The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 35

SIS'EVA (203. tOO) HAY PUT TEAM 0 POLE Andretti To Mi Qualifications i The Indianapolis Stah FRIDAY, MAY 19. 1978 PAGE 35 Amusement Financial By ROBIN MILLER Roger Penske lost one potential pole cat and gained another Thursday. Mario Andretti. whose 203 482 mile-an-hour lap in Penske's machine is the fastest time of the month, was officially ruled out as a possible qualifier this weekend And Tom Sneva.

the Indianapolis Motor Speedway record-holder who's almost become the forgotten man on Penske's impressive team, had everyone saying his name as the track closed Sneva. to the surprise of no one who's been keeping his corner speeds this month, lifted his Norton Spirit to the second-best clocking among his competitors with a circuit of 203 100 mph. IT WAS THE first time the defending United States Auto Club national champion had been over the 200 mark this May and he took the accomplishment in his typical good-natured style "Roger thought we should have gone 205 so I've been looKing for a helmet his size." laughed the 29-year-old driver who won the pole a year ago with a four-lap sf? f-. 9 sss jSr ifier and if all went well in time trials, he'd have to be at the Speedway by at least 3pm "WE'D RATHEK not mess with his chances to win the world title." continued Penske "Mike Hiss i will do a good job qualifying Mario's car and he'll be flying on race day The plan is for Hiss to put Andrew's mount in the show and regardless of where that is. the 1969 winner will have to start the 62d Indianapolis 500 from 33d spot Yesterday.

Mike was over 191 in Penske's fourth machine and today he'll switch to Mario's The only other person over 200 Thursday was four-time winner A Foyt as he improved his previous best of 200 356 mph to 200 490 in his Gilmore Coyote. Wally Dallenbach. in the SugaRipe McLaren, got off a 196 lap. two-time Indy king Bobby Unser was over 195 in Dan Gurney's Arco Eagle and 73 victor Gordon Johncock topped 194 in George Big-notti's North American Wildcat. JOHNNY PARSONS, whose 197 933 showing is tops among the 4-cyIinder participants, was traveling 194-plus Thursday when the rear end pitched on his First National City Travelers Checks Lightning Dick Simon bested 193.

while Al I'nser. Larry Dickson and Hiss were the others over 190 But there were a couple of noticeable gains among the Gasoline Alley ranks. Rookie Larry Rice, in his Lightning Otfy. jumped from 184 to 189 and John Mahler, in Spike Gehlhausen's backup Eagle, found the 189 mark on only his third hot lap. Mahler, who made last year's field on a last-minute banzai, said he didn't want to run again until Saturday morning because the chassis felt so good and their engine situation isn't too plentiful ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT came from Joe Saldana.

who had the Hoffman Brothers Eagle almost to 188 Graham McRae. in Salt Walther's old McLaren, managed 187-plus on just his second afternoon of running. Kookie Phil Threshie. who acquired Circle Chevrolet and Tutwiler Cadillac as co-sponsors, topped 185 in the Lightning Janet Guthrie qualified in 77 Cliff Hucul made his initial appearance on the track while veterans Bill Puterbaugh and Bob Harkey landed seats Puterbaugh. the '75 rookie of the year, will pilot Kolla Vollstedt's second machine and Harkey is taking over Don Merguard's Eagle average of 198 884 that included the first official 200 circuits "We couldn't have made four in a row at 203 because she was just too loose But we're still doing a lot of experimenting Tom has spent most of his track time in that capacity.

He's been the guinea pig. so to speak, for Penske's four immaculate Cosworth-powered PC-6s While teammates Andretti and Rick Mears (the fifth-fastest mover at 201.7031 have been making the headlines Smvely has been making changes to make everybody's racer quicker "THAT'S KINK with me." he replied "I enjoy testing dilterent setups and trying new ideas." Earlier in the gorgeous day. Penske revealed that there was no way Andretti was going to be able to make connections from his Formula One race in Belgium to the Speedway for Saturday's opening round of qualifications. "We looked at all the possibilities and there's just no way we can get Mario here in time," said Roger. "Even on a Concorde the earliest he could be here would be 5 o'clock and that wouldn't work Andretti is slated to be the 28th qual Speedway Top Ten 203 U2 201.100 201.

174 201 131 201 701 200 490 200 222 wo mm HI Ml 1. Mario Andretti Gould tharqp Penske-Cosworth No. 7 2. Tom Sneva Norton Soirtt Penske-Cosworth No I 3. Danny Ongats Irrtf-rscooe Racinq Parnelh-Cosworth No 25 1.

Johnny Rutherford 1st National City McLaren-Cosworth No i S. Rick Mean CAM? Motor Oil Penske-Cosworth No 21 a. A.J. Fovt Jr. Gilmorc Citicorp Covote-Fovf No.

2. Pancno Carter BurJweiser Lightninq Cosworth No. 8 I. Bobby Unser APCOqraohic Eagle-Cosworth No 49 Al Unser 1st National Citv Lola-Cosworth No 2 to. Johnny Parsons 1st National Citv Lightning ottv No I A PLACE IN THE SHADE Joe Soldano, driver of the Team 69 Eagle-Offy, found Thursday's sun a bit too much at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

As a result the crew protected the driver in the pits with a large umbrella. (Star Photo by Jerry Clark) 500 DRIVER ALWAYS HAS TIME FOR OTHER GUY You Need Help? Call Dick Simon cement coming out of Turn 2 on the what we wanted to do put her in the Indianapolis 500 and nobody can take that away from us. Besides, she's a very good driver." STILL. SIMON HAS enjoyed the liberty of working on his own program this year without having to worry how somebody else is doing This time he has put in 55 laps 1 137 12 miles I in his own machine, before getting into the backup car that is ticketed for Puterbaugh if Simon puts his own machine in the race as expected. A year ago he had 17 laps in his own car "1 don't think many people realized that" when he qualified.

He had 40 laps in Guthrie's machine which turned into a bear after a shunt into the By DAVE OVERPECK It was a fairly familiar position for Dick Simon Thursday afternoon. He was test-hopping a car he doesn't plan to drive Again, it was car Xo. 27 he was in But it was a Vollstedt chassis, not a Lightning And he was setting it up for Bill Puterbatigh. not Janet Guthrie Another thing different: Simon got into Kolla Vullstedt's backup car after he'd had a thorough chance to get his own primary car set up. That isn't to say that the 44-year-old.

polished-paled veteran of eight 500-Mile Races regrets the last two seasons when he spent as much time setting up Guthrie's car as he did preparing his own LAST JULY A wire service quoted him as saying he was tired of babysitting Janet. Simon says that was putting words in his mouth that weren't there. "What I said last year." he noted, "was that I was looking forward to the completion of our two-year contractual obligation because we had accomplished our goal and so I could concentrate on my own effort. "But that doesn't mean I was saying I was tired of babysitting Janet. A lot of teams around split and go their own ways.

Nobody is saying that Al Unser left Parnelli because he was tired of babysitting Danny Ongais. "Actually, I enjoyed the experience with Janet because we accomplished Ruby Awaiting Outcome Of 'Engine Roulette' Game fourth day of practice And while the total number of laps last year is more than this year's 55. the work in Guthrie's Lightning wasn't that much help to Simon for his own purposes. "EVERY CAR IS different." he says. "When you start talking about fine-tuning, it doesn't help any to be running a different car from your own.

For instance. 1 run my cars with a 10: 1 steering ratio; she runs hers at 8:1 So you have to be careful. "So for my purposes, it was actually a waste of time for me to drive her cur." Tlits time Simon hasn't had to fiddle around with other folks' equipment. "Our car was-ready last week." he says. "We were ready to qualify last Saturday and again last Sunday but we couldn't.

"Now we'll be able to do some fine-tuning. When you're jammed on time, you can't do that. You just have to work on getting into the ball park and to me. that's not racing "THIS YEAR, I'VE had more time lor my own car and I think the results have shown," They have. A week ago.

Simon was over 196 miles an hour, putting him in the top half of practice runners to date. That doesn't mean that Simon, one of the better chassis readers on the lot and an unselfish soul, has been devoting night and day solely to Machine No 17 "I've been trying to help out i rookie) Phil Threshie." he said of the 25-year-old Californian who is driving the Circle Chevrolet Lightning-OIfy that Guthrie piloted a year ago "So far all I've done is offer advice in the garage. He's been trying to sort the car out himself on the track." said Simon "But he's having trouble doing it. so I expect I'll take a ride in it to see what I can find out." This year he can really afford to do that. SIMON DIAGNOSIS Dick Simon studies the chassis of the No.

27 Vollstedt -Offy he is setting up for driver Bill Puterbaugh at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Thursday. (Star Photo) jRASS filan V'ay Slaff Lloyd Ruby's ride for his 19th Indianapolis 500 is currently in a holding pattern. Rube, whose close pal Gene White purchased the Parnelli-Cosworth driven by Al Unser here last May, is hoping nothing else goes wrong with Danny Ongais' operation between now and time trials. Ongais totaled his backup car Tuesday afternoon and ruined the engine that was scheduled to go in Lloyd's machine. Vel Miletich.

who co-owns the Parnellis along with their namesake, said there would be another flown in by Thursday. But on Wednesday, the Cosworth in Danny number one mount cut loose and threw the Interscope Team into a shipped from California and hopefully will arrive here early Saturday morning That late arrival is for Ruby's car and it should be ready when practice opens Saturday. If things are going smoothly with Danny's ride, he'll jump into Lloyd's machine during the 90-minute hot lap session and set it up. And if there's enough time. Rube will also get to run before it's shoved into the qualifying line.

If Ongais, set to go out 14th, gets in the program as scheduled, then the other Parnelli becomes Lloyd's. If something should happen to Danny's, he'll use Ruby's as a backup. Whatever happens, no money will exchange hands until the 50-year old Texan gets a chance to make the show. And White still wants to buy the car alter the Speedway so Rube can run at Pocono, Ontario and Atlanta. mild panic.

They were out