The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 39

SUNDAY, MAY 26, 1996 CS THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR iL CI i "Never been late nor missed a paper in 34 yearsl" Nurma Kirchhofer res dzliyiiy CALL 633-9211 U.S. 500 Continued from Page 1 4' both tire manufacturing companies, two Flrestones and a Goodyear. There are four different chassis makes and four separate engine programs. Besides an Unser, an Andretti and two Fittipaldis (Emerson and Christian), there is a Bettenhau-sen (Gary) and a Fangio (Juan II). "Regardless of where you're (racing) at, you want to run with the best guys," said rookie Eddie Lawson, who won four world motorcycle championships.

"I'd rather have a good race (in the U.S. 500) than win Indy, considering the way things are now. Indy Is a stepping stone, to be honest. All those guys would rather be here. "Am I surprised it has come to this? Yes.

We all are." watch the early laps from his MIS trackside office. AndrettI figures he'll be In his motorhome with his car owner, Carl Haas. "We'll watch it, sure," Haas said. "But part of the thrill of watching it on TV or standing In the pits is watching the best, and Indy can't ever be what It was until, if and when (the war) is resolved." The green flag will drop here at 1 p.m., a nine-row field full of former season champions, seasoned veterans and talented rookies. There are American drivers starting alongside Brazilians, Canadians, Mexicans and Italians.

A Honda sits on the pole, as It has at four of the six CART races this year. The front row Includes ir) ft l- jfggg F. C. Hicker Company, Inc. I Realtors Since 1918 1 ii Congratulates EllaTunnell on sales of NrT 1 Mil i'iIIMiQI1I I "v-" i 01 Talk to Ella at 844-4200 'ut: going to happen (for the CART he said Saturday.

"It was a heartbreaker. I couldn't believe it." Time has passed and the non-racing sports world has come to learn of the war. Both sides continue to put their spin on the division, citing reasons that, individually, have merit. "The bottom line is, Tony George owns the race track and It's his to operate as he chooses," Pruett said. "If he wants to run go-karts, he can.

If he wants to run Indy cars, he can. "The tradition we've been used to has changed and that's unfortunate. Is It different this May? No question." "We're here and that's life," said Al Unser who lost to Pruett by 0.056 seconds in last July's Marlboro 500 here. "I've won at Indianapolis. The guys who are really disappointed are guys like Scott Pruett, who finally feels he has the equipment to go win that race and he's dreamed about it since he was a kid.

"Michael AndrettI, Robby Gordon and Paul Tracy, (the list) just goes on and on that's who it's really hurting." Mario AndrettI remains among the loudest voices against George and his charge. "What (George) is doing is Incredible," he said. "He says he wants to build up tradition. But why would you take the greatest spectacle in the world and tear it WIMSESTOnEi OPEN AN AY! Li ACCOUNT TODAY! UNO PAYMENT FOR 90 UNO UNO ANNUM FES! Staff Photo Patrick Schneider READY TO FLY: Scott Pruett watches airplanes fly overhead at Michigan International Speedway, where he turned Saturday's fastest practice lap at 232.885 mph. down so you can build It back up? That doesn't make any sense.

"He should take this and fix it. He'd have the support of everyone, including myself." CART participants are unsure how they will feel when the Indianapolis 500 begins its send-off. Some anticipate they will be In pre-race concentration andor briefing, but, when pressed, many admit they will be in front of a television. Penske, who has declined to be Interviewed this month, will likely DOMESTICTOURING CARS hm ii iii JX. LIPETimE LIMITED WARRANTY" TURANZAT WORLD-CLASS TOURING RADIAL WITH THE TREAD THAT'S GUARANTEED FOR AS LONG AS YOU OWN YOUR CAR!" Compare to Coodyear inflnitredt 23 Popular Sizes! Affordable Prices! 30 Day Test Drive! Ask for details BEIiiJER Continued from Page 1 3 IW it.

iL, Blackwall PHct 'j IW fg fi P17580R13 $26.99 fi HYi jmipitMiixytrw'im 1 ft P20575R14 $32.99 ft-m'-i Wtf lwA y.vW ViA-Wif- Af.yti.Y Hit.1 Pfj P21575R15 $36.99 1 P23575R15 $3999 1 Tread design may vary. 4 PERFORMANCE CARS mmm save 25 spots for these guys is ridiculous." Vasser is already $100,000 to the good for the month, his prize for winning the pole two weeks ago at 232.025, nearly a mile per hour faster than No. 2 qualifier Adrian Fernandez. During the Interim, Vasser went with the Ganassl team to Milwaukee for testing. He also went to Indy to watch bump day qualifying.

"I was in the role of an Interested fan," Vasser says. "I'd read a lot of things about how great it's been going there and I had to get my own perspective." He wasn't impressed. "In my opinion, it was pretty pathetic," said Vasser. Harsh words, yes, but understandable, perhaps, from a victim of circumstances far beyond his control. So they will race today In Michigan and Jimmy Vasser will lead them to the green flag.

