots of ways." Lewis said Sunday morning after a short practice session. 1 ris Lewis during 1981 U.S. Clay Court action New Zealander was Wimbledon runner-up this year 74 th U.S.

Clay Courts under way Chris, until he sought out Roche two years ago. "I needed someone who I felt could add a few finishing touches to my game and that's why I started seeing Tony," Lewis explained. "He added a few little things in the technique area that I hadn't had before and it's taken a couple of years for the results to show. It's finally starting to pay off." Also paying off is the personal attention of his own coach, Simpson. "On the tour traveling by yourself it's very difficult to find compati ble practice partners because everyone has their own idea of how they should improve their own game." said Lewis.

"It's difficult to find people that want to practice the way I do. With Jeff, I can work three or four hours on whatever I want to work on. Jeff has been on tour, he has played Davis Cup for New Zea land and he knows the game very well. It just helps your whole attitude toward the game." IT'S NO coincidence that, in the two weeks prior to Wimbledon. Lewis a quick righthander put in a lot of long practice hours with Simpson.

Thus, the foundation was laid for the most exciting time of Lewis' life and an effort that was greeted in his native New Zealand "with a reaction probably as great as for any sporting accomplishment ever. "Before the finals. British Tele com actually stopped taking any more telegrams for me." Lewis said "I actually received more than a thousand, but I think there were 5.000 more sent to me that they wouldn't deliver. My mailbox at my hotel was stuffed with messages and I had to put a towel over the mes sage light on my phone so I could sleep at night. I had to turn my mind off from all that so I wouldn't get too keyed up." Of course.

McEnroe brought Lew is quickly back to earth. Since Wimbledon. Lewis has been bothered by a neck injury. It forced him to pull out of a semifinals match at Stuttgart and not play at all at Washington. DC.

Then, last week, without practice, he lost a first-round match to teenager Jimmy Brown at North Conway. N.H. However, he vows. "I'll be ready this week. I've had plenty of time to prepare and I'm not tired.

"This is the U.S. Clay Court championship, a U.S. title. It would be something nice to win. that's for sure." Ex-champion defeated By BILL BENNER Today's Pairings, Page 24 Today's heavy schedule of competition begins at 11 a.m.

with Tim Gullickson of Boca West, taking on Italian Claudio Panatta on Stadium Court. No. 7 women's seed Carling Bassett of Canada follows against Emilse Raponi Longo of Argentina and then Romania's Virginia Ruzici the No. 4 seed and defending champion begins her title defense against Italy's Rafella Reggi. The last Stadium Court match of the afternoon has Carmel's Todd Witsken against the sometimes fiery Frenchman, Thierry Tulasne.

INDIANAPOLIS' SHAWN Foltz, a wild card entry in the women's singles draw, plays her first U.S. Clay match against Lucia Romanov of Romania in an 11 a.m. match on Court 9. The Hoosier connection will continue under the lights with Indianapolis' Ginny Purdy who Saturday won the girls 18 U.S. Clay Court title taking on Yugoslavia's Renata Sasak.

Following that match, popular three-time champion Manuel Orantes of Spain meets countryman Juan Avendano. The top men's seeds including the defending champion. No. 1 Jose Higueras of Spain will not play until Tuesday. No.

2 Jose-Luis Clerc. winner here in '80 and '81. and No. 6 Andres Gomez of Ecuador cannot see S3 w' ike-5 The rumbling of thunder was about the only significant noise Sunday as the 74th U.S. Clay Court -Tennis Championships began before a good crowd at the Indianapolis Sports Center.

i The thunder preceded rain, which delayed play for touple of hours in mid-afternoon. -Before the rain, the tournament lost its first ex-I champion, 1978 winner Dana Gilbert of Piedmont Calif. lost to qualifier Pilar Vasquez, a Peruvian citizen playing out of Key Biscay ne, 6-4, 7 5. "Then, after the rain, the tournament lost its first player one of only two to be playing Sunday. That was No.

9 Michelle Torres of Northfield, III. In a match that wasn't finished until after 9 o'clock, Torres, 16, was eliminated by 17-year-old Texan Beverly I Bowes, 7, 6-7, 62. The only other seeded player in action Sunday was No. 14 Manuela Maleeva of Bolivia. She moved up with -a 6-0, 6-4 victory ovenYicki.

Nelson Wooster, Ohio. AUSTRALIA'S DIANE Fromholtz, a former member of the Indiana Loves World Team Tennis squad, eliminated Patricia Hy of Hong Kong, 6-1, 6-4. In addition to the handful of first-round women's singles matches, the qualifying for the main draw of men's singles was completed. Making the field of 56 were Switzerland's Colin Dowdeswell, Argentina's Roberto Arguello, John Levine of Phoenix, Jerome Vanier of France, Gabriel Mattos of Brazil, Pedro Rebolledo of Chile and Jonathon Canter of Beverly Hills, Calif. Stir Ptwtt By D.

