The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 25

I ji CLASSIFIED ASS Pages 10-16 MONDAY, JULY 29, 1996 Onlino: www.starnews.com Infoline: 624-4636 The Indianapolis Star wnijT LI Li LIU SO 9 spin rL A Rain in Alabama makes long day longer; horrific wreck mars the trophy-dash finish. Speedway is not known. The accident was among the many compelling stories in a day lengthened by heavy rain. The race finally saw the green flag more than four hours after the scheduled starting time. It ended moments before darkness, with Gordon winning a five-lap shootout.

CBS was unable to televise the race after the lengthy delay but expects to replay it in entirety, as soon as Sunday. There were two red flags, 27 cars damaged in a pair of wild sequences, a NASCAR decision to end the event early, and a change in the series' leader board. With the victory, Gordon moved past Earnhardt and Terry Labonte into the top spot, nine points ahead. Winning the race to boot was worth an additional $160,000 melee began. When Earnhardt dropped in front of him, Cope smacked him hard, forcing a spin.

Then Robert Pressley issued another direct punch, this time into Earnhardt's windshield. Ken Schrader completed the assault with another hit. The car completely destroyed, many feared the worst. "It was a heck of a ride," said Richard Childress, Earnhardt's car owner. "But he's OK.

He's a tough son of a gun." Earnhardt was transported to a nearby medical center complaining of chest pain. X-rays revealed a fractured left collarbone and sternum, and he was hospitalized for observation. In such severe cases, doctors worry about a bruised heart, which may not be detected for 12 hours. His status for this week's Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor DisHard 5C3 (Top finishers) Driver Car 1. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 2 DaleJarrett Ford 3.

Mark Martin Ford 4. Ernie Irvan Ford 5. Jimmy Spencer Ford 6 Geoff Bodine Ford 7. Jeff Burton Ford 8 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet 9 Darrell Waitrlp Chevrolet 10 Rusty Wallace Ford Series points leaders: Go'don 2.631, TUbonte 2,622, Dale Earnhardt 2,608, Jarrrett 2,649, Sterling Marlin these speeds (more than 190 mph), big things happen." Earnhardt was leading a 25-car pack on Lap 117, with defending race winner Sterling Marlin flanking the outside a step back. Marlin appeared to receive a light tap from third-place Ernie Irvan, who was trying to follow Earnhardt's tracks.

Marlin bpbbled and touched Earnhardt, whose Chevrolet was turned directly in a path to the outside wall. The front end caved in instantly, and, almost as quickly, his black Goodwrench car flipped to its roof and slid backward through the tri-oval. There was more pain to come. Derrlke Cope had been a few cars deep in the lead gaggle when the By CurtCavin STAFF WHITER TALLADEGA. Ala.

Jeff Gordon won $272,550 for capturing the daylong DieHard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, but it could not cover the scare the motor-sports world received in a late-race accident. Seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt survived a horrifying double head-on crash on the main straightaway that left him helpless for many minutes. A crowd estimated at 100,000 gasped. "From what I could see, we all got bottled up," said Gordon. "At Staff Photo Greg Grtffo YAH-HOO: Driver Jeff Gordon pops the champagne after winning the DieHard 500 as his wife, Brooke (background), lets the feeling soak in at Talladega, Ala.

See GORDON Page 2 earn Teamers CI" 1 i ft -ri top Croatia in sleepwalk win 1 rrvrfv. miih i U.S. plays solidly, but intensity may pick up with start of medal round; Brazil is Tuesday's foe. 4 ri.r rm i I Si "'If 'Vv--. By Bill Benner STAFF WRITER ATLANTA The loudest cheer to be heard Sunday night in the Georgia Dome, where the U.S.

Dream Team was playing medal contender Croatia, was not for anybody on the floor. Dennis Rodman had just entered the building, making a very late (less than 5 minutes to play) but very grand entrance. Big Deal: Lance Deal wins a silver medal in the hammer throw. Page 3. Hey, dude: Bill Benner checks in with a report on beach volleyball.

Page 4. ') lv. Other than that there was, once again, very little to ML snoui arjoui. ine ureamers rolled to an effort Associated Press CRUISIN': Michael Johnson of the United States (center) has little competition in semifinal heat of the 400-meter dash. Americans flirt with trac records teammates Scottie Pippen and Croatia's Tonl Kukoc.

When they first met in Barcelo- na in 1992, Pippen and fellow Dreamer Michael Jordan made a special point of harassing Kukoc. who had built a huge reputation In the European leagues and was then being wooed by Bulls general manager Jerry Krauss, who had drafted him. This time was nice. Lots of smiles, pats on the behinds and a friendly exchange of conversation. There was a brief moment early in the second half when Pippen drilled a 3-pointer, Kukoc answered at the other end; and then, as if to not be shown up or even matched Pippen came down and hit another trey.

"i le (Kukoc) Just said, 'Back at so 1 came back and hit the third (3-pointer) and said, 'Don't wake me Pippen related. "Four years ago, there was no bond or friendship. I just knew he was one of the best European i players, and I wanted to do a job on him. This time, it wasn't a challenge." For the record, neither shot that See DREAM Page 5 less 102-71 triumph to wrap up pool play with the expected 5-0 mark. They now play Brazil and Its ageless Oscar Schmidt who, at 38, Is the leading scorer in Olympic history and the leading scorer in this tournament.

