The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 32

FRIDAY, MAY IS. 1981 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR PAGE 33 Says IS AC-CART Hit must end Gurney: racing needs leadership Gurney, who built three Eagles for this year's race Mike Mnsley is his chauffeur in a Chevy -powered machine also feels the rules should be liberal enough to allow for a variety of engines to be utilized in big-car racing, especially at the Speedway here, a race described as "the greatest spectacle in racing UNDER RULES ANNOUNCED for next year, only stock block engines are legal for the 66th running of the Indy 500 "I have many serious questions about an all-stock engine field," said Gurney. "I've always had a certain pleasure being a maverick, of bucking the trend. The engine controversy is another thing to distract us from trying to reach our potential in racing. I hate to see an engine just ruled out, and I hate to see one engine being dominant.

I think we have a reasonable set of rules now Gurney also thinks it is "the height of ridiculousness'" to develop an engine like the British Cosworth (winning power plant here the last three years until it has reached maximum efficiency and performance and then "stick a little valve ipopoff valve i on it so it won't run very good (The valve is used as a governor so the engine won't exceed the allowable boost i. It seems like we are sawing off the wrong end of the limb all the time," said Gurney. "I would think if we're going to have a turbocharged engine i formula, the engines should be small enough so they won't have to run a popoff valve. Then the sanctioning body (USACl wouldn't have to have a 100-man police force trying to enforce the rule. "The fewer rules we have, the better off we should be bVK pi (( 1 it.

CL Are they more intelligent ithan race drivers)' My answer, in all sincerity, is. as a general rule, absolutely not. "Then, why is there this giant discrepancy i in earningsi? In rewards for tremendous effort, dedication, talent, what then is the difference? The conclusion, to me, is that their sports entertainment industry has somehow given birth to leadership that has taken them from maybe where we are to where they are now. Basically, it's done by leadership." Indy car racing, Gurney is convinced, is operating "in a leadership vacuum. I don't think our industry has managed to give birth to that type of leadership yet." GURNEY FEELS THE "pain of almost dying" united influential people in other pro sports, and uniting was the only way they found they could operate profitably.

"In the final analysis, racing survived in many ways despite itself, because those in it love it," said Gurney. 'But we need to be more aware of fans' likes and dislikes." If those with a high stake in the future of racing quit looking at it "from a narrow viewpoint, there is still a chance for some sort of unity (between CART and USAC)," Gurney said. At this stage, however, he feels that one side looks "a whole lot weaker than the other." The weak link is USAC, he said, because it has only two major races on its 1981 calendar, the 500 milers here and at Pocono. By KURT FREUDENTHAL What Indianapolis-type auto racing needs to achieve the prominence of such other professional sports as football, basketball and baseball is leadership, plain and simple. So says Dan Gurney, the former All-American boy of racing and now boss of All American Racers, and originator of the famous Eagles that have won the Indianapolis 500 three times.

Gurney, twice runner-up in the Indy 500 tin 1968 and '69 1, for years has been one of champ car racing's most dedicated and most concerned members. He has served on the boards of the United States Auto Club and on the rival CART i Championship Auto Racing Teams), and he deplores the rift that led to the formation of CART. That split, he emphasized Thursday, when rain washed out the fourth day of running since the Speedway track opened for business May 2, must end if champ racing in the U.S. is to survive and prosper. "THE FULL POTENTIAL of Indy car racing as a sports entertainment industry cannot be reached until we have leadership," said Gurney.

And only that leadership, he said, can lead to greater prosperity for its members. "A lot of professional athletes, in baseball, golf, basketball, football are extremely well to do," said Gurney. 'Do they work harder at their sport entertainment business? Do they take more risks? tev i y2 i inn-' (S)w Plata) John Dan C.urnev flisctisK unique car Schwitzer Award goes to John Ward SRKITUMI 2786 LAFAYETTE RD. EAGLEDALE PLAZA LOUNGE yaks tPIT PASS P.S.SS. $59 7174448 291-1295 8444099 2474426 EXPOIOWl 421 BOWl WOODLAND WESTERN HMPRItES GOOD WITH COUPON ONlYHHBHi throttle stuck, said he might have a new set of wheels but wouldn't say who owns them.

