The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 27

Obituaries 33 Classified 33-41 Sports The Indianapolis Star MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1983 PAGE 27 Terrific Tee wins a gam g8n: Benner By ROBIN MILLER, Star Sportswriter Lexington, Ohio Teo Fabi says he hasnt made up his mind about what to drive or for whom in 1984. But there undoubtedly are plenty of Championship Auto Racing Teams regulars who wish he'd go back to Formula One. The little road racing rocket from Milan, Italy, left the CART corps in his wake DULL IN the reins, Indiana fans. The Hoosiers aren't ready to gallop yet But they might, just might, proceed at a much faster gait than many expected in Sam Wyche's first year. Granted, a season-opening 15-10 victory over a winless Duke team is not the stuff that Rose Bowls are Sunday at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course with an effortless victory in the Escort 200.

After problems beset pole-sitter Bobby Rahal, John Paul Jr. and Al Unser Fabi's only challenge was to refrain from falling asleep as he finished 26 seconds ahead of runner-up Mario Andretti. made of. one time, that he never came close to losing the lead during his final pit stop on Lap 57. "I HAD A LOT of overs teer before my first stop and the car just wasnt right" explained Fabi.

"But after we changed tires, the car felt super the rest of the way." With his win, the man classified as an Indy-car "rookie" now finds himself second in the CART standings 27 points behind Al Unser Sr. with four races left He's being courted by at least two F-l teams for '84 and, obviously, the Forsythe Brothers want their Fabi-lous find to return. "I don't know what I'm going to do at this point" Teo said. "I just want to think about the next race (Michigan)." Only the top three drivers completed the full distance, as Andretti took advantage of Rahal's four pit stops to take second in the Budweiser Lola. "The car just wouldn't stay consistent under braking," said Andretti.

"We also had a little trouble with our popoff valve. It wasn't real good and it wasn't real bad." Rahal, who captured the Riverside, race two weeks ago when Fabi had air jack failure, salvaged third for owner Jim True-man despite his two unscheduled stops. "OBVIOUSLY A valve in the fuel tank broke or something because we could only fill about half a tank on each stop," said Rahal, who broke the track Indy-car qualifying record by five mph Friday. "I'd come out of a corner, the fuel would leave the surge tank and the car would sputter. "Then the car would straighten up with no forces and start running again.

I think we had 'em covered. I had Mario beat even with four stops, until I almost stopped on the backstretch near the end." Unser bothered by a fogging shield on his helmet wound up fourth with 83 laps in the HertzPenske PC10B. Danny Ongais finally gave Pat Patrick's team a finish by bringing home the STP March in fifth, with 83 laps. Sixth went to Kevin Cogan, who came from 15th starting spot in the Caesars Palace March. Teammate Tom Sneva was seventh in the Texaco Star March.

Defending CART champion Rick Mears would have been seventh, but tangled with brother Roger on the last lap and wound up ninth. Howdy Holmes, who lost two laps in the pits when his clutch pitched, was the fastest car on the track the last 30 laps and earned eighth in the Domino's Pizza March. Ed Pimm won the Robert Bosch Super-V race following the CART show. Sunday's ninth stop on the PPG Industries trail began as a pretty competitive show and wound up a good cure for insomnia. RAHAL, UTILIZING normally-aspirated Chevrolet power instead of a turbocharged Cosworth for the first time, bolted in front and stayed there for 18 laps.

But he was forced into the pits the next time around because his Red Roof Inns March had developed a fuel pickup problem. That left John Paul who started third, in charge and he stayed there through Lap 26 with Al Unser Jr. filling up his mirrors. Paul and Little Al both pitted on Lap 27, giving Fabi the lead. When Teo stopped, Andretti assumed command from laps 30-33.