That comes in Tuesday night's quarterfinal. During their pre-Olympic tour, the U.S. defeated Brazil 109-68. The quarterfinal also was on the 'minds of the Croatians, who finished pool play with a 3-2 mark and now meet Australia in the quarters. "Why should we be disappointed? This was an exhibition game." said Dino Radja, the former Boston Celtic.

"We know we have a more important game to play in the quarterfinals, so we treat this like a practice." Which seemed fairly obvious from the outset. The U.S. stormed to a 23-8 lead in the first 6 minutes, then put it on cruise control and tried to remain awake the rest of the way. The only thing to spark any interest was the matchup between NBA champion Chicago Bulls track and field gold medal for the United States in dramatic fashion before 81,203 Sunday night at the Olympic Games. High jump mark stays; Johnson may better 400-meter standard.

The drama tonight Is twofold: Michael Johnson vs. the clock, and Carl Lewis vs. Al Oerter and Paavo Nurmi. Johnson won his Owens' widow in which she wrote that Johnson reminds her of her husband. The 35-year-old Lewis, whose public has warmed to him now that his career is ending, almost made Sunday his last Olympic moment.

He was in 15th place in long jump qualifying with only one attempt left, then leaped 27 feet, 2lh inches to lead the field. Twelve advanced to the final. He jumped even before his foot See AMERICANS Page 3 win his semifinal in 44.59. Butch Reynolds set the 400 record of 43.29 in 1988, but he won't be around to protect It. He pulled up in the first curve with a leg cramp and was carted off the track.

"I'd like to say the fact that I'm In the race means there's a chance for a world record," Johnson said. "But that would sound arrogant." That's what Lewis was accused of when he was winning four gold medals in 1984 to equal Jesse Owens' 1936 feat. Johnson carries with him a recent letter from By David Woods STAFF WRITER ATLANTA One world record survived. Another is not so secure, no matter how many officers are posted at Olympic Stadium. Charles Austin missed three attempts at a world record in the high Jump, but he won another 400-meter semifinal so easily he turned to eye his opponents with 150 meters still to run that he looked ready to add that world record to the one he set June 23 in the 200.

He coasted to ibeiro dodges obstacles to win Marlboro Too sloppy Colts coach Llndy Infante says his team's offense needs to find a better groove. Page 7. Avoids Fittipaldi crash on the way to third IndyCar triumph. The game of musical cockpits wont be played as often this year Robin Miller r' I. pftPVyspu JiuuigP lu up i A BROOKLYN, Mich.

The silly season in IndyCar racing doesn't hold its usual intrigue because there simply won't be many driver changes for 1997. iiniA iff i By Robin Miller AMERICAN LEAGUE staffwriter Toronto 1 Oakland 0 BROOKLYN, Mich. Andre New York 3 Karrsas City' 2 RibeT0 wasn'1 mucn of an oval" Chko 5 'Texas 1 lfC I V' Minn.a 'iton a ziL But hes developing quite a 8 fondness for this traditional Amer- Cleveland Baltimore 3 (can art form Milwaukee i CMoma 3 Rlbelro overcame an early set-Detroit j4iMiSeattle 6 back, dodged debris from the big accidents and saved his best for NATIONAL LEAGUE ast to win the 10th Marlboro 500 New York 7 Cincinnati 1 Sunday afternoon. St. Louis 6 Montreal 4 It was his third IndyCar trl- Houston 3 Angeles 2 umPh- and al1 nave come on 0val9- Chicago Colorado 5 the first driver to win for San Francc'o Atlanta 3 Honda (New HamPsnire ln 1995 Atlanta he SCQred hjs seCQnd rf 2 1996.

The victory gave Steve Home's Tasman Motorsports tsommsm '96 l. Wans 5 jouisviHe 2 laHond. Flrestone, led the final Derrick Walker and Barry Green, two winning car owners mired in miserable seasons, have wined de Ferran and dined Honda's Robert Clarke the past month. Walker, who denied any knowledge of a deal Sunday but promised to let me be the "first to know," has locked up the talented Brazilian because Green can't run two different engines. That means de Ferran will go from Pennzoil sponsorship to Val-voline colors and dispels the notion an American must be in Walker's car, also funded by Cummins.

"We're not tied to an American driver, and we're not averse to an See JILLER Page Associated Press WALL BANGER: Emerson Fittipaldi's car bursts into flames after hitting the wall at Michigan International Speedway. As it stands today, only Gil de Ferran and Robby Gordon figure prominently in any major moves and, ironically, those two are connected. With Jim Hall turning off the lights of his operation, de Ferran is CART's coveted, unrestricted free agent, who also brings a Honda engine along with his obvious skills. Improving our car all day," said Rtbeiro, who lost track position and had to come from last place after an early pit stop to replace Page 2 16 laps and beat Bryan Herta to the checkered flag by 1 .3 seconds in a typical wild west show at Michigan International Speedway. "1 reajlly enjoy this track.

It was a fantajf.ic race, and we just keep.