And Bubby Jones, the sprint car ace whose been commuting from Ascot Park (that's in A to the Speedway for the past two weeks, has stepped out of the rattlesnake racing EagleChevy. THE MILLER High Life Pit Stop competition is scheduled to get underway with preliminaries this morning at 8 30 weather permitting and will be continued after the track closes this evening with the final slated for next Thursday. rTHE SOCIETY of Automotive En- gineers, Indiana Section, Thursday presented its Louis Schwitzer Award to John Ward, a member of Dan Gurney's All American Racers crew. The award is given for innovation and engineering excellence in the field of Indianapolis-type championship car design Ward was honored for the creation of the Pepsi Challenger ground effects car for the team headed by Gurney, designer of the famous Eagles and twice runner-up in the Indianapolis 500. The latest Gurney Eagle was designed with the assistance of a unique ground effects wind tunnel in Gurney's racing plant at Santa Ana.

Calif. The award includes a $1,000 cash prize from the Schwitzer Engine Components Group, Wallace Murray Corp. an individual trophy and the winner's name is added to a permanent trophy on display in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Andy Granatelli was the first recipient in 1967. Others include Gurney (twice), Colin Chapman.

Bruce McLaren, Smokey Yunick, A J. Foyt. Parnelli Jones, Jim Hall and Geoff Ferris. Schwitzer, for whom the award is named, drove in the first 500 here in 1911 and served as chief of the technical committee from 1919 to 1945. He pioneered the development of superchargers, blowers, turbochargers and engine cooling components.

Islanders top Stars t'niondale, Y. (AP) Denis Potvin scored two goals, including a power-play tally eight minutes into the third period that helped give the New York Islanders a 6-3 victory over the Mmnnesota North Stars Thursday night, giving the Islanders a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup finals. Mike Bossy, with his 14th and 15th goals of the playoffs, tied a record with 29 points in one postseason The record was set a year ago by teammate Bryan Trottier, who in this game broke Bobby Orr's record of points in consecutive playoff games. His assist on Bossy's second goal of the night gave him a point in all 15 Islander playoff games this year. The next two games of the best-of-7 National Hockey League championship series will be played at Bloomington, Sunday and Tuesday nights.

The North Stars climbed out of a J-l hole to knot the score on Steve Payne's 14th goal of the playoffs 30 seconds into the third period. But New York took advantage of a tripping penalty on Neal Broten as Potvin fired a 40-foot wrist shot past a screened Don Beaupre in the THE FAST AND furious game of Musical Drivers" picked up'Thursday. Phil Threshie, a two-time Indy starter, has agreed to drive Don Mergard's McLarenChevy after walking around for two weeks. Dick Ferguson, who qualified for his initial May classic a year ago, has literally taken over one of Larry Cannon's Kraco Stereo Wildcats. Fergy is providing his own crew, since Cannon's chief, Danny Jones, has his hands full with "Boom Boom's" PC-7 and the other WildcatDGS, which Bob Harkey gets in this morning.

Spike Gehlhausen, who totaled Herb Wysard's Eagle Wednesday when the Huy 4 gallons ff any Olympic product. (39 1 more if ree. Minnesota goal iilTlFUl LASTING PROTECTION i I mi PRESERVES WOOO BEAUTIFULLY aj -4 4ViiTii3 PWRECT FACTORY OUTLET FLAT ROOF LEAKS? COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL For a Free Estimate CALL 247-6776 MID-STATES ROOFING Inc. SI34 fortune Circle W. Tircetonc Rubber-Card 0ME3CDKF iSUWNfco WATER CLEAN-UP DRIES FAST FLAT pnQh FOR PAINTED WOOD HARCBOARD STUCCO MASONRY GALVANIZED METAL OGfHPtt (UWWTf EO 00 WOOD SIOING SwKES I SMiNOfl mm fENCES- DECKS OMCfjt! MMm on ii TODAY THRU 4- Cushion Your Bike Seat with Plush Genuine Sheepskin and Save $4.00 NEW 750's Olympic Weather Screen Olympic Overcoat.