By the time Mario stormed in for fuel, John Paul was out of action with gearbox trouble in his VDS PC 10. Little Al, who took the green flag sixth in the Coors Light Eagle, set the pace from laps 34 47 with Fabi in close pursuit It appeared those two might have a great duel to the end but Unser's afternoon ended with a broken engine on Lap 48. So Fabi, who started second and fell back to fourth in the early going, found himself all alone at the top. His advantage was so lengthy, as much as 45 seconds at But the manner with which the Hoosiers won coming from a 10-0 deficit and driving 84 yards on the ground to the winning points late in the fourth quarter indicated two things. One, they are obviously in condition and, two, they obviously fcSaJ March 83C covered the have some character.

In similar over the years, Indiana has lost a lot more than it has won. FaW. 84 laps in just more than two hours for an average speed of 98.755 miles per hour. Fabi never relinquished the top spot after Lap 48. It was Fabi's second triumph of the '83 season, but ironically, the initial road-course win for the 28 year-old who spent two years in the Grand Prix circus.

Wyche was encouraged by the fact that his team "hopefully played as bad as we're going to play and still came out on top. While the offense did not produce the yardage nor the points that might have been expected, Wyche said Sunday he kept his pro-set, multiple-sets attack simple Connors wins 5tli Open title for a good reason. "WE HAD a completely green horn quarterback in there," he commented, referring to sophomore Steve Bradley, who hadn't taken a "live" snap in three years. "We've got a lot more to do, a lot more in our rerjcrtoire than we showed. But we felt it was important the first week not to be too flashy or it could backfire.

We let things hap pen in very normal way. "And we might do that again this week against Kentucky until we get Steve settled down and the rest of the offense in place. Then we can do a lot more with it Surprisingly, it was the defense under the guidance of assistant Ron Corradini that was as freelance and scrambled as the offense his 23-year-old opponent let the pressure get to him. "I don't think he was choking." Connors said. "He's a little bit lax in the final because he's never won one.

I don't think choking is the right word. I think he's thinking about it and wondering when it's going to happen." Both men blew numerous opportunities during the first three sets. In the first 24 games there were 12 service breaks and Lendl, who had been broken only five times in six previous matches, was broken 11 times by Connors during the three-hour and three-minute contest Lendl, virtually invincible through his first six matches when he didn't lose a set ran into immediate problems with a determined and confident rival. Although he had six aces in the opening set four of them in his first two service games, Lendl managed to put in only 43 percent of his first serves and was broken twice. Connors got off to a running start, holding serve at 15 and breaking at 30, thanks to a pair of double faults by Lendl.

But with Connors serving at 40-0 in the third game, Lendl came back for his lone break of the set when Connors double-faulted on the final point Connors, See OPEN Page 31 "I think I was tough enough. If you keep doing mistakes like that it doesn't matter how good you are or how tough you are, you're never going to win." Connors, who started limping earlier in the set as the result of a slight toe injury suffered during Saturday's semifinal, broke in the 12th game to take the set when Lendl sent a forehand long. "He played a pretty awful game to lose the set" Connors said. "He missed three or four balls for no reason." Now on a roll, and with the sellout crowd loudly on his side, Connors made the decisive break in the second game of the fourth set Then, sensing the end, Connors, who had only six aces during the match, served three of them in the third game. Lendl managed to ward off two match points on his service in the sixth game, but Connors achieved the prized victory on his third match point with a crosscourt return.

"TO HAVE a chance to do it once again is a thrill," Connors said immediately following the victory. "After winning last year and playing so well, I thought I'd come back this year another time." Connors, who beat Lendl for the 11th time in 14 career meetings, was gracious in victory, refusing to say had been expected to be. The Hoosier defenders were constantly in motion, putting from three to 11 players on the line, often in the space of an instant New York (UPI) His toe was aching, his stomach was grumbling and the heat was wearing him down. But all Jimmy Connors needed was one break, one little opening, and for the fifth time he was able to capture the U.S. Open championship.

