The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 29

Sports The Indianapolis Star THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1987 PAGE 29 A has remained a '500' constant through the years Sports Over Lightly By BOB COLLINS the hundreds. The Smithsonian would have to build an annex to hold them. Call him temperamental, call him arrogant. Call him whatever you wish. But you also can call him great.

He is, without a doubt, the most popular American race driver in history. The A.J. Foyt cult has been handed down through generations like a family heirloom. His name is mentioned on the P.A., there are cheers. He walks through the pits, the folks start yelling and screaming.

He gets into a race car, they go mad. He hasn't won an Indy-car race since 1981. Makes no difference. He's still their man THE man. He has the absolute respect of the only people who count in his mind the race drivers.

And, even at the ripe age of 52, he must be considered a factor in the 71st "500." I don't think he'll win it. On the other hand, though, I wouldn't lay a dime on that opinion. But what the hell, legends don't need to win. We all know he didn't become a legend by losing. Saturday.

Anthony Joseph Foyt, qualified for this 30th consecutive "500." The first time he did 143.130. Saturday, he landed in the second row with an average speed of 210.935. So he has gained 67 mph and most of the Speedway records. About the only other thing that has grown proportionately is his waistline. Assuming he will start, the 30 is far and away a record.

John Rutherford will be starting his 23rd. Foyt is the all-time mileage leader with 10,327.5 and has compiled more championship points, 9.050, at Indianapolis than any other driver. Only Foyt (555) and Al Unser, (595) have a chance to pass Ralph DePalma as the all-time lap leader. DePalma. who last raced here in' 1920, led for 611 laps.

Foyt's records read like a printout of dally stock exchange trades. You name It, he's won it. He's finished first in 67 Indy-car races. He's won in stocks, he's won endurance titles and he won Le Mans. Count the times he has led the pack home in midgets and sprints and his trophies are well Into JN 1958, Dwight D.

Eisenhower was Presi-: dent of the United States. That year he sent U.S Marines to do some police work in Lebanon. I It also was the year that the United States launched its first earth satellite, and National Airlines inaugurated Jet service from New York to Miami. Floyd Patterson was the heavyweight boxing champion of the world, and Elgin Baylor was setting national scoring records at Seattle University. Television had discovered golf and lucked into ihe game's first and most enduring video superstar.

In 1958, a young man from Latrobe, won his first Masters title. His name: Arnold Palmer. Baltimore and the New York Giants went sudden death in the NFL championship contest. The Colts won, 23-17, in what has been called the greatest professional football game ever played. Montreal won the third of five consecutive NHL crowns.

The Yankees whipped Milwaukee, 4 games to 3, and Ernie Banks was the Most Valuable Player in the National League. Jimmy Bryan won the Indianapolis 500-Mile race. In the starting lineup were Johnnie, Parsons, Tony Bettenhausen and Jerry Unser. Also in the field wos a rookie many said wpuld make It big some day. He qualified 12th.

finished 16th. As predictions go, this wasn't a bad one. The man from Houston, Texas, has won it four times and had a shot at a few others. And in the years since 1958, he has competed against and whipped a litter of Parsons, Betten-hausens and Unsers. Firestone hits 206.944 Injured driver leaves his limp behind It's great to come back and not have to spend three or four days physically trashing yourself to get back to speed, especially in my situation." Dennis Firestone Fabrizlo Barbazza checked in at 204-plus in the Arciero Winery March 87CCosworth and Steve Chassey ran 202-plus in the Laughery March 87CCosworth.

Chassey hadn't run since Sunday but finally got some positive feedback. "We made a change today that really helped and we were still Just taking it easy," he said. "I think we're going in the right direction." Gordon Johncock. in the ARS March 86CBuick. and Sammy Swindell, in the ButteraCenterlineMa-chinlsts March 86CPontiac.

both topped 200 mph as did Tony Bet-tenhausen in the Call-Free March 86CCosworth. As expected, Al Unser took over Danny Ongais seat with Roger Penske and the three-time Indy winner got to 1 97-plus in only two hot laps. I wasn't trying to go fast today. I'm just trying to get comfortable so we can qualify," said Big Al. For the first time since Sunday, there was contact with the wall as Geoff Brabham had a wheel break on his backup Team Valvollne March 87CHonda.