If he's still In front for the checkered, what most are praising as one of the most competitive CART seasons ever will in fact begin to look like a one-man race for the PPG Cup championship. Vasser already Is 21 points ahead of second-place Al Unser Jr. Victory today is worth 20. And winning the season series, Vasser insists, would be more important than even winning Indy? "I think that's accurate," Vasser replies. "Just a few years ago, I think the Borg-Warner (trophy) and the PPG Cup probably had equal significance, but the PPG Cup is probably more significant now from the team standpoint because of all the hard work that goes into the full season." So again, if Jimmy Vasser is hurting because he's not at Indianapolis this morning, he's covered his feelings as well as he's covered his competition.

"Winning against the best Is what gives me satisfaction," says Vasser. And so far, this season has been about as satisfying as It can get. Wk I I I I P1SSVB0R13 fp; wnm I 1 PlSSmonia Whll. Letlen PilM llWfWm WhlHHIIm Prln ,1 if fill panwic i I mm I m-mm i fjg P18570R13 $43.99 MflfJL HI P21570R14 $62.99 i "mmmm I A VW i MP P18570R14 $45.99 MMWfiWlii- P21560R14 $63.99 i' Xbhkt 'fj, P20570R14 $49.99 MSuMifMli P22570R15 $65.99 13" SIZES 14" SIZES 15" SIZES le sale fy is70Ri4 $52.99 mSl 41 tftiaot MttOatAtfM P18575R14 $53.99 P20575R15 $61.99 Igt P21565R15 $57.99 if OTT3' P27560R15 $80.99 P19575R14 55.99 P21575R15 64.99 Mf Tread design may vary. SPORT UTILITY UEH1CLES Fill v) -TT 1 T'L-tfv'Sa.

l' iSjl SnwGemne KJ55 0y COMPARE! WLDERNESS IWELEr'hP 1 1 ifl I MSMsgjLftD Steal Bens S-Speed flared Long MKeaje.QuBl flr ftrBhtafmit'ft ijytr Jl iAZwwr I MLiil White Lelterr Price Outline Let Inn Price White Letter Price 'II gM4M' MMdlMWmirai SIJI D01C7CDiC ten QQ Dnc7CCDiC C7Q QQ QO OQ While Leltai P21575R15 But If the 30-year-old Vasser Is Inwardly cursing his fate or lamenting that his best chance to win the Indianapolis 500 may have come and gone last year he crashed while dueling Scott Pruett for the lead with just 30 laps to go he's not letting on. And he certainly doesn't see the U.S. 500 as some sort of consolation prize. "I think," says Vasser, driver of Chip Ganassl's Firestone-shod Target Reynard-Honda, "that if you can win a 500-mile race on Memorial Day against the best, there will be a lot of prestige in that accomplishment." Still, for a racer such as Vasser, his emergence Into the big time could be an unfortunate casualty of this silly struggle for the control of Indy-car racing. His career finally Is all dressed up his three victories (at Miami, Australia and Long Beach) in the first four races hasn't happened since Mario AndrettI did It in 1985 but it can't go to Indy and bask In that spotlight.

It's an ironic twist, but not, says Vasser, a cruel one. "There is nothing I can do about It," he says. "I am one for not dwelling on the past and looking for the future and the optimistic side. There's a million dollars for winning the U.S. 500, and that's not chicken feed.

And nobody knows that 40 or 50 years down the road the U.S. 500 could be the premier event, and I will be part of a trivia question If I can win this thing." Vasser, like the majority of the CART drivers, concedes he would rather be at Indy today. "But not under the current situation," he adds. "It is absolutely ridiculous to reserve 25 (qualifying) spots, and I am adamantly against that. I am not totally against the IRL.

Maybe there Is something there for another oval series, a startup-type Indy-car series. But to take the Indy 500 and 00 igrf 30x950R15 $8499 P23575SR15 P22575R15 $95.99 30x950R15 P23575SR15 31X1050R15 33X1250R15 LT23585R16 I 32X1150R15 $99.99 P23570SR16 $92.99 30x950R15 $113.99 0 32X1150R15 P23570SR16 P26570SR15 $108.99 P23570SR16 $97.99 31X1050R15 $126.99 $95.99 P25570SR16 $99.99 LT23585R16 $143.99 P23570SR16 P25570SR16 HUadi Leiws Only TrMd desp may ry 61 Letlsu Only CaJ tw other sues. LaH tor othar arm. i 0 Vlimmfffmmmymmmmmmmmywrr FIREHAWK CTA FIREHAWK SVX FIREHAWK R4S FIREHAWK ATX H-Speed Wed M-Sem! 4 Speed Wed, AH-tan Smortd, fluel Mjitwy Hits! totaes Won, tonW! Black Letters SALE Black Letters SALE Outline Letters SALE BlackWhile Letters SALE P19570HR14 $61.99 LTP20575R15 $70.99 LTP21575R15 $73.99 P19560IHR14 68.99 P20550R15 128.99 LTP21575R15 71.99 LTP23575R15 78.99 P19560HR15 69.99 P22550R15 143.99 LTP23575R15 76.99 27x850R14LT 79.99 P20560HR15 72.99 P20555R16 136.99 30x950R15LT 84.99 30x950R15LT 88.99 P21560HR15 78.99 P22550R16 144.99 31x1050R15LT 91.99 31x1050R15LT 94.99 P22560HR15 84.99 P24550R16 159.99 32x1150R15LT102.99 32x1150R15LT 109.99 P20555HR16 86.99 P25550R16 164.99 33x1250R15LT113.99 33x1250R15LT 119.99 40.000 Ml. Umited Wanwly' Call tot other sizes 50.000 Wi.