The house paint that's tested tough to take on the weather. Its durable acrylic finish protects your home season after season, year after year. Goes on easy and cleans up fast. NEW GOLDWINGS NEW I139600 NEW HONDA MOPEDS HUNDREDS OF NEW HONDAS ON SALE! Olympic Stain Semi-Transparent Oil penetrates to protect wood in 36 wood-tone colors. Solid Color Oil protects wood with 30 rich and long-lasting earth colors.

Solid Color Latex lets you stain over paint with rich, mellow color. The stain and wood preservative that stands up to the weather-to give you extra protection where you need it most. Repels water and guards against mildew, rot and decay SUM IdAAC REGISTER FOR FREE MSSKIT NO UKHUI MCIUUT rou flNANCl PLANS We Will Trade Per Almost Anything And Finance The lalance lurry. Sola endsQiy 31st at these Olympic Dealers: 1U" Rid ia Sty It A Comfort Stay cooler the utimf tun Sottenj ouf fide neip pri'vent tatiqu loo Cewel Gallons with speoal pnee labe's 't not included ts oef Mff can GREATLY OVERSTOCKED 150 MUST GO! CASH REBATES FOR DOWN PAYMENTS OR ACCESSORIES OR CASH IN POCKET. All Honda Acmsorios at Discount Pricttl OF INDIANAPOLIS 4930 N.

Keystone DAILY 9 a.m.-9 p.m. CARMEL MAHAN'S ACE HDWE. 110 West Main STEWART-CAREY 1307 S. Rangel'me Rd. COLUMBUS DUNLAP'S HOME IMPR.

CTR. 3040 National Rd. CRAWFORDSVILLE LUMBER INC. 2208 Indianapolis Rd. TOWN COUNTRY HOME CTR.

STEWART-CAREY All Locotions WRIGHT BACHMAN. INC. 4343 W. ST St. LAWRENCE LOWE'S LEBANON LUMBER CENTER 3C3 West South St.

MARTINSVILLE BLACK LUMBER CO. 333 W. Washington St. FRANKLIN LOEWS GREENFIELD NEWCOMER LUMBER 125 State Ct. GREENWOOD STEWART-CAREY Wilgro Shopping Center INDIANAPOLIS I ACE HARDWARE 21st MitthoeHer A-1 ACE HARDWARE 5028 E.

62nd A-1 ACE HARDWARE 1300 E. 86th St. ALUMINUM SERV. ACE HDWE. 441 S.

Ritter CHAPEL HILL ACE HDWE. 7435 W. 10th St. DUNLAP'S HOME IMPRVMN7 CTR. 8502 Westfield Blvd.

HWI HARDWARE 7222 Rockville Rd. LOWE'S MITEE HANDY All locations STEWART-CAREY 6601 West Woshtng'on a MOORESVILLE NEWCOMER LUMBER 144 East High St. NEW CASTLE LOWE'S NOBLESVILLE AMERICAN INTERIORS, INC. 509 E. Conner MITEE HANDEE Two locations SOUTHPORT CAVIDSON'S HOME SPLY.

CTR. 2110 E. SouVrtRd. WESTFIELD 1711 N. Illinois Indianapolis 923-234 S300 W.

38tk St Monty Crook Plaza Indianapolis 2994509 7S31 1 MwidiM Si Mianapolii IS1S64S MMCokMNtatAvt. Andorsoo t49-C30O i SUNDAY NOON-4 p.m. 401 E. Wh Blvd. Sutttl.