A total of 21 unqualified cars were on the track' Wednesday and polesitter Mario Andretti again had quick time with a lap of 211.317 mph in the Hanna Car Wash. Lola By ROBIN MILLER STAR ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Dennis Firestone hobbled out to his new Raynor Lola T87Cosworth Wednesday, dropped off his crutches and drove back into the picture for the 71st Indianapolis 500. Firestone, who suffered a broken left foot after hitting the fourth turn wall on May 5. made an impressive return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 42-year old veteran clocked the fastest lap of the unqualified drivers with a trip of 206.944 miles an hour in only 23 total laps of running.

"it's great to come back and not have to spend three or four days physically trashing yourself to get back to speed, especially in my situation." exclaimed Firestone. "Qualifying shouldn't be a problem the car isn't quite balanced yet but we're getting close." Firestone certainly had the right balance prior to his accident. He set quick time the day before his accident and had just run 212.929 the lap before spinning into the wall in Turn "It (the car) felt real good, maybe a little too neutral," he recalled. "It's a nice race car, I know that." Firestone's foot was operated on and he's got a stainless steel plate with six screws holding his broken bones together. "It (the ankle) aches a little but it doesn't bother me when I'm running.

I've got other things to worry about." he remarked. "My ankle doesn't have a lot of strength and I've got to use my toes to work the clutch. "But it's only a small problem because I've only got to use the clutch when I'm leaving the pits." Kevin Cogan. in the Marlboro March 87CIlmor-Chevy, had a lap of 205.667 and Ed Pimm was caught at 205.658 in the Curb March 86CCos-worth. "The Lolas don't have the problem we do and it's not the tires that are creating our problems." explained Cogan.

"We're just not doing our Job well enough yet and that's to get the car balanced." M0" mmA. STAR STAFF PH0T0KIM TRAVIS Al Unser Sr. watches crewman work on the 25T '87 Penske-Chevy before going out for a practice run at the speedway Wednesday. Jones off to fast start (209 mph) "Obviously, if I would have pushed it I could have come here last year, but the opportunity wasn't right. And I don't believe in moving Into another category unless it's with the right team." When it comes to experience.

Jones would be hard-pressed to find anyone with more than A.J. Foyt, with four wins and 29 Indianapolis starts under his belt. For Jones, it has been a good working relationship. "The Indianapolis car Is very similar to a Formula One car, but I haven't yet learned its limitations. The first time I ever sat in an Indy car was at the rookie orientations and so far I've only been able to turn it left." For never having driven one, Jones has adapted quickly.

His best speed has been a 209 and he feels he's here to continue learning. "I've got an awful lot to learn from A.J. He's been real patient with me and everything that he does with me to change the car is in a positive way. I'm real comfortable. I've got a lot of faith in him." he said.

"I would really like to take this opportunity that I have, learn as much as I can and really prove what I'm capable of doing when I get the experience behind me." "My goal is succeed in what I do best, to do it well. To be here at Indianapolis is the start of a long career, I hope. I'm not here to impress anyone." Maybe so, but going 209 in your first Indy car ride at age 22 has to be impressing someone. 15, he was denied due to his age. A short time later, he was back as "Davy" Jones, 18.

his age for the next few years. Jones' progress was such that five years ago at' age 17, he was racing in the Bosch Super Vee series against the likes of Michael Andretti and Ed Pimm. The next year, he went to England to compete in the Formula Three series and wound up third to Ayrton Senna and Martin Brundle. now competing In Formula One. That led to a test drive in a Brabham Formula One car.

At 19. Jones outperformed the competition, but It boiled down to being unable to acquire a sponsor to get the ride. "I was testing for Brabham before Senna and Brundle and Gerhard Berger even drove a Formula One car. But yet the opportunity didn't really fit in for me," he explained. "It's good for me to see them get the opportunity.