ToM Meort Roberto Arguello can't watch his backhandshot Argentine advanced to main draw with qualifying victory action until Tuesday night at the earliest and probably Wednesday because they play today for the Volvo championship at North Conway, N.H. REBUILT CARBURETORS as low as 95 $39! idianga Van Gorder, Isales pace Tribe triumph httv a targt stock of ratMH cjwtMFOtorv tor SAT. i SUN. MON. TUES.

WED. THURS. FRI. Amrtcan cm VESt Wm rmbuHO torvtgp aw cit Am about our 90 day fruty 1 tour wwfct in Mm cttM Wt off cuatom rrtuadwn, rvw By MAX STULTZ Catcher Dave Van Gorder batted in three runs and right fielder Orlando Isales a pair at Bush Stadium Sunday night as the Indianapolis COMPUTERIZED TUNE-UP kMMtt (Mft V'- -jy pat- it--. Tl a 3 4 AT IT OMAHt OMAHA OMAHA OK CfTt OK CUT OK CITY OH 5:45 7:15 70 9 10 11 12 13 AT ox errr evanj evans evans iowa iowa DH 5:45 7:15 7:15 7:15 7:15 14 Ti 16 17 ia 1 20 AT AT AT "AT IOWA IOWA EV1M EVAKS tVAKS EVANS 1:45 7:15 7:15 7.15 7:15 7:15 31 21 33 34 35 36 37 AT AT AT AT AT AT AT LOUVL 10UVI UtlVl A IGA ttA SWA fclE felS 7:15 7:15 7:15 7:15 38 79 30 31 LOUVL LOUVL LOUVL LOUVL 5:45 7:15 7:15 7:15 beat Omaha and Charlie Lie- brandt 10-4, in the opener of a five- game series.

95 $24 Right hander Greg Harris went eight innings in the free swinging, leaky defense affair while improving BRAKE SPECIAL WWt-OiM ar Onam. aft itoM MM, Can ft LC TfMkt. Mt. SHftty (tor. his record to 6-11 and tying Lei-brandt for the league strikeout lead.

Harris notched six scalps which put him at 105 alongside ex-Tribe southpaw Leibrandt who failed to 95 began to unfold when, with two out and Gilbert at second, Omaha catcher Duane Dewey was called for tipping Barnes' bat Isales promptly singled, plating Gilbert as well as Barnes who chugged home as right fielder Mike Brewer let Isales' poke elude him on the first hop. Christmas again walked and Van Gorder pounded a two-run double to the scoreboard. The Tribe receiver also took another base when catcher Dewey dropped a throw from the outfield before right-hander Dan St Clair stopped Molinaro on a pop fly. Shortstop Buddy Biancalana's two-run single in the top of the sixth had cut the Tribe margin to 53. Each team scored in the seventh, Ryal getting the Omaha RBI and Lawless countering with his four-sack smash.

Keefe Cato pitched the ninth, allowing nothing more than first baseman Ron Johnson's two-out single to right. Lefty Pat Underwood (3 4). a los er to Leibrandt at Omaha last week, will come back in tonight's 7:30 clash against right hander Rickey Kceton (221. AT HOME AND ON THE ROAD WITH HOWARD KELLMAN TUNE INTO: WNON-FM (100.9) or Omaha, punched out a 2-0 advantage in the third and never were headed. Shortstop Willie Lozado's leadoff single and a two-bagger to left put Tribesmen on the corners.

Mark Gilbert's infield out plated Lozado and Lawless registered when Isales grounded a single to center. The Royals got one back in the fourth as designated hitter Butch Davis doubled and third baseman Steve Hammond singled. But Harris pitched out of a bases-loaded situation created by two of his four walks and the Indians staged a three-run explosion in the fifth against Leibrandt who had won six of eight decisions since being swapped for lefty Bob Tufts in early June. Leibrandt retired center fielder Dallas Williams and Isales around a single by Skeeter Barnes who stole second. But he walked first baseman Steve Christmas and surrendered successive singles to Van Gorder and designated hitter Bob Molinaro.

Van Gorder scored the final run of the stanza, making third on Molin-aro's safety and continuing home when left fielder Mark Ryal mishandled the bouncing ball. The clinching sixth-inning spurt 24 corner a victim in a 5 inning stint TIMf whui rou wan Mivict AMERICAN ni NOBLESVILLE CABLEVISION (Channel 2-audio) SS, SHOWS Both Harris and Leibrandt (9-7) ON USIIIS AND TWOS Brought to you by the following network sponsors: Muok Cut Ro(iifor Co. asp yfG ces were tagged freely in the contest spiced by 24 hits including a solo homer by second baseman Tom Lawless, his 13th of the year. But Harris had all the better of the argument as the Royals committed four errors behind Leibrandt AIR RECHARGE SPECIAL Belts For Leaks Hoses Recharge uc to (O MASS Mtrj Spttm if (Mtfil Mm Ettirpnus. Ic.

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Three were charged during a four-run Indianapolis sixth which caused the departure of Leibrandt as the Indians escaped to a 93 lead. The Indians, who had lost their three previous home debates with iff 1 1 fewfl iffS I iTh fa Ki 259-0935 977 BROAD RiPPlF.