Jumping all over the one opportunity, pumping himself up in the fading sunlight of another brilliant afternoon, Connors swept through the last 10 games Sunday and as dusk settled in he had himself a runaway 6 3, 6 7, 7 5, 60 victory over Ivan Lendl. It was the second straight year Connors beat the unfortunate Czechoslovakian in the final, and as a fitting tribute it marked his 100th tournament singles success. With the $120,000 first prize, the 31-year-old left-hander also became the first man to go over $5 million in career earnings. The big break for Connors on another scorching day, with the temperature reaching 107 degrees at courtside, came in the 10th game of the third set when Lendl double-faulted at set point Connors took advantage by breaking serve to pull even at 5 5, and Lendl couldn't win another game the rest of the match. "IVAN SERVED for the third set" Connors said.

"When I broke him that game it lifted me and I think he got a little dejected. From that point on you never know if you can wear him down, but from there I thought I took a little control." Lendl, who once more will have to explain time after time why he can't win the' big one, admitted, "After the double-fault I never recovered mentally. It was a rubber band defense stretching, but not snapping as it allowed Duke more than 400 yards total offense, but only 10 points And, at last report, points are still used in determining the outcome. Wyche showed he's willing to take risks. On the Hoosiers' first possession the first possession of his head coaching career he passed on a field goal attempt on fourth down at the Duke 20 and went for the first Indiana didn't get it but Sam says "if the statistics and percentages are right" he'll do fPr'Zf'- "Nv, it again, and almost always any time I.U.

is inside the 10. Dunlop SP4 Steel Belted metric radial 5. "3- Unltad Pitts InttriMtional 95 AND HE showed his smarts, utilizing a previously unseen option series on Indiana's winning drive. It 26! U5il3 Will PIUS F.E.T. NOT Jimmy Connors reacts to winning crucial point Defeated Ivan Lend tor U.S.

Open men's singles title caught Duke off guard and clicked Mft7V IVIUi. I for three big plays, including the DEZ mT STWET $39.93 175U $41.93 18514 $44.95 1857014 $46.95 $49.95 15513 $19.95 14513 $3195 1457013 $37.95 1757013 $3.95 1857013 $4195 i TO THE I1 COZY i tm. 1 4" I I deciding touchdown. Winning the first one "takes the pressure off." Wyche conceded. "There's so much pressure on the forLUINUm xt.

ti.a rtm Tits rr REBUILT CARBURETORS coach and team not to go for string DOUBLES FRIENDLY PEOPLE DO! 115 EAST WABASH Kovaleski sheds his rookie stripes early F3995 TAN AND of defeats that winning takes the pressure off. This win gives us confidence in ourselves although, after looking at the films, we probably didn't deserve to win the ball HM MtM 4 HadM Yf St-Wf REBOU FOREIGN W3 CAR CARBURETORS. LARGE STOCK OF AMERICAN RESULT CARBURETORS. game. We were not playing well enough.

"But the defense played just COMPUTERIZED TUNE-UP. well enough to save the game and the offense came up with enough key plays late in the game-to put some points on the board. By JOHN BANSCH Assistant Sports Editor "Where's my favorite Polish linebacker," the deep, gruff voice boomed. Time and time again the same words were heard in the steamy, noisy, cramped rooms which serve as the dressing quarters for visiting football teams at Purdue's Ross Ade Stadium. The speaker was George Kelly, coach of Notre 4 tL Itoit Can.

AM UM Nf I CyL "If you don't play well and get $2495 CARNEGIE COURSE in Effective Speaking, Human Relations, Self-Confidence, Memory Training, Selling Your Ideos, Overcome Worry and Tension. ENROLL NOW FOR NEW SEPTEMBER CLASS Call 545-7641 for information or Reservation MStNTEOBY the first game out of way and still win all on one afternoon, then it's promising." It's promising if you choose to BRAKE SPECIAL take an optimistic look at the schedule. The next foe is 2-0 Kentucky, whose victories have been over Central Michigan and winless Hart Can U. Traati. M.

tk(M Mara. 95 ROBERT O. HANES A ASSOCIATES Dame long list of brilliant linebackers since 1969. The object of his search was Mike Kovaleski, an 18 year-old freshman from New Castle, Ind. Eventually, Kelly located Kovaleski in one of the small sections of the worst excuse for a football dressing room in' the Big Ten.