They are a few years older than I am. Maybe they matured a bit better and had better connections than I had. "But it's good for me to see them do well because maybe if they can move up and do well in another series like Michael Andretti or Ayrton Senna have, it gives me the confidence that when I can move up, I can do as well." With his accomplishments, the tendency is to ask why it took so long to come to "Indianapolis. "Basically, it's getting the right oportun-ity to come in with the right team, the right equipment and the right personnel involved." he explained. By RICK SHAFFER STAR STAFF WRITER The name Davy Jones evokes thoughts of the legendary nautical figure or the lead singer for the Monkees.

One thing can be certain though. Race car driver Davy Jones is not in over his head and the only thing he has in common with the singer is that both have spent time in England. If you check his biographical material. you'll find the usual stuff numerous victories here and there, references to his potential, and his experience. What's incredible is that Jones has packed in that 17 years of driving everything from go-carts to Formula One cars and he's only 22 years old! "Danny Sullivan told me it took him 10 years to get to Indianapolis and it's taken me nine." said the driver of the CopenhagenGil-moreFoyt March 86CCosworth.

Sure, but Sullivan was 22 when he started racing and 32 when he made it to the speedway. Jones, on the other hand, began at age five and lied about his age before becoming "legal." At age 15. Jones attended the Bertll Roos driving school and showed enough promise to open some doors. It also gave birth to his racing name. 1 He was born Duane Jones.

His father, a former Merchant Marine captain, is Davy Jones. 7 When he tried to get an SCCA license at STAR STAFF PH0T0KIM TRAVIS Driver Davy Jones (left) chats with his boss, A.J. Foyt. At 22, Jones already has been racing for 17 years and appears to have a bright Indy-car future. Ramsey glad to join Colts' Meyer again A small forward standing tall; Person to be named top rookie sociation with the Patriots when Meyer, as head coach, made a trade with Oakland for Ramsey, the one-time University of Kentucky quarterback.

"I had a few offers last fall, but as soon as Meyer got this job. I narrowed down my choices." says the 6-6, 255-pound Ramsey. "I was hoping he would give me a call. We had a great relationship at New En--gland. Everywhere he's been he's had a winning program and 1 just want to be a part of it." The sparkle in Meyer's eyes when he talks about Ramsey See COLTS Page 33 By JOHN BANSCH STAR STAFF WRITER Derrick Ramsey leaned back in his easy chair and smiled late last year when he learned Ron Meyer had hired on as coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

At the time, Ramsey was on the National Football League's unemployment list and in the real estate business in Oakland, Calif. As soon as the tight end who had been dumped by New England read the news he knew he would have another opportunity to wear an NFL uniform. The twomen began their as think anybody gave me a chance in the league. I was always a better than average player, but never a great player. I think this silences all the critics." Namely those who booed his selection last June in Market Square Arena when the Pacers made him their first pick (the fourth overall) in the NBA draft.

When Pacer General Manager Donnie Walsh made the selection, the 4,000 fans on hand for a draft day party in Market Square Arena booed the pick. But they didn't know about this amazing player. In high school, at Brantley, he was considered No. 2 in the state to Buck Johnson. In college at Auburn, he was always overshadowed by Kentucky's Kenny Walker and on campus by See PERSON Page 34 By DAVID BENNER STAR STAFF WRITER All his life, Chuck Person has stood in someone's shadow.

This afternoon, he finally will stand alone. The Indiana Pacers splendid 6-8 small forward, is expected to be named today as the Nation-al Basketball Association's 1986-87 Rookie-of-the-Year. (The Pacers have called a press conference for 10 a.m.. coincidentally. the same day the NBA announces the honor.) By winning.

Person became the first Pacer to earn one of the NBA's major postseason awards. In helping the Pacers to a 41-41 record and their first playoff berth in six years, Person led the team in scoring with a 18.8 average and was second in rebounding on the team at 8.3. i "I'm happy, overjoyed," said Person. don't Chuck Person if iit ii ii hi i 1 it 1 rr fc.