The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 29

MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 1996 P3 r- m- ruirlTfrnfr-i' Tf- THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR farrett's season keeps getting sunnier AFIDRETTI Continued from Page 1 MMJOBL ffl Rahal, celebrating his sponsor's 25th year of motorsports Involvement, charged back from 15th to take a well-deserved second In the Miller Genuine '96 LolaMercedes. "Considering I came Into the pits on our first stop, then CART closed them and I had to go around and come back in again, then we lost the clutch on that stop, and we lost all those spots, it was a pretty good result," said Rahal. Pole sitter Alex Zanardi banged wheels with front-row starter Gil de Ferran on the first lap, dropped to 12th and came back to take third In the Target '96 Reynard-Honda. To be honest, I don't know how we did it because we simply didn't have what we did (Saturday In qualifying)," said Zanardi. Stefan Johansson came through with his finest drive of '96 by bringing his Alumax '96 ReynardMercedes from 21st to fourth.

'The car had been good all weekend, we Just didn't get many laps In qualifying," said Johansson, who lost an engine one lap Into Saturday's timed session. "I was able to run with the lead pack and It's probably the best the car has been all year." could have cut the margin to two points with a win. But finishing 10th instead of first, while Vasser got sixth, left Unser 21 points behind heading to Vancouver and Laguna Seca. "My team gave me super (pit) stops, a super car and I couldn't have asked for a better car," said Unser, who had the Milwaukee race In hand before losing to An-drettl on a late restart. "This was the most fun I've had all year and I had no Indication the engine was going to break." Andrettl, no stranger to bad breaks, empathized with his longtime friend and competitor.

"I feel bad for Al. He deserved to win, but I know how he feels because I ran out of fuel on the last lap while leading in 1989 at the same corner," said the 1991 CART champion after collecting his fourth win of '96 In the Kmart-Texaco '96 LolaFord. "Christian (Fittipaldl, Andrettl's teammate who broke while running second, six laps from the end) also deserved better and I don't think I had anything for either of them." maneuvers his 88 car past Mark Brickyard winner chalks up his fourth victory of the season, at Michigan International. By Harry Atkins ASSOCIATED PRESS BROOKLYN. Mich.

More celebration for Dale Jarrett. More frustration for Mark Martin. Jarrett, enjoying the best season of his career, won the CM Good wrench 400 on Sunday, his fourth victory of the year. Martin, winless In Winston Cup 'racing this season, led for 87 laps before Jarrett buzzed by him with seven laps remaining. The margin of victory was 0.

168 of a second. "1 just never could get to the front until there at the end," said Jarrett, whose first Winston Cup win came almost exactly five years ago at the same Michigan International Speedway. "But that's the right time, If we're going to wait to do it." Jarrett had won only four Winston Cup races before 1996. His first career victory was Aug. 17, 1991.

at Michigan. "It brings back a lot of memo-'rles," Jarrett said. "The Wood Brothers gave me that first victory -and these guys (the crew of Robert Yates Racing) are giving me four year. They're just awesome." Martin, who has 18 career victories and at least one in each of the previous seven seasons, remained winless in 21 races this year. "We'll win the next one!" Martin said.

'They were just too good today." Jarrett has five top-five finishes, including two wins, in his last six races. If he wins the Southern 500 at Darlington on Sept. 1, Jarrett will become Just the second driver to claim the prize. Bill Elliott won In the first year it was offered, in 1985. Terry Labonte, the Winston Cup points leader, slipped past Ernie Irvan's Ford with two laps remaining to claim third place in his Chevrolet.

That left Labonte with 3,137 points and a comfortable 134-point lead over Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon, who tied for second. "It was a dogfight out there and we put In a solid run," Labonte Associated Press BEACHED: Greg Moore's Player's Reynard tears apart in a sand pit after colliding with Andre Ribeiro's car. THE HIGH ROAD: Dale Jarrett said. "I guess you could say we picked up points on one Dale (Earnhardt) and lost to the other Dale." Gordon and Earnhardt, both driving Chevys, finished fifth and 17th, respectively. Jarrett's victory gave Ford a sweep of the two Winston Cup races this year on Michigan's high-banked 2-mile oval.

