The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 23

"1. TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1970 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR PAGE 23 Andretti Christens New Gar fc 3 Sports Editor Old OK Twis ltn By GEORGE MOORE Mario Andretti, winner of last year's 500-Mile Race, was subjected to the same twist of fate he experienced in May, 1969, his English-built Lotus and he hit the outside wall almost in the same spot. Andretti had been running laps in the mid-164 miles an hour bracket in his first real attempt to get speed out of the JF RACERS HAVE BEEN haunted for the past few years by a feeling that they have been up to their ears in Unsers, it is only because it is true. Since 1907, only Mario Andretti can point to a better record on the championship trail. And there have been times when The Unsers seemed to be trying hard and with considerable success to turn the annual battle for the USAC title into a family argument.

For example, try 1968. Bobby won the first four races of the season. And his fourth victory, of course, was of more than passing importance on the sporting scene the 500-Mile race. Later in the same season, Al put together a string of five in a row. Only Andretti was able to nudge between them with Bobby taking the title and Al finishing a strong third in the closest point finish in USAC history.

Last year Mario ran off and hid from the field in the chase. "-1 i MMtta-rifflrtimnrni ir -iv" 1 1 i 7r-A L. itmmmitr mtmm tli a I -W jJ mumwm WW- VWMMMPMr Sj JKMwm'' imuntiimm 1 It I -if But Al won five races and finished second. Bobby was third. And right now Al is considered the man to beat in the 1970 "500." Even his ultra-competitive older brother is riding with the majority opinion at the moment.

Says Bobby, "a lot of things can happen here in a month. But I think if I had to pick somebody right now, it would be Al. "They (Al and chief mechanic George Bignotti) have the best combination here right now. Their equipment is proven. If they had the race today, they would be mighty tough to beat.

"But I haven't talked to new McNamara chassis when the yoke broke, causing the car to dart to the right as the left rear wheel became the only force driving the machine. "I missed the outside wall and covered every Inch of the Andretti said. "But the car spun and I tagged the inside wall." The accident happened just moments before high winds and a driving rain shut down the track at 4 p.m. A dejected Mario slowly began walking down the track towards the pits in the rain after assuring the ambulance crew he was alright. SEVERAL MECHANICS in the pits said they saw sparks flying out from the right rear wheel as Andretti went into the first turn on his fateful lap.

"If everybody saw sparks," Andretti said, "why i 't they turn on the yellow light." The automobile itself sustained fairly severe damage on its left side. The left rear wheel and suspension system were torn completely away. And the left front wheel and suspension components were driven into the forward sec tion of the body. Andretti crew immediately began tearing down the chassis, and owner Andy Granatel-li, president of the STP Corporation, said the car would be repaired. "WE DON'T have everything we need to fix this thingj" Granatelli said.

"But we're still going to get it ready. A second McNamara car reportedly was shipped from Germany a few days ago. For the second day in a row, Al Unser, driving the Johnny Lightning 500 established a new top speed for the day and the month of May. Unser turned a lap of 171.233 r5 (Star Photo By Jerry CHrlc) CHEIF STEWARD HARLAN FENGLER INSPECTS DAMAGED REAR END OF ANDRETTTS McNAMARA-FORD Rear Wheel Came Off Car After Andretti Crashed Coming Out Of Th Fourth Turn Yesterday At The Speedway ft BOBBY UNSER him much. We try to stay away from the needle and things like that.

We just try to help each other when we can and let it go at that." Bobby can talk with the statesman. He has climbed his L.A. Stars' Mini-Team Faces Pacers In Playoff Los Angeles (AP) The Los Angeles Stars have rocked the American Basketball Association with a mini-team which experts said couldn't win. Only one man towers and Craig Raymond actually 6-10 is listed as seven feet "to scare the opponents," says General Manager Jim Hardy. The rest are relatively short and thin yet they've reached the ABA final playoffs against Indiana opening Friday night at Indianapolis.

ONE OF THE regular forwards is slender George Stone, who's 6-7. He shoots and, handles the ball well to play guard and often is found around the 25-foot circle aiming for three-point goals. There is 6-7 Tom Washington, a sleepy-looking three-year veteran who scores well under mph in his turbocharged Ford, and he slowly is closing on tha official 171.953 mark established by Joe Leonard in a four-wheel drive turbine powered machine. Leonard is in the Johnny Lightning team car to Unser this yar and turned a lap at 165.999 yesler-ay. A.

J. FOYT was the second fastest man at the track yesterday, but he had to go to his year-old, backup car to do it. Foyt turned a lap at 169.1 in his turbocharged Ford 1969 Coyote No. 84. He hit 167,535 in his new No.

