The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 18

-SUNDAY, MAY 29, 1977 Mario's Success Story Back On Bullseye Track PAGE 2 SEC. 2 THE INDIANAPOLIS jsTAR i 1 1 if --fei ij I 4V i Pf v. IS I recipient of the first award for Outstanding "Welding and Fabricating, donated by Indianc; Oxygen Company and Vfeldcraft Manufacturers of Burbank, Calif. He holds a check for $500. (Stari Photos) I HONORED AT Tom Sneva (left) displays the Jim Malloy Memoricl Award presented to him yesterday by Thermo King at the Speedway for being judged "an exemplary competitor and (for) amicable co-operation with the news media." George Bignotti wos the 7ders TAKE 2-0 LEAH TO POMSTLAMP Series Not Over, Blazers' Coacli Says games in Philadelphia.

We expect to win two games in Portland. But to win two games, you have to win the first one. We have to win Sunday." THE PORTLAND coach also said he did not expect Portland fans to retaliate for the fight situation that occurred in Philadelphia in the fourth period of game two, when 76er backup center Darryl Dawkins and Portland forward Maurice Lucas were ejected for fighting. Commissioner Larry O'Brien finpd Portland, Ore. (UPI) "In no way is this NBA championship near over, but we do have to win Sunday (today)," said Portland Coach Jack Ramsay, citing the home-court advantage for games three and four in the best-of-seven series with Philadelphia.

Game three is scheduled this afternoon (2:30. Channel 8) in Portland's Memorial Coliseum. Philadelphia leads the series 2-0. "The situation now," said Ramw.y, "is that we are home to play tuo games. They expected to win two Cubs Upend Pirates, 6-3, Vault Into N.L.

East Lead The story is as old as the Republic, as familiar as the Statue of Liberty. Small, frightened immigrant boy arrives here from Italy, bunks in with relatives, goes to night school, works at menial labor, saves, studies and 20 years later emerges as one of the most powerful men, and richest, in America. It happened to AI Capone, to Godfathers, hit men, the Five Families and tailgunners of beer trucks. But it also happened to Enrice Caruso, A.P. Giannini, Enrico Fermi.

It happened to artists, doctors, lawyers, governors. Capone was Italian but so was Da Vinci and Michelangelo. The statue of David is Italian. They never made a movie about Fermi but he was the godfather of atomic energy. There was no love interest in Marconi's life but the wireless he invented changed the world forever.

BUT NO ITALIAN boy since Columbus ever made good quicker than the te'-ge-eyed, curly-haired little refugee from the troubled territories of Tuscany in 1955. Horatio Alger Jr. would have loved the Mario Andretti story. Although he is only 5-5, Mario is as big a man in Italian annals as any DiMaggio or Marciano, if not Fermi or Caruso. Mario and his twin brother, Aldo, were washed up in the flotsam of Mussolini's wretched war finished third." says Andretti) in the border city of Trieste which they left by donkey in 1945.

a pair of 5-year-old D.P.'s at the war's end. They came to America, of all places, in Nazareth, 10 years later. "All you remember of war is the anguish," Andretti recalls. "A kid will always remember his mother crying. He doesn't have to remember the reasons.

Just the sound of crying." ARRIVING IN America in June, Andretti vowed to' learn English by Christmas. He pumped gas in his uncle's station, took a correspondence course, married a Pennsylvania Dutch beauty and Mano Andretti became as American as pizza. The first time he saw a race car was like the first time Caruso saw Tosca. Like any other red-blooded American boy, Mario fell in love with a Ford. When he got in a car he felt 9 feet tall.

Anybody who watched him steer one through the corners knew they were made for each other. Mario drove a race car with the ease and effortless majesty of DiMaggio hitting a curve ball or Caruso hitting a high C. He could make a race car do everything but sing Carmen. He was rookie of the vear at Indi anapolis in 1965, he won the national driving championship. He set speed records at every track he drove on.

When he won Indianapolis in 1969, the speculation was he might win 10 of them. And right there, the American dream turned into an Italian opera. Mario's career developed a terminal cough in the second act. It turned into Pagliacci or Laugh, Clown, Laugh. It was like one of those Italian movies where everybody dies in the end.

Mario's career was in the pits, going backward faster than Mussolini in his heyday. The word was out in the pit crews. Mario had lost his nerve. Mario was a stroker. Too bad about Andretti.

Mario took the overland route around a race course. It had happened before. A guy has a couple of "shunts" (English translation: crashes) and he is suddenly confronted with his own mortality. All of a sudden Mario was starting No. 27 in the grid at Indy and finishing worse.