It was the third consecutive top-five finish for Labonte, who has never won In 36 starts at Michigan. The key to the previous two Winston Cup races at Michigan was fuel mileage, but that wasn't as important as staying clear of traffic in this race. Last year's GM Goodwrench 400 had only three caution flags for 16 laps. In this year's Miller 400, there were only two cautions for nine laps. In that race.

Rusty Wallace went the final 52 laps without stopping for fuel to earn the victory. Wallace's average speed of 166.033 mph in that race set a track record. This race was much slower, with an average speed of 139.792 mph, because of eight cautions for 36 laps. All the leaders made their final pit stops under caution with 48 laps remaining. The final caution came with 13 laps, remaining after Earnhardt IRL NOTEBOOK start of the IRL's second season.

George said the IRL Is not locked in with starting the season during the summer In the future. "We talk about that and (will) review that," he said. "We've asked drivers and owners to write lmput into that. We just have to look at the situation." Grand marshal talks hoops Boston Celtic legend Larry Bird said, "Gentlemen, start your engines," as Sunday's grand marshal of the race. Earlier, he made an appearance In the press room and talked, of course, about NBA basketball.

Bird said he liked the escalating salaries for players, but disliked the Influx of players out of high school entering the league. "I just think the guys who go out and play hard and try to Improve their game are worth as much as the market goes for," he said. "If the owners want to give it Trus 203 (Top finishers) George downplays small IRL attendance Associated Press Martin, on the way to victory. VJinMmGup Gccdwrench 5C3 (Top finishers) i Driver Car i 1. Dale Jarrett Ford 2.

Mark Martin Ford 3. Terry Labonte Chevrolet 4. Ernie Irvan Ford 5. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 6. Bobby Labonte Chevrolet 7.

Johnny Benson Ponttoe 8. Ricky Rudd Ford 9. Jeff Burton Ford 10. Jimmy Spencer Ford Series potnta leader: T. Labonte (tie) Dale Earnhardt and Gordon, 3.003; Jarrett Martin 2,702.

Sunday's Indy-car race. "I told Robby he was going to have to give up the champagne and caviar for hot dogs and beer." said Sabates, who announced In July he was parting with company with driver Kyle Petty. Sabates also said the team was likely to switch from Pontiac to Chevrolets when Gordon comes on board. said. What he saw was three crippled cars blocking most of the track as he, with Jan Leaty at his side, raced for the finish line at about 140 mph.

The leaders were on the backstretch when the accident occurred. "It opened up a little bit" as one car limped toward the Inner wall, and a braking Hirshman was able to slip through, he said. "Fortunately, Jan got back In line so we didn't have any more cars wrecked out there." The situation occurred when caution flags slowed the race enough that it had to be shortened from 75 laps to 60. with a sprint to the finish over the last three laps on the 1.058-mile oval. Under NASCAR rules, when the caution flag comes out, the drivers race for position to the finish line before getting In line.

Flemke said he respects the de- cislon not to wave the red flag, but thinks race officials should have stopped the race. He suggested it might be time to rethink the rule. him." Sharp averaged 130.934 mph, but Stewart turned a 166.439 fastest race lap Just two laps before his forced retirement. Until that point, he had only one close call as he jetted away from everyone with ease. On Lap 67, Indy 500 champion Buddy Lazier cut low in Turn 2 to prevent a lapping pass and repeated the maneuver In Turn 4.

The second time, Stewart's right front wing touched Lazier's left rear wheel and Lazier's HemelgarnDelta Faucet ReynardFord spun into the wall. Stewart's engine sputtered at mid-race, but It was running smoothly again after the rain stop until it abruptly wouldn't run at all. "This stuff happens," Menard said. "We had 'em covered today, no doubt about it." and Ken Schrader collided near turn 4. Martin, who had been leading since lap 105, stayed on the track, along with Jarrett, Ir-van and Labonte.