7 Coyote. Andretti was not the only driver to try running It backwards yesterday. Stock car driver Charlie Glotzbach took two shots at losing control in his Weinberger Homes Ofty. The Edwardsville, pilot made one complete loop in the north short chute, did not make contact with the wall and continued around into the pits under his own power. Later in the day he made a half spin in the south short stretch, but gathered it in and came on around the track.

AUSTRALIAN. DRIVER Kevin Bartlett lost control of his stock block Chevy-powered Webster Racing Enterprises Spl. going into the southeast turn and made one complete loop. No contact was made with the wall and he made it back to the pits under hjs own power. A total of 42 cars were on the track, during which time AL Loquasto and a 1 1 Dockery passed their drivers tests.

Speedway Top Ten Car Ns. t. Al Unser 2. Art Pollard-X 3. A.J.

Fovt- 4. Mark Donohue 5. Dan Gurnev-x 6. A.J, Fovt-i Eglne 2-TF 10-TO D4-TF A4-TF 4a-TO 7-TF 75-TO 25 TO Speed 171.233 MsVl H9 1 lad 1 HI.5 18 2 167.9 167 841 H6.9 164 7. Denis 8.

Llovd 9. Dfnis 10. Llovd n-Timed lharaed hauser. Hulme-x Rubv Hulme-x 79-TO 12-TO Rubv-x bv tire companies a TF-tgrbo- Ford; TO-tuibocnarged Otlen- 1V HIRAM UALKER I 8 years old. himself.

I and he spun and hit the inside front straightaway wall, but without injury to himself. THE EPISODE was almost a re-enactment of Andrctti's crash at almost the same spot last year when a hub broke on play." Scrappy is the word most used about the former Vander-bilt forward. He's often found under the boards grabbing missed rebounds, then faking larger players out of position and shooting an awkward but deadly hook shot. Raymond, the pivot man, has come a long way since his days at Brigham Young. He has become, in Sharman's words, "more aggressive and much better on defense." HIS ABILITY TO block shots intimidated a few Denver play ers, as the Stars were taking the Rockets, Western Division i 1 1 i four games to one Craig has another asset the ability to throw lightning-quick outlet passes to start the fast break.

Two weeks ago he hurled a baseball-type pass down court to Merv Jackson, who stuffed the ball without it touching the floor. Jackson, who missed about 30 games this year with assort ed leg injuries, starred at Utah and recently returned to the Star's lineuo. He hit the. 10- foot jump shot in the final game Saturday that beat Den ver 109-107 to wrap up the Western playoff crown. Others in the late Star surge they won 17 of their last 23 games during the regular season and 8 of 11 playoff games are Andy Anderson, a guard from Canisius, Tom Workman, Today's Schedule AMERICAN ASSOCIATION Wichita at INDIANAPOLIS, 7:45 p.m.

Denver at Evansvllle, night. Iowa at Tulsa, night. Omaha at Tklahoma City, night. AMERICAN LEAGUE Washington (Coleman 1-3) at Oakland (Dodbon 2-4), night. New York (Peterson 32) at Milwaukee (Krausse 3-5).

niaht. Baltimore (Cuellar 3-2) at Minnesota (Perry 5-1), niqnt. Chicago (Janeskl 2-2) at Detroit (Niekro 32 or Cain 1-1), night. Kansas City (Butler 2 2) at Cleveland (Moore 3-2), night. Boston (Culp 2-4) at California (Murphy 4-2), night.

NATIONAL LEAGUE Montreal (Morton 3-0) at New York (Sadecki 0-0). Atlanta (Jarvls 3-2) at Chicago (Holtr-man 4-3). Philadelphia (Short 2-4) at St. Louis (Briles 1-1), niQhl. Cincinnati (Merrltt 6-2) at Pittsburgh (Blass 2-4), night.

San Francisco (Puente 1-0) at San Diego (Corklns 1-3), night. Houston (Wilson 0-0) at Los Angeles (Foster 2-2), night. Ejus. DIUCIOUS CATFISH GOOD CHICKEN and DUMPLINGS THE BEST GRAVY HOME MADE PIES Insidt) Seating 5600 E. 38th Street Between Emerson and Arlington at Layman a forward from Seattle, and Willie Wise, who made the all-rookie team of the ABA this season along with Calvin.

Pacers Open Playoffs Friday The long-awaited playoff schedule for the American Basketball Association cham pionship series was announced last night. The Indiana Pacers, Eastern Divisions champs, will host the first two tijts against the Los Angeles Stars at the Coliseum this Friday night at 8:15 p.m. (May 15) and Sunday afternoon (May 17) at 2 p.m. The Sunday game is also on national television but blacked out in Indianapolis. THE 'THIRD and fourth games will be played on Mon (May 18) and Tuesday (May 19) at the Anaheim Con vention Center.

Both contests will begin at p.m. Indianapolis time. If a fifth game is needed it will be Saturday, May 23, at p.m. in the Coliseum (also on national television). A sixth game would go back to the Los Angeles Sports Arena May 25 and a seventh would be played here May 26.

