The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 32

Top 12 In 500 r. Finishing Second Not So Bad: Sneva I fa 0 Al Unser ty hard to have someone understand you at 200 miles an hour." Sneva also paid tribute to Foyt. "He ran stronger than I thought he would," the four-year 500 veteran said. "So did Johncock. But you've got to give A.J.

credit he was tough." That the wily Texan was. But Sneva was only 27-plus seconds -less formidable. And he's one who appears destined to bag this prize. He was sixth last year and the pole-sitter and second in the race this time around. "I've got good equipment and good personnel with this team." Sneva said.

The team has a pretty good driver, too. Yesterday's finish will speak for itself. Gordy Takes Dip As Car Quits at the end," Sneva said, his driver's suit peeled to his waist as he sat sipping a soft drink in his garage. "But we were just too far back on the stops." Those slops, 10 in all (one more than Foyt and 48 seconds longer were hampered because of problems fueling'the machine. "The vent system got messed up a bit," Sneva said.

Something else which bothered Sneva and the Roger Penske crew was the handling of the McLaren chassis. During the early portions of the race, the car was pushing "but as the track got slicker, that actually helped our problem." Sneva remarked. "We made a couple of adjustments and it was handling good toward the end." For a pole-sitter, however, the start often draws as much attention as the end and that was the case with Sneva, who trailed Al Unser (who started on the outside of the front row into the first turn. 'I JUST DIDN'T go quick enough." Sneva remarked. "It was no big deal.

But it was a green tlag all the way and that is what is important. "It was a smooth and sale start. I didn't care all that much about leading the first lap. I still had 500 miles to catch him. And Al just got a better start.

The guy on the pole should get the jump, but I must have had a finger up my nose, or something." Sneva had a while to wait on pacing the field, and then it was short lived. When Johncock and Foyt pitted near the halfway point of the race, Sneva led laps 93 through 96. He said that he had something of an eye on younger brother Jerry Sneva, who was running at the end and finished 10th in a possible rookie-of-the-year performance. "I saw Jerry a bunch out there." Tom commented. "He looked a little loose in the beginning and I tried to signal him to take it easy.

Bui it's pret- Bv BILL BENX1 The first and the1 200th were pretty much the same lap for Tom Sneva yesterday. Both times when he reached the No. 1 turn at Tony Hulman's garden of speed in the 61st running of the Indianapolis 500, Sneva was in second place. Being No. 2 at the start for pole-sitter Sneva was "no big deal," the former school teacher would say later.

"A smooth, safe start was what was important," he remarked. But being No. 2 at the end. well, that's certainly not a disgrace, either. Because, while to the victor go the spoils, to the runner-up goes a check for more than $100,000 at tonight's Victory Banquet.

"I KNEW THAT if we ran all day." the 23-year-old Sneva said afterward, "that we would be close." Just how close to winner A.J. Foyt was a little over 27 seconds. And, while most of the day's attention was focused on the battle for the lead between Foyt and Gordon Johncock, there might well have been a three-way tussle for top honors and the riches the top spot brings. Sneva, who had piloted the No. 8 Norton Spirit to the pole 15 days ago with his electrifying, record-breaking run, was the hottest of the hot-lappers toward the end of yesterday's muggy grind.

Even with the turbocharger boost dialed below the maximum of 80 inches to conserve his machinery, Sneva was running in the 190-mph range. That alone should say something for-the strength and durability of the Cos-worth engine which pushed the personable young man on his lengthy ride. But it was in the pits and not on the track where much of Sneva's finish was decided. 'THE CAR WAS just running super A. J.

Foyt Tom WaJiy Dallenbach Johnnv I.fC Kunzman Roger XL Gordon in: is cBt-n-i: Jerry Sneva Foyt And Speedway Nearly Synonymous (Slar Photo By Greq Gritfo) TOM SNEVA Happy With Finish ever run." sighed smothering inside Johncock softly, still his sweltering driv- er's suit. And with a weariness weathered on his face hy the sun and what chief mechanic George Bignotti called "heartbreaking," Johncock talked about his llth-place finish. "The biggest disappointment in my racing career? I'd have to say so." he said quietly. "But what can you do about it?" he asked. "That's just something you have to get used to in racing." Bignotti.

for whom a victory would have been No. 7 here at the famed 2Va-mile oval, said the specific problem "was either a alve or a piston. We won't know for sure until we get the car in the garage and take a look at it. But from the way it was smoking, you can figure it was either a valve or a piston." JOHNCOCK HOPPED INTO the lead for the firt time yesterday on the 18th lap but only kept it through No. 21.

Then Foyt took over for a lew laps along with a brief leader's stint by George Snider before Johncock dominated laps 52-68. He chased two-time Indianapolis 500 champ Bobby Unser to regain the lead for laps 71-92. And after taking command on laps 97-179. he relinquished the lead to Fiit because of a pit stop. His due! with Foyt intensified on his last circles of the race, laps 186-185.