After three laps under caution, the restart came with 10 laps to go, and the race was on. Jarrett made an unsuccessful move on the outside with nine laps remaining. He finally grabbed his first lead of the day on the next lap, passing Martin between turns 3 and 4. With four laps remaining, Martin tried to reclaim the lead in turn 4, but Jarrett wouldn't let him by on the Inside. Robby Gordon a stacker As reported In The Indianapolis Star in Sunday's editions, car owner Felix Sabates announced Sunday that Robby Gordon will leave the Indy-car circuit after this season to drive for Team Sabco In the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup campaign.

The announcement had been rumored for some time. It came at Michigan International Speedway, a day after the 27-year-old Gordon completed the final round of the International Race of Champions competition. Gordon, who finished second in the IROC series, signed the deal with Sabates, then returned to Elkhart Lake, for to them, they deserve it. The only thing I don't like, as you know being around me, Is the guy who doesn't go out and give the effort." Bird believes few high school graduates are ready for NBA play. He feels most college players are unprepared for the pro grind.

The Indiana State graduate said he always pushed for center Eric Montross of Lawrence North in Celtics meetings. He believes Montross will be an above-average player during the remainder of his career. The 7-footer was drafted by Boston but traded to Dallas In the offseason. Bird said Montross didn't fit Into coach M.L. Carr's style of play.

Prelim has scary finish A controversial NASCAR rule created a possibly tragic situation In the final 100 yards of a feather-lite modified race in a prelim to the IRL race. "Coming out of turn four, I couldn't believe what I saw there." winner Tony Hirshman ine that we had more than one or IVi gallons left." Reports from Foyt's crew Indicated there were four gallons still in the cell. "Being there at the end of the day, keep chargin', that's how you win races," Foyt said. "He drove just as I was trying to coach him on the radio." The four-time Indy 500 champ said he told Sharp to gas it on the last lap and If the car did run out of fuel he could coast across. "When A.J.

first gave me a chance to drive for him in '95 at the Speedway, I knew right then going In It was really special," Sharp said. "Every step of the way people would say, hey, this guy's long overdue for a victory. It's an honor to drive for him, but It's an even bigger honor to win a race for "It was kind of silly," sail the Indy 500 runner-up. "When Tracy went off the track, he kicked up a lot of dirt and I spun In It, went off the track and nosed into the tire barrier. I flipped over, but it looked a lot worse than It was." Johnstone, running seventh to begin the last lap, got Into a bumping contest with Tracy at the end of the front straight, spun off in Turn 1, dug in and flipped.

He was shaken but otherwise all right. All the cautions weren't bad, however. Hiro Matsushita had the steering wheel come off In his hands and didn't crash because it happened under the yellow. Sports The Sports Department is responsible for all local and national sports-related news. If you have a comment or suggestion, call the telephone numbers listed after 2 p.m.

weekdays. Asst Managing EditorSports Steve Greenberg 6333107 Assistant Sports Editor Tom Rietmann 633-1046 Sports Operations Editor Mark Emmert 633-1051 Assistant Sports Operations Editor Mark Robinson 6333110 Toll free (800)669-7827 To report scores or event re- suits: Please call 633-9110 be- tween 5 p.m. and 11 :30 p.m. To obtain scores via The Star's InfoUne service: Please call 624-4636 and enter the appropriate access code listed on the Scoreboard page. FEELING STRESSED? TIRED OF HAIR LOSS? REGAIN VOIR CONFIDENCE 579-0600 FREE CONSULTATIONS GEmEMAYS HEADQUARTERS CASTLET0lffi52S GUARANTEED Q1 DA AT TIME Of 8140 CaStletOH RO PamHoagUnd DELIVERY (Esy Access ott 1-69) Own MILLER Continued from Page 1 fumed de Ferran, who also failed to make a lap at Mid-Ohio when he rear-ended another car.

