The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 18

PAGE 18 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR- MONDAY, APRIL 2.1984 posts wire-to-wire LBGP wift waylayed by various problems. I rwir niv who started next to An By ROBIN MILLER, SUr Sportswriter Long Beach. Calif. Championship Auto Racing Teams has had some problems LTith scoring in the past But Mario Andretti jnade things real simple for them Sunday dretti. had to settle for seventh because of fading brakes and a misfiring engine ia the Provimi Veal March 84C Teo Fabi.

in the Skoal Bandit Mprch 84C, ran second throughout the early going -iimioon. Starting on the pole, Andretti led every vomer of everv lao to capture the ninth before spinning oui on w(i i. annual Long Beach Grand Prix. was coming up to lap them. He had a six-second lead after 10 laps, was 1J seconds ahead after 20 and was 30 seconds out in front by Lap 30.

"There were some times when I was pretty lonely out there," deadpanned Andretti. who won this California street race in 1977 driving for Lotus. "I kept asking my chief mechanic (Darrell Soppe) to talk to me on the radio. "But seriously, it was one of those days you dream about The car was sensational, everything we were hoping for." Andretti' triumph was his 37th in Indy cars, his ninth on road courses and marked the first time someone had led flag to flag since A J. Foyt turned the trick back in 1975 at Ontario.

Calif. He covered the 112 laps (187 miles) around the 11 turn, 1 67 mile circuit in two hours, 15 minutes and 23 seconds-at an average speed of 82 898 miles per hour. THERE WAS nothing in the car that didnt work properly." said Andretti. who collected 871X0 for the Cart HaasPaul Newman team. "My car felt as good as any Formula One car ever did." The reason for that could be the fact Nigel Bennett, who worked for Lotus during Mario's successful 1 years, designed the 1984 Lola.

Unlike the "83 version, which didn't get untracked until late in the season, the 800 appears to be a superior model. "I was very happy Nigel came along." continued the 1978 world champion. "He's got a lot of experience and insight and we earned from last year's mistakes." Brabham, whose steady, unspectacular style makes him vastly underrated in this business, turned in a fine drive in his debut with the Kraco Stereo stable. His March. 84C only hit on seven cylinders all day, but he still managed to be the only other man to go the full distance.

"I thought every lap might be my last," Brabham, who earned J52J00 for second. "But somehow the engine stayed together. Even though I had trouble getting past people on the straightaway, the car worked welL" TAKING THIRD a big surprise considering his past record on road courses was Tom Sneva in the Texaco March 84C This is the same guy who raced at Las Vegas last year." cracked the 1983 Indy 500 winner, referring to his many off-course excursions at Caesars Palace. This team has a lot more road racing experience and I feel that's what made the difference today." Rookie Jim Crawford wound up fourth in the United Breweries Theodore, with two-time world champ Emerson Fittipaldi bringing his WIT March 83C home fifth in his CART debut Most of the expected contenders were i iic acrmingiy yrdr-vm vein an squeezed the fight out of his competition I.at the beginning and had them gasping for ir bi ine cnccrrca nag en tAnii iw i opener. I AKinRPTTI MIC RnHuA.r I Ala TJMfl MIKE CHANDLER was runnirjg a strong second in Dan Gurney's new before a failing gearbox KO'dhim after 58 laps.

And Al Unser Jr, up as high as Jhird. dropped out with electrical failure ii the Coors Light March 84C. There was only one actual accjpent when Bobby Rahal spun and collected Howdy Holmes on Lap 71. but neither driver was injured. Next stop on the PPG Industries tril is IDerformintT flawlessly, wound ud 63.2 sec i- -i a -tr ft it I C-t I fktll Anlu flMTAf Ka I 14 a A Af Iwhat a rout this really was.

sn.i i i i uiner man me pace lap, me oniy ume Phoenix on April IS. -ailjr Vllll Ul 11119 9w jilal 11 wa wircru ill. by Jeff Millar Bill Hinds TANK WmXOARX ll VUA LOOTING FOC N6W I Z' I ear i Btr iyaelr POO I IN tOOJO. VUORK II i Gen tsuRKiep ocrrt Expos trim roster, Tribe gets 4 players can By MAX STIXTZ Star Sportswriter t' Lantana. Fla.

The Indianapo lis Indians added strength in all departments for Friday night's 7. American Association opener at outfielders Ken Baker and Rusty McNealy. Rochester. AAA farm of Baltimore, played longball Sunday afternoon to hand the Indians their fourth exhibition reverse. 10-3.

Starter Mark Williams. Larry Glasscock. Bill Sattler and Gilbreath each surrendered a two run homer. Only Mike Kinnunen, who one hit the Wings in the fifth and sixth, avoided being raked. when Montreal announced .4 c.

r. AIM4. If Checkers open playoffs Friday on Colorado ice nn auj uieaaf-u Willi Wlicu Jldll ager Buck Rodgers believes will be solid mound staff, the Indians obtained promising southpaw Joe Hesketh. And they picked up three proven performers in outfielder Gene Roof, third baseman Brad Mills and catcher Sal Butera. Hesketh.

signed by the Expos in 1980. was 8 2 for West Palm Beach but later required elbow surgery which sidelined him all of 11 and three months of the "82 season. Last year, the 25 year old Larkawana (N Y) native posted a combined 11 9 record in 26 starts for Memphis and Wichita. Roof, a switch hitter from Padu cah. Ky, has spent four years in the a chance to stick because of a dislocated knuckle.