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Parks is prompt, courteous and pleasant. What more could we ask.7" Mrs. George Bowen FOR DEPENDABLE HOME DELIVERY CALL 633-9211 All AiiaiiAP rnwn II HmriSJe DfiniTinif I mm mum SEmfiOL CONDiTIONING I Keep your air blowing cool. I 4 Cylinder Spark Plug Replacement Install new filter Lubricate chassis (if applicable) Refill upto5qts. 10W-30 oil Includes system inspection and leak and performance tests.

on Change Niter Complete Vehicle Inspection 4 Tire Rotation nr WfHfUl tmlHmKSUm I WHEEL BALANCE I For smoother ride and longer tire I I wear. Plus we inspect tire tread, air I APfessure, valve stems. I I 99 Most cart. neg.S3499 I I I PrtatMudn II Most vehicles Refrigerant extra Certain stales require added refrigerant "5 aimmm 1 IL UiUl I mwpoume. 'W to De removed irom leawng system aj Offer Ends June 8th, 1996 I Offer Ends June, ah, 1996 Otter Ends June ah, 1996 1 (I Jl mm lrice mciuoes on disposal iee.

uoupon expires 6896J INDIANAPOLIS AREA LOCATIONS (Closed Race Day) Store Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 PM Saturday 7:30 PM Open Every Sunday 11:00 PM BRIDGESTONEFIRESTONE AFFILIATED DEALERS CALL FOR HOURS INDIANAPOLIS SOUTH SOUTHEAST (Eail Sumner) 3506 S. East SI 787-6034 'GREENWOOD MALL U.S. 31 1 County Line Rd 881-6735 TIRES 1 MORE c494U.S.31,Greenwood...888-0600 INDIANAPOLIS EAST WASHINGTON KITLEY 6526 E. Washington 356-6301 'WASHINGTON SQUARE MALL 735 N.Mitthoelter Rd 899-5926 i Take ADVANTAGE OF OUR LOWEST PRICES OF THE YEAR, NOW DURING OUR INDIANAPOLIS DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN (Michigan Delaware) 425 N. Delaware 634-1346 ALL STAR TIRE SERVICE S34 N.Capitol 269-0500 INDIANAPOLIS NORTH NORA PLAZA 1300 E.

86th St 846-6516 GLEN DALEBRO ADRIPPLE 6305 N. Keystone Ave. 254-1541 COLLEGE PARK 6583 Michigan flrj CASTLETON SO, MALL 6020 E. 82nd St CARMEL 1314 Hangellne Rd 848-5886 NOBLESVILLE 249 N. Tenth SI 773-2761 HARRIS TIRE 5402 N.

Keystone Ave 255-4191 INDIANAPOLIS -WEST 'SPEEDWAY 5814 Crawtordsvllle Rd 243-3733 'LAFAYETTE SQUARE MALL 3819 Lafayette 291-9700 St Demonstrator Sale! Choose from: Closed Memorld Pay VT YOUR NEAREST PARTICIPATING RETAILER! "96 Seville STS '96 Eldorado '96 Sedan DeviUe ALL STAR TIRE a SERVICE HARRIS TIRE TIRES MORE DOWNTOWN (Michigan Delaware) IlmiiUESTOIlEi Lockhart Cadillac South 1287 U.S. 31 South Greenwood, IN4S14? 317.B65.155180O.436.M15 lockhart Cadillac North 5550 N. Keystone Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46220 31 7.253.1 551 800.752.291 3 Ato Honor I OCKH ART Cadillac, 'If you do not achiev guaranteed mileage, your Bndgestone Firestone retailer wtll replace your tires on a prorated basis Actual Ireadhte may vary. "Replacement al no charge excluding taxes and disposal fee) it evenly worn to 232" within 36 months; 50 replacement thereafter for as long at you own your car All warranties apply only to original owner on originally installed vehicle See retailer for details, restrictions and copy of each bmrted warranty An additional 1 $4 may be added for shop fees; not applicable California, Florida or New fork. Specific product offerings, product availability and tread designs may vary.

Prices, warranties, automotive services, credtl plans and other oilers available at Firestone Tire i Service Centers See independent and affiliated dealers for their competitive oflfirfi IMDY is a reoiMPWd trademark of trm Indianapolis Motor Spnerrway Credit terms made available by Credit First National Association. No Payment for 90 Days on qualifying purchases. No Interest due on qualifying purchases if paid in full within 90 days. Interest at a fixed rate (21.84 APR); variable rate (19.05 APR as ot ApriH ,1996, APR may vary), will be imposed from the date of purchase If not paid in full withip 90 days. Minimum finance charge $0.50.

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