"We were side by side and he takes me out. "It was stupid all he needed to do was give me another foot of space and I would have braked and tucked In behind him. They should have black-flagged him for that stunt." Zanardi 's take was, surprise, a little different. "I was on the inside, there was no room for two and we hit each other." Ribeiro's daily double started with Moore, the driver who speared him on the last lap at Mid-Ohio. The Canadian rookie tried to pass In the fastest part of Road America, ran out of room, touched wheels with Ribeiro and nearly was launched Into the woods at 200 mph.

"I was completely beside him and he put me into the fence at 190 mph," said Moore, who got Into a shouting match with the Brazilian In Sunday's prerace drivers' meeting. "That's something you just don't do." Ribeiro's reply: "He tried to put his car where there was no space." That was Lap 14 and, six laps later, Ribeiro executed the tricky 2-for-l bank shot. After being passed by Mark Blundell going into Turn 11, he bumped Blunders gearbox and cut sharply to the right Just as Mauriclo Gu-gelmin was blasting past. Ribeiro's right front hit Gugel-min's left rear and got the Hollywood Special airborne before It came down and slammed Into, yep, his teammate. "I'm unhappy with the Incident I saw between Ribeiro and Moore, and I'm very unhappy to be involved as well," said Blundell, who had a face-to-face with Ribeiro afterwards.

"I'm unhappy with that style of driving and we're lucky Mo wasn't seriously hurt." Gugelmin, speared by de Ferran at Mid-Ohio, summed up his latest disappointment by saying: "I got a run and got by Ribeiro and was halfway by Mark when Ribeiro hit my back wheel and sent me into Mark. It was a mess he (Ribeiro) just didn't look where he was going." Ribeiro admitted he didn't see Gugelmin. Jones had the Indignation of getting upside down during a full-course yellow. By Dick Mittman STAFF WRITER LOUDON, N.H. An optimistic Tony George said he did not consider a small crowd of 24,000 at Sunday's Indy Racing League race a setback.

"The problem all along has been we couldn't plan an absolute perfect time to bring our product into the marketplace," George, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and founder of the IRL. said. "The time we came on we felt was appropriate and with the Intention of taking two or three years to build It. We're only about eight months Into it right now so I feel we're doing real well." George Is hopeful fans who attended the event at the New Hampshire International Speedway enjoyed themselves, carry the message home and pass it on to others who will come next year. The True Value 200 was the SHARP Continued from Page 1 fortune worth more than $100,000 on this day.

"When they red-flagged It (45 minutes for a brief rain shower on "Lap 123), I was third and almost ready to have them call It there," Sharp said. "Tony went by me Mike a freight train. "Unbelievable. I still can't believe It." Stewart was on the verge of becoming the first driver possibly since Foyt to win a midget and Indy-car race In a seven-day span. He had lapped the field twice and had just 19 miles to go to bring both himself and car owner John Menard their initial Indy-car victories.

Then the engine expired. "I had no Idea until afterward that he was out of the race," Sharp said. "I just coasted the last TAGHeuer SWISS MADE SINCE I860 A south of the 16 n. meridian 634 JSrB IV' Driver Equipment 1. Scott Sharp L-F 2.

Buzz Calkins R-F 3. Mlchele Alboreto R-F 4 Mike Graff R-F 5. Davay Hamilton L-F 6. Roberto Guerrero R-F 7. Marco Greco L-F 8.

Stephan Gregolre L-F 9. EUseoSaiazar L-F 10. John Paul Jr. L-M Chassis: L-Lota R-Reynard. Engines: F-Ford, M-Menard.

few laps and let guys pass me and hoped we had enough fuel to (make It to) the end. I can't Imag ST? 6736nF 9-5 Thur Til 7 Sat I BL JEWELERS SINCE 1918 THE EXPERTS In 9 out of 10 cases there are underlying medical conditions causing impotence. We do more than treat symptoms. Seek if not for you, then for your peace of mind. (317)228-0193 NON-SURGICAL IMPOTENCE SOLUTIONS I I.