Mario had had it. People began asking if he had thought of quitting. MARIO TOOK the act overseas and onto the sporty car and Formula One circuits and suddenly the fine Italian hand was back on the wheel. Andretti beat some of the finest drivers in the world at their own game. He won in Japan, in South Africa and when he won at Long Beach in a daring last-lap takeover on a slippery corner this year, it was one of the largest TV audiences ever to watch a Grand Prix finish.

Andretti was back. He came to the Speedway this year in a classy McLaren-Cosworth, a companion to the car Tom Sneva ran 200 miles an hour in. Mario didn't quite "A BETTED Lucas woifd not have had occasion to retaliate." As for I'ortland fans, Ramsay said, "Our fans have been very supportive of us, and I hope there is no hint of retaliation tecause of what some fans in Philadeliiia did. I'd like to see our fans show -Philadelphia the same respect they showed the Los Angeles Lakers, appHauding them for their basketball ability." A A' WAS more concerned with the pleiy of his team than the fight in garae two. He said his team was "overarfxious'' in the first two games, seemingly possessed with an urge to get points on the board quickly, and in tbe process taking hurried shots, out of position.

He mentioned Lucas and guaid Lionel Hollins as examples of "overtry-ing." Assistant Coach Jack McKinncy said it appeared to be "more oi a mental thing than physical. It is just a matter of uis getting back our poise and doing tUe things we know we can." What Ranisay and McKinney were saying is what 76er star Julius Erving noted after (the second game, "Portland appears tlo be confused and frustrated. I think I know their problem but it is not my place to tell ihem, because I'd like to see them stay confused." Erving also put his finger on possibly the key lactor of the series thus far, saying trie 76ers are playing better team ball than the Blazers, who drew the of UCLA coaching legend John IVooden after Portland's four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers. "The. Blazers played better team ball," he noted, "and you don't get to see thtit much good team ball in the pros anymore.

JIM MURRAY negotiate 200-mph laps in qualifying, but he did tool a nifty 194-plus and snugged himself in the second row. He was a piece of Italian art again, not a meat ball. A lot of people expect Andretti to finally win his second Indianapolis. And maybe a lot more. They, suddenly remembered that only five drivers (Foyt, Rutherford, the Unsers and Gordon Johncock) had ever won more money at the Speedway than Mario Andretti Mario had heard the rumors and done a slow burn for years.

He sat in the Speedway Motel the other morning and toyed with a cup of boiled eggs as he reflected on it. "People tend to categorize you as unsuccessful when you don't win at Indy, or do well," he complained. "But the fact is, even during that dry spell, I was winning races some place else every 'year. I teamed with Jackie Ickyx and, even in the years when everyone was saying "Whatever happened to Mario we were winning six races from Daytona to Sebring to Watkins Glen. "I spread myself thin, I could never say 'no' to a race and I was burning myself right down to the ground.

In 1970, we broke up with our mechanics and when you do that one party suffers and sometimes both. "People thought I was phasing myself out of championship (Indy type) racing. They said I was moving to Europe, but the truth is Europe depresses me. I really hate to travel abroad. The little efficiencies you take for granted in this country are not to be found." Mario hopes to get something that can hang in the Vatican today.

Or make a ceiling. "I am at the stage of my life where I am not going to make any fatal mistakes. I can drive just as hard and just as fast as I ever could taking one-half the chances. But this is an important race. No, this is THE important race.

You win here and everything is easy." A win here and Citizen Andretti joins the success stories of Italian history the Gianninis, Toscanninis, Fer-mis and Carusos who came from the lana ot tne uaesars 10 tne iaiia wnere a man can become a millionaire in 500 miles. He might get to meet Frank Sinatra. Jade, Nat Upset Vernon. N.Y. (AP) Jade Prince and Nat Lobell bit the dust last night in the $.35,300 Hanover and Ilempt Farms pace for 3-year-olds.

Racy Goods, from the Castleton Farm of Lexington, took the first division as Jade Prince faded to seventh, while long-shot Naval Affaire sailed by Nat Lobell in the second. Racy Goods, driven by trainer Glen Garnsey, paced the mile in 2:01 on a track made soft by an unexpected mid-evening downpour. Rorty Hanover, driven by Dick Richardson, was second and Armbro Splurge, driven by John Simpson was third. In the second division of the Hanover and Hempt, Nat Lobell got away strongly and led the field most of the way. But, Naval Affaire, driven by Bob McNulty, was waiting for the stretch.