It wasn't just a Sunday jaunt for Johncock, who had the four-time winner pounn' it on behind him, gaining seconds with each successive round-trip. "Gordie gave it a good run." praised Bigiwtli. "If we hadn't had the trouble. Foyt would have had his hands full with us. We had boost to put up." SIZE-PREMIUM' iO I I 117? tl I 13M E.T Splits liy SUSAN LAMAR Gordon Johncock was.

figuratively speaking, smoking around Tony Hulman's ph'ce yesterday, holding off A Foyt for an apparent second Indianapolis 500 victory. But 16 circuits away from the checkered flag, Johncock was literally smoking coming out of turn four. His bright red No. 20 Wildcat developed engine problems as he led the 184th lap. and his dream of a repeat trip to Victory Lane puttered out in the infield grass along with his Drake-Goossen-Sparks power.

And instead of being drenched with the champagne of celebration, n-cock saturated himself in the creek that flows through the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. JOHNCOCK, LEADING his 125th lap of the 200-lap extravaganza, noticed the trouble rounding the northwest corner. "I looked back in the rear view mirror and saw the smoke. I felt the trouble right before it went out. It i the engine) started rattling." he said.

He guided the machine along the inside wall down the main straightaway then easi'd it on the infield skirt. "I thought I'd drive it down in the grass-get it out of the way," he remembered. He parked it. and then he sat for a brief moment on the top of the tub. "Then I just jumped in the creek," related Johncock.

He splashed the water on his face, trying to cool off. "It wasn't cool enough. But I'd still like to be lying there." he joked, slapping his soggy shoes together as he sat on the table in his garage. "IT WAS THE HOTTEST 500 I've ANY Janet's Big Day Began With Leaky, Not Baggy, Hose Sncva Parsons Tom Bigelnw McCluskey Steve Krisiloff .2 Johncock Bill Puterbaugh Sports Over Lightly LeBob Collins, Sports Editor at 29 This is A.J. at 32 and this was taken when he was hasn't changed much, has he?" Nope.

He still goes oui. tells them to name their game and weapons, then breaks their hearts. He already has lapped the field in championship victories (58) and national titles (6). He has won over $1 million al the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Yesterday he built his personal Hall of Fame.

There isn room for anybody else. He is lord of the realm. AND HE threw four the hard way, surviving a brilliant duel with Gordon Johncock. Wee Gordon backs away from no man. And yesterday he drove past the ragged edge and stayed on the pedal until his horse expired in a valiant attempt to shut the gate on Foyt.

But every time Johncock relaxed, there was Foyt ruthlessly nipping at his heels. And though we will never know now, I had the feeling that, sooner or later, Foyt was going to gather him in. The Coyote built by A. J. Foyt, prepared by A.

J. Foyt was purring like a sewing machine. And the Texan seemed to be measuring his adversary, patiently awaiting the proper moment to pounce. Foyt is a private man know he can be boorish. We know he can be kind and considerate.

But, I suspect, few people know A. J. Foyt. HOWEVER, it should have been obvious to all but the most callous that the man was genuinely affected by what he had accomplished1 yesterday.The words that came out only hinted at the depth of his feeling. To A.

J. Foyt there is no place like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And now it is his. Foyt currently is the owner of nine race horses. Next to playing with a rigged roulette wheel, owning race horses is the most expensive game in town any town.

When a man remarked that A.J. had accepted his unprecedented fourth "500" triumph with considerable humility, a companion said, "Owning race horses will make a man humble. I suspect he won almost enough here today to keep 'em fed until the next 500-Mile Race." Clay's Ride 'Boring' Clay Regazroni. th3 veteran Formula I Grand Prix driver but a rookie at Indianapolis, dropped out of yesterday's Indy 500, apparently less than thrilled with the race The Swiss driver, Europe's lone entry in 1977's American racing classic, was kayoed from the 200-lap race in the 29th lap by ignition problems. I was enjoying myself just fine, enjoying myself, when the engine went," he said later in Gasoline Alley.

And what did the Grand Prix star think of the Indy 500? "Boring," he said. oOulv' 4-PLY POLYESTER CORD The Indianapolis Star MONDAY, MAY 30, 1977 the driver's seat. An attempt was made to dilute the spilled fuel by pouring water er Janet but she was experiencing some discomfort alter the shower. COMMENTING ON what she was thinking about while sitting in her car for so long in the pits, Guthrie said, "I kept watching how smooth and easy those cars were going thru the first turn and reflecting on how much I would like to be out there with them." "I am very disappointed, but I know that my crew did everything possible to solve the car's mechanical troubles. My crew chief Phil Casey and mechanic Chuck Looper are both recipients of the Mechanic of the Year Award at Indianapolis.

We had a mystery on our hands. A race car is a very complex piece of equipment. Each time we brought the car into the pits we tried changing something else to keep the car in the race. Before' I took the car out for the last lap, it was the crew and my consensus that if it didn't do it this time, we were going to pack it in." Referring to some hostility that existed toward her in 1976 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Janet commented. "1 have been very touched by the other drivers here this year.

There's no more hostility like in 1976. I am very happy about that. Additionally, the fan reaction has been great. Clearly, I have support from both men and women and I find it hard to put to find words to describe my feelings." THERE HAD been much talk all last week what Speedway owner Tony Hulman would say when he instructed the drivers to start their engines. In deference to Janet.