By that time, so had several reporters, so all the coach could do was stand to the side and smile as Kovaleski explained his role in Notre Dame's 525 thrashing of the Boilermakers. Kelly didnt want to steal the Kansas State. Then comes Northwestern, Michigan, Minnesota and Michigan State. Only Michigan is $24 If 4 Classes also starting in Terra Haute Lafayette. TVw 4 UnwteaalarBM taanaai 4 Famp CanT AUTO TECH 2594935 out of Indiana's league, and a record of 5-1 after six games is not out of the question.

How well Kovaleski performed is quite evident by the statistics. The rookie was credited with 10 tackles, including one for a loss, and two pass deflections. As Kelly listened, Kovaleski attempted to downplay his showing. "I was just trying to do my job," said the two-time all-state pick. "The coaches prepared me well.

Nothing came as a surprise. As long as I remembered my instructions I was all right" Kovaleski admitted to being very nervous until making the tackle on Purdue's first offensive play. "The air conditioning was blowing full force in my room Friday night but I was still sweating," he said. "When I did fall asleep I did a lot of dreaming about this game. I dreamed I made good plays and did the right things.

I didn't want to fail." Once he became involved in the action, Kovaleski said he became confident "It wasn't that much differ ent from playing at New Castle," the Irish freshman observed. "They play football at this level the same way we did in high school. The only difference is people are bigger and quicker. The instincts which helped me in high school helped me against Purdue." KOVALESKI WAS a good basketball player in high school. He said his experience in the sport made a difference Saturday.

"I was a forward and I had to battle strong people when going for a rebound and those lessons came into play in this game," Kovaleski explained. "When I went up to go one on one with a tight end for a pass it was like going for a rebound against a power forward. You see the ball and then you react" Irish Coach Gerry Faust informed Kovaleski more than a week ahead of time he would probably start the Purdue game. "Coach told me I would have a lot of responsibility, but that if he didnt think I could handle it he wouldn't give me the job," said the former New Castle star. "He told me to play just like I did in high school because that's the reason Notre Dame recruited me." Faust refused to take any credit Saturday for Kovaleski's effort Two people were responsible," said the coach, "George Kelly and Mike Kovaleski" Those words were spoken in front of Kelly.

They produced a smile, but it wasn't as big as the grin on the assistant coach's face as he eavesdropped on Kovaleski's first college press conference. A WEEK ago. though, Wyche Kovaleski was wondering aloud about the initial response from the press should I.U. lose to Duke. "I imagine it'll be something ring this coajpon for Specfas like, 'Now what's your next move, he said.

I that tftectalt Then, Saturday, he referred to the Fort Wayne Varsity Club send ing him a few dozen roses in the shape of a horseshoe. Said Wyche, mm $11" SSSff Rotate and 04 400 front Wheel M4QQ Balance 1 1" Bearing! J3 ()TW Repacked MM I didn't know if they were for good luck or for the burial." scene from the 210-pound rookie pressed into a starting role against Purdue after Mike Larkin suffered a broken arm. The coach preferred to let Kovaleski enjoy the moment he deserved after playing so well in his first college game. LATER, THOUGH, Kelly had a few words to say about the first-year player. They were all good.

"He went from 18 to 21 in a hurry," Kelly said, the sweat dripping from every inch of his face. "Mike did well. I know he made some mistakes, but he did well. "Jim Johnson (the defensive coordinator) and I took turns getting Mike ready. One of us would jump him in practice and then the other would pat him on the back.

We reversed roles every so often, so he didn't quite know what was coming. "We never doubted his physical talent Our only concern was whether he could cover people in certain passing situations. A linebacker is no longer animalistic. He must be smart as well as mean. It's tough to cover tight ends and some running backs." However, come Sundav.

as he sat in his Assembly Hall office, whirring Kentucky game films back and forth, Wyche was not having to entertain hostile questions from the press. And he was most assuredly alive and well as well as 1-0 can be. It's a start.