And he got by J's Rio, driven by Dave Wade, to win by a head. Nat Lobell faded to third. Green Speed First Meadow Lands, Pa. (AP) Green Speed won both his heats easily in record time to capture the $50,000 Currier Ives Trot last night at The Meadows. Driven by Billy Haughton, Green Speed also set a world record time of 4:00.3 for two heats over a five-eighths mile track.

Green Speed won his first heat in 2:00.1, finishing a length and a quarter ahead of his stablemate, Cold Comfort. He won the second in 2:00.2, two lengths ahead of Kenwood Hampton, a rank outsider, with Cold Comfort third. WAY T(P SERVICE CITICORP Dawkins and Lucas $2,500 each and sent admonitions to both coaches that stiffer fines and possible player suspensions might be expected if any more brawling occurs in the title series. Ramsay said he thought the fine against Lucas was "inequitable. If you're going to fine Dawkins, the man who started the whole thing, $2,500.

it doesn't seem to be equitable that Lucas be fined the same amount. If Dawkins hadn't thrown the first punch. lined his game-winning hit to right. THE GIANTS averted a shutout in the bottom of the eighth. Pinch-hitter Vic Harris led off with a double, chasing Easterly, and Bill Madlock drilled an RBI single off Camp, who registered his fifth save.

Reds 6, Dodgers 3 Los Angeles (UPI) George Foster rapped two homers and Ken Griffey added a two-run blast to cap a five-run second inning yesterday, helping the Cincinnati Reds slow down runaway Los Angeles with a 6-3 victory over the Dodgers. A sellout crowd of 54,636 and a na tional TV audience watched Jack Bil-lingham and Pedro Borbon combine for a five-hitter to give the defending world champion Reds their first win in five outings against the Dodgers this year. It was only the 12th loss in 45 games for the Dodgers, who lead the N.L. West by games. rhillies 4, Mets 2 Philadelphia (UPI) Richie Hebner hit a two-run homer with none out in the 10th inning last night to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 4-2 victory over the New York Mets.

Bob Boone led off the inning with a single off Skip Lockwood, who had replaced starter Jerry Koosman at the start of the inning. Hebner hit a 3-1 pitch for his second homer of the year. Ron Reed, the fourth Philadelphia pitcher, earned his third victory in five decisions. Boone's first home run of the season tied It for Philadelphia In the eighth after New York had scored twice in the top of the seventh. Cards 7, Expos 5 St.

Louis (AP) Ken Reilz slugged his second home run in as many games, delivering a three-run blast in the third inning to power the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-5 triumph over the Montreal Expos last night. Reitz' homer highlighted a four-run inning that sent the Expos to their fourth straight loss and their 15th in their last 17 games. Cards' right-hander Eric Rasmussen went the distance for his third victory against six defeats. Tickets For LPGA Full tournament tickets for the Ladies' Professional Golf Association Classic and pro-am tournament at Harbour Trees Golf Course June 15-19 are on sale through June 10 at several Indianapolis locations.

Tickets may be purchased for $12 each at Brebeuf Preparatory School, Indiana National Bank, American Fletcher National Bank, Fidelity Bank of Indiana, American National Bank, Union State Bank and most area pro shops. They also may be obtained through the mail by sending check or money order payable to Mayflower Classic, 161 -South Harbours Drive, No-blesville 46060. Chicago (AP) "Now maybe they'll start believing us," said relief acs Bruce Sutter yesterday after the Chicago Cubs defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3 to vault into first place in the National League East. "I made a rash statement earlier in the year but I wasn't kidding," said Sutter, who in the second week of the season predicted the Cubs would win the pennant. "This division is going to be tight anyway you look a it and we have as good a chance as Sutter, who notched his 13th save as the rampaging Cubs captured their fourth straight victory and 20th in the last 25 games to go ahead of Pittsburgh by one- half a game.

JERRY MORALES' three-run double keyed a five-run sixth inning as the Cubs wiped out a 2-0 lead and went, ahead to stay. "We're coming out tomorrow to play the first-place team," said Pittsburgh manager Chuck Tanner. "The situation has changed. We're the ones who are doing the chasing now." Tanner didn't seem too concerned about his Pirates dropping out of the division lead. "This is only one-fourth of the season and if we play as well the final three-fourths, I'll be satisfied and we'll take our chances." Jim Rocker had a 2-0 lead and a one-hit shutout going into the sixth when the Cubs struck.