He wound up in 81 contests at Wichita, thumping enemy hurlers for eight homers and a .317 average. The 27 year old lefty batter also collected 21 doubles and 48 RBI. Butera's background includes three American League seasons with Minnesota and Detroit Released by the Tigers after hitting .297 for Evansville last year, Butera signed an Expos' contract in December. "With his experience and know-how. Sal will be my pitching coach on the field." declared Rodgers.

Butera joins George Bjorkman. who reported a couple of days ago, and they'll battle it for the No. 1 receiving job. The acquisition Saturday of outfielder Max Venable from San Francisco also is seen as a big plus. Drafted out of the Los Angeles system by the Giants in 1978.

Venable completed the trade in which Montreal sent first baseman Al Oliver to the west coast. VENABLE. 26. hit just .219 in 94 games for the Giants last season his first full major league campaign. But he showed promise with six homers.

27 RBI and 15 stolen bases. The Indians also made some moves, getting closer to the Associa tion player limit of 22. Sent to lower clubs in the Montreal chain were pitchers Larry Gilbreath. Greg Johnson. Andy Krzamk.

Mark Schuler and Bob Tenenini; catcher Nelson Santo-venia: infielders Dave Hoeksema. Tim Thiessen and John Damon, and At The Threshold takes Jim Beam Florence. Ky. (UPI) New York bred At The Threshold, a Kentucky Derby nominee ridden by Pat Day, beat out a field of Derby-bound candidates Sunday in going to a one length win in the 8300.000 Jim Beam Slakes at Latonia. At The Threshold's stretclnlrive victory over the 1 116 mile oval was clocked at 142 4 5.

four fifths of a second off the track record. He paid $9 40. 85 20 and $4 20 and picked up 8195.000 as the winner's share of the purse. Whittington OK Veteran race car driver Don Whittington escaped serious injury early Sunday afternoon when his car crashed into the first turn wall at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during testing. Whittington complained of pain in his right ankle but refused medical treatment niniiaaii njwv lauun iui ailing field and IiuisviIIp ithen lhf fnrmpr By BILL PICKETT The Indianapolis Checkers will open defense of their CHL Adams Cup championship Friday night in Denver's McNichols Arena against the Colorado Flames, who claimed first place during the regular season.

The Checkers were relegated to fourth place and their first season in their five seasons here when Salt Lake City defeated them here Friday night in overtime. 54. They then had to wait until Saturday's final game of the regular season when Salt Lake returned home to take on the last place Montana Magic. It was no contest in the Salt Palace as the Golden Eagles claimed third place with a 62 victory. Thus, the Checkers will depart Indianapolis Thursday for Denver and Games 1 and 2 of the semifinal series Friday and Saturday against the Flames.

The Checkers won only one of 10 games there during the season and are a poor 4 14 against Colorado for the year. As far as the Checkers are concerned, though, it's a brand new season. Forget their 34 36 2 finish. Eight more victories will bring a third consecutive Adams Cup. The series will move to Indianapolis and the Fairgrounds Coliseum for Games 3 and 4 April 10 and 13 and.

if needed. Game 5 April 14. Should Games 6 and 7 in the best seven series be necessary, they would be played in Denver April 17 and 19. The winner of this series will play the winner! of the Salt Lake-Oilers semifinal set which will be played entirely in the Salt Palace since the Oilers have no home. Tickets for the Checkers playoff home games for the first series are on sale during regular working hours at the State Fair box office.

Five players were honored Sunday at the Checkers Booster Club Appreciation Dinner at Sheraton Est Awards went to Tim Lockrtdge. top defensive player. Jacques Sylvestre. rookie of the year, Roger Koriko. unsung hero; Garth MacGuigan, most valuable pllyer.

and Red Laurence, top scorer. USC women win again-; Los Angeles (AP) Twins Pam and Paula McCee scored 17 points each Sunday as Southern California topped Tennessee. 72 61. to capture its second strht NCAA women's basketball championship. Pam McGce also grabbed 12 rebounds for South ern Cal.

which rallied from a five point deficit irQhe second half to win going away. All American Chjryl Miller added 16 points for the fifth ranked Udy Trojans, who finished their season with a 29 4 reoird. Tanya Haave and Mary Ostrowski scored 18 points apiece to lead 15th ranked Tennessee, which comfllet ed its campaign with a 2910 record. franchise changed locations. The expos gin mm on waivers irom ine -St Louis Cardinals.

Though not a power belter. Roof owns three straight .300 plus sea sons in the Association with a high of .348 for Springfield in 1981. HE NOTCHED a solid .309 with Louisville last year, delivering '23 doubles, driving home 60 runs and stealing 20 bases. Mills, who signed with Montreal five years ago. earned a berth on the Expos roster last season but lost rm a 1 A XZ V-r- spirit oi Manooro jiWsk, in a low tar cigarette.

mm s-M I 'if hm Lights 1 -oi-' 4 Marlliora LIGHTS Jh Wamirg: The Surjccn General Has Ceterrr.ircH That Cigargtie Smcking Is id Your Hea'i'n.