Hulman In company with the first lady ever to qualify for Indianapolis, gentlemen, start your engines." Guthrie didn't hear what Hulman said. When toldhis words, she said, "good for Tony. He acknowledged I was there and that was the point." Braiuhilla inner Vallelnnga, Italy (AP) Vittorio Brambilla of Italy, driving an Alfa Romeo, 33SC won the 400-kilometer Ig-nazio Giunti auto race yesterday which counts toward the world's sports car championship. Brambilla clocked an average speed of 153.563 kilometers an hour over the 125-lap circuit, finishing a lap ahead of Alfa teammate Arturo Merzario of Italy who placed second. After three races Alfa leads the Osella BMW 42, Chevron 21 and Lola standings wrth 60 points, followed by 16.

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Over the years it has been stretched to where it can mean anybody who rises above the ordinary, or somebody we Like who has won something. But it is used routinely with A.J. Foyt; almost like it is part of his name. And writers, in a never ending effort to canonize the finest of all American race drivers, may be on the threshhold of an historic verbal breakthrough. They may drop the name on his Social Security card and, hereafter, refer to the man from Texas as "He." Willi a capital of course.

ANTHONY JOSEPH Foyt owns the franchise. He is chairman of the board and chancelor of the exchequer. You want to do yourself seme good in the Indianapolis 500-Mile race, you'd better see him first. I'll guarantee you that you see him before the race is finished. Foyt has been into Tony Hulman's pocket so often they plan to name a vault in his honor at the Speedway office.

Hulman doesn't establish a purse for the race any more he just asks Foyt how much he needs. The hot rumor is that next year they are going to save wear and tear on those expensive engines by conducting a drawing for the other 32 positions. At this stage, about the only thing the man from Houston can do for an encore is attempt to finish one-two in the same race. And, at this, stage I wouldn't bet against his excuse me, HIM. STILL reasonably lean and plenty mean at 42, ole Tex helped himself to No.

4 at Mr. Hulman's establishment. He soon will have his picture on the Borg Warner Trophy in so many places it will look like it was donated by his mother. "Here is my son at 26 Here he is Sandra Spuzich Record Flirter Hairisburg, Pa. (UPI) Sandra Spuzich fired rounds of 68-66-67 for a 201 yesterday to come within one shot of the all-time LPGA 54-hole record and win the $50,000 Ladies Keystone Open.

Spuzich, of Indianapolis, was one shot ahead of Argentine Silvia Bertolao cini to win the $7,500 first prize. Spuzich birdied the last two holes including the par-4, 18th hole where she drove the green, knocked a 30-foot putt to within six feet of the hole and then sank the second putt for the win. Be.tolaccini, who won $5,040, was behind Spuzich on the 18th hole and needed a birdie to tie. She missed from six feet and shot 71 yesterday. Spuzich's game turned around on the ninth hole when she knocked in a 50-yard wedge shot for an eagle.

She had been 1-over-par going to the ninth and finished the front nine at 1-under. Spuzich, a former U.S. Open champion who hadn't won a tournament since 1974, said: "It's been a long time since I've been in contention. "I made some big six and seven footers. And they get awful tough," she said.

"I wasn't nervous until the lath tee when I realized I might be in the lead." RADIAL WHITEWALLS GOLDEN FALCON FABRIC RADIAL WHITEWALLS Regularly low priced By TO MA Blt.VSHEAR Janet Guthrie's problems began early yesterday morning long before the 61st running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. They lasted all day. First, it was a leaking hose from her fuel tank. Then, it was a variety of mechanical difficulties which plagued the first woman driver in the world's most famous auto race. Still, she was smiling midway through the afternoon when she finally called it quits.

"ONE SWALLOW does not a make a summer," Guthrie told a bevy of reporters flocked around her outside her garage. "I'll be back next year. I don't have a contract with Rolla (owner and builder Rolla Vollstedt of Janet's No. 27 racing machine) but I feel confident I'll be driving his car next year. "He's the man who gave me my big chance.

If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here." Janet's day went like this. -At 9:30 yesterday morning Clarence Cagle, the man who runs and manages the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, spotted fuel dripping from the hose near the coupling on the huge fuel storage tank behind her pit wall. "If you don't get it stopped, she can't run," Cagle told the crew. They didn't act as if they believed him. Moments later Frank DelRoy, chairman of the United State's Auto Club's technical committee, backed up Cagle.

DelRoy suggested a plastic bag be secured around the hose to contain the dripping fuel. It was and Janet started the race. THE SHOW HAD barely begun when more problems began to unfold. On lap 15 she pitted for 69 seconds, the engine was shut off and the crew fidgeted with the engine. One lap later she was back in the pits.

This time spark plugs were pulled in an attempt to discover if the car had a fuel diaphragm problem or ignition problem. Before she called it a day, Janet pitted five more times. She was in the pits approximately 95 minutes. When she went out for the last time for her 27th and final lap the leaders were on their 149th circuit. Guthrie's crew had to board off the garage area for Janet so she could take a shower to wash fuel from her body before meeting with reporters.

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