Ivan DeJesus walked and singles by Gene Clines and Larry Biittner produced one run. Bobby Mur-cer singled to fill the bases and Morales followed with his three-run double. Singles by Manny Trillo and George Mit-terwald off reliever Kent Tekulve produced the final run. The Pirates scoied a run in the second on Phil Garner's RBI double, added another in the third on a run-scoring single by Dave Parker and capped their scoring with Willie Stargell's homer in the Padres 6, Astros 5 San Diego (AP) George Hendrick and Mike Ivie belted two-run homers as the San Diego Padres jumped to a sis-run lead and held on for a 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros last night Padre rookie Bob Shirley was on his way to a four-hit shutout until the eighth, when a two-run homer by Bob Watson ignited a four-run rally by the Shirley improved his record to 4-5 with relief help from Rollie Fingers, who pitched the last 1 1-3 innings for his ninth save of the year. Braves 2, Giants 1 San Francisco (AP) Jerry Roys-ter's two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning cracked a scoreless tie and carried the Atlanta Braves to a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants yesterday.

The loss snapped the Giants' five-game winning streak. Starter Jamie Easterly (2-1) and N.L. Baseball reliever Rick Camp collaborated on a six-hitter, while Ed Halicki (3-5) suffered the loss. Halicki had a one-hitter for six innings, retiring 18 Braves in a row, until Willie Montanez singled with two out in the seventh. Biff Pocoroba opened the eighth with a single and took second on Barry Bonnell's infield hit with one out.

After Easterly sacrificed, Royster Hurtubise jc Continued From Page 1 that car, so he took over the backup car. His first attempt in that car last Sunday wasn't good enough, and he was still waiting in line for another try when the deadline passed. Had Hurtubise agreed to drop out of the lineup for qualifying, Walther may have had time for another try to reach the required speed. JAMES MCELREATH, a rookie who was between Hurtubise and Walther in the waiting line, was the last driver on the track that day. He, too, failed to qualify.

Walther was Irate after the qualifying ended, claiming that Hurtubise made the attempt only so he could be seen on national television. "He shouldn't have been out there with that machine," Walther was quoted as saying. "It didn't have a chance to make the race." Hurtubise, 44, an Indianapolis resident whose best finish in the 500 was 13th on 1962, was enraged by Walther's comments. "I wouldn't go there if I didn't think we could qualify," Hurtuiise said. "We were running in the 170s and we changed a few things.

You don't know unless you try." "I go to Indianapolis to race a car and I've got just as much right as anybody to make a qualifying attempt. "HEY, I'M JUST a guy trying to get by. I'm not some little rich kid whose daddy has a lot of money." Hurtubise was referring to another controversial incident involving Walther at this 61st running of the 500. After qualifying ended last Sunday, the company owned by Walther's family bought a car. It had been qualified by Bill Puterbaugh but the family installed Salt as the driver.

After receiving heavy criticism for the move, Walther said he felt badly about it and stepped aside so Puterbaugh could return behind the wheel. Walther, 29, of Dayton, Ohio, has driven in five Indy 500s. His best finish was ninth last year, but he is most remembered for a spectacular crash on the first lap of the IS73 race that left him severely burned. Wooden mht get an argument in Philadelphia now. Kenyon Winner In Midget Race Mel Kenyon.

broke out of a three-way knot for first on the 24th lap last night and went on to wrap up his 81st career USAC midget victory at Indianapolis Raceway Park before a crowd of Kenyon, whoi took over the point lead from Gary Betflenhausen with his decision, slid Sherman Armstrong's Volkswagen under 8teve Lotshaw for the lead going into She third turn with just six laps remaiaing. TOMMY STICNER, who gave Howard Linne's Sescn a great ride, pressed Kenyon to the checker. And, Lotshaw was right behind in Doug Caruthers VVV for third. Steiner might have ended up the winner had it not been for a mysterious yellow light. As the leaders were steaming down the backstretch on the last lap, the yellow flashed on in turn three.

Steiner was in the process of pulling alongside Kenyon when Mel threw up his hand to signal caution Tommy also slowed and as they got anto the fourth corner the green was back on again and Kenyon easily out-aecelerated Steiner for the title. Chris CumbeiV'orth finished a strong fourth and Ken Nichols was fifth in Bob Lockhart's roadster. Chuck Gurney might have figured in the final outcome, had he not lost an engine. He had maved from next to last to fifth by the haflfway point when he lost power. The midgets' mext appearance Is tomorrow afternoon at Armstrong's Salem Speedway -in a 200-lap extravaganza with the CSAC R.M.

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