Season ticket holders have until 5 p.m. this afternoon to claim their regular season tickets. Good seats are still available at the Pacer office, 638 East 38th St. for $6, $4, $3, and $2.50. at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway yesterday.

Andretti, coming out of the No. 4 northwest turn, had the right rear universal joint yoke on his German-built STP-OIL Treament-McNamara break neath the boards but only on hustle and desire. Whenever he hits from the outside, Tom grins widely, throws an arm in the air and runs downcourt. Leader of the team, Mack Calvin, a 5-11 guard, almost didn't survive the final cut during preseason Jrials. The rookie from Southern California gained confidence about mid-season and now spearheads the fast break and leads in scoring.

THE PLAYER who probably best typifies the Stars is Bobby Warren, a 6-5 swingman with a "freelance" style. "Bobby amazes me," said Coach Bill Sharman, the former National Basketball Association all-star with the Boston Celtics. "He hustles and gets a lot of garbage and, even when he makes a mistake, he'll rectify it with a brilliant defensive gers hit an incredible 63 home runs during the last weekend, including nine in the game between Cincinnati and Chicago on Friday. Charles S. Feeney, N.L.

president, re-emphasized the 1970 ball is the same as the 1969 version. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION EASTERN DIVISION Pet. G.B. low 6 700 INDIANAPOLIS 12 7 .632 IVj Omaha 10 .444 5 Ewinsvllle 7 10 .412 SVi WESTERN DIVISION Pet. G.B.

Oklahoma City 15 .652 Tuls 10 13 .435 5 Wichitd 10 13 .435 Denver 15 I AMERICAN LEAGUE Nlotit Games Not Included) EASTERN DIVISION Pet. GB Baltimore 21 8 .724 x-Detroit 15 12 .55 -B05ton 14 13 .519 -New York 16 15 .516 6 Washlrmlon 13 16 a Cleveland 10 16 .385 'i WESTERN DIVISION Pel. GB Minnesota 18 .667 x-talltornia 18 10 .643 Oakland 14 1 6 .467 5'i t-LMugo 11 '7 7'i Kansas Cltv 10 1 8 35 7 8'i x-Milwaukea 10 20 .333 9' i NATIONAL LEAGUE (X NlqM Games Net Included) EASTERN DIVISION Pet. GB Chicc-io 15 12 .566 X-Nrw York 14 1 5 48 3 2 i Philadelphia 13 16 3 x-Plttsburqh 13 1 6 448 3 x-St Louij 11 14 446 3 x-Montreal I 19 .296 7 WESTERN DIVISION Pet. GB x-Clnrlnnatl 23 8 .742 Atlanta 18 12 600 4'i Lo Armeies 17 12 5 x-San FianclKo 15 16 .484 8 Houston 14 17 9 San Dleqo 14 II .4.19 9'i Yrslmiay's Result AMERICAN ASSOCIATION Wichita at INDIANAPOLIS, rmslnnnrd.

OMahoma City 8. Omaho 6. Denver 6. tvansvillt I. Iowa 6.

TuKa 4. AMERICAN LEAGUE fhli'aqo 9, Detroit 5. New York 5. Milwaukee (tie, 9 In-nmqs, ral Boston at fallfnrnia. nlnnt NATIONAL LEAGUE Atlanta 7, Chuauo 6 (10 innings).

Montreal 3, New York 0 PHtsbtirnh 4, InrtnraM 1. St. Louis 3. Philadelphia 0. San hKnclsco at San Dieqo, niqhl.

pro So how does winning the 500-Mile race affect the life of a race driver. Are all those riches really awaiting just beyond the checkered flag? Bobby pondered for a few moments and replied, "It has altered my life considerably. No, I'd say it has altered my life a tremendous amount. "It's all different when you are recognized everywhere you go. I'll admit there were times last year when It would been nice just to be another guy in a hotel lobby.

But I'm not like some guys who say they got tired of it after while. "I felt that I had an obligation to race fans. And I'm really sincere about that. I'll stand in a crowd as long as the crowd is there and be thankful that it is there. "As for cashing in, I really think that I made more off the "500" than any winner before me.

I'm an active person I worked at it. I was on the go two or three days w. every week. My bill with one airline alone was $20,000. That's just one.

I flew on most of the others and in my own plane all over the United States and Canada. i nave heard, that winning the race here is worth $1 million. I wouldn't go that strong. I think it depends a lot on I who the winner is. i "But racing has made millionaires.

I don't think there is any doubt that A. J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones are millionaires. And Well, the little guy. plays it.

pretty close. He -p doesn't talk much, but you know he can't be hurting. "I put my money in a lot of things. About all I can say Is that if they all should work out, then I might be able to claim that victory was worth $1 million." If that happens it wiU climax a. long odyssey for a young man who once was more concerned with paying the rent than calling brokers.

Bobby recalls, "In 1955 I was flat busted. I had 15 days to go before the apartment rent was due. I had no money for food and my wife was pregnant. A fellow named Dick Hall gave, me a job as a mechanic for $500 a month. Man, it seemed like all the money in the world to me." With his savings from that job, Bobby later bought a race car chassis, then begged and borrowed parts.

He raced the car at Pikes Peak in 1959 and the car finally won a total of seven hill climbs. The chassis cost $6,000 and Bobby estimates, "that car probably has made me Since 1959, his career has gone straight up. Today he is the undisputed king of that old mountain out in Colorado and ranks as one of the very finest drivers of our time. So, with a big poke in his pocket and a long list of ac-! complishments behind him is Bobby at 36, giving any thought retirement? "Oh sure I've thought about it and I have cut down on j'a lot of racing activities. I don't have to race and to make a living any more.

"Maybe in two or three more years. But if I retire I'd like to do it Mike Parnelli. He's still the greatest. But he 'jbnly runs the little stuff and he enjoys it. Why he's just as happy as if he.

had good sense. "But I think I'm at my peak right now. I think I can run with anybody and I'm enjoying it. "Right now I am only thinking seriously about one thing i winning the 1970 500-Mile race." IY.L. Balls Hopping With Hare Or Not relaxed viewpoint of an elder mountain; found his, rainbow, umph.

"Then it was Doolcy Womack," who combined with Ross Grimsley for a shutout triumph. Pedro Borbon registered victories over Denver in relief Thursday and Saturday while Hamende triumphed Saturday participating in the four-game sweep over the Bears. With that 4-0 decision, the Indians began their current five-game winning streak which has put them just a step behind pacesetting Iowa in the American Association's Eastern Division. "I'm talking about the pitchers, I want to credit the way Bill Plummcr has been handling them," Rapp said. "He also has been throwing well, Mocking pitches which might have gotten away and has carried a big bat." Rapp said the catcher "has been showing good leadership behind the plate." MILT WILCOX (2 0) will pitch for the Tribe in tonight's game and one of his victories mnntl i ij in (Star Photo) MARIO ANDRETTI REACHES INTO WRECKED RACER Damaged Left Front Wheel Bent Out Of Shape 'TH) scoreboard! liramWafker has a history of great whisScey.

Walker DeLuxeThe result of 1 12 years cxpericncc.clxiiccst grains Ilapp Praises Everyone i For Tribe's War-Whoop San Francisco (UPI)-The manufacturer of the National League ball insists there isn any more rabbit in the ball this year than last but figures released yesterday by the N.L, office showed that the 174 games played thus far this season players have ripped 192 more homers. The players this season also have scored 185 more runs, 1,587 to 1,402, hit 67 more dou bles, 484 to 417, and 23 more triples, 94 to 71. In 1969 through the first 174 games a total of 236 homers were hit compared to 428 this year. NATIONAL LEAGUE slug- has been over tne Aeros. Ed Farmer (2-1) will be the Wich ita moundsman and he holds a decision over the Tribe in wnich he struck out 10 batters.

inis iriumpn is tne only one the Aeros have gained in their last eight outings. Last night's rained out contest will be made up as part of a doubleheader when the Aeros return in July. Tribe trainer Jimmy Bell will return to his home in St. Petersburg, to recuperate from an eye operation. Al Battaglia, who started the season with the Cincinnati Reds and has been helping but here, will take over for the remainder of the season.

Ticket sales have reached $121,010, it was learned at yesterday's meeting of Indians, Inc. Henry R. Warren was inducted as a new member of the board to replace Jim Bid-well, who resigned because of the press of business. Warren is Stokely-Van Camp director of marketing. 8 years of patient agingAVith bourbon this choice, there's just no second dxiicc.

icAI Walker's aC? rv-srrrnr-s ii. 'I By MAX GREENWALD While stating that "everyone contributed," I i a a olis Indians' manager Vern Rapp pointed out last night that "the bullpen gained confidence" as a factor in the Tribe's victory surge. Rapp lauded the Tribesmen for their "execution and hustle" as he waited out the inclement weather which forced postponement of last night's game with Wichita. I INCIDENTALLY, Pinch-Hitters' birthday celebration for Rapp will be held tonight as the clubs meet in a single game at 7:45 o'clock. There will be (' a piece of birthday cake for every patron and it will be i ladies' night.

"It started with the game at Wichita when Pat House came in for four innings of relief," Rapp asserted. That was May 3 wilh the southpaw allowing only one hit in four innings as the Indians won, 5-3. "The following night it was Joo Hamrnde," Rapp continued, citing the Tribe's 8-4 tri May is National Tavern Month VWalkers DeLuxe, the great bourbon from Hiram Walker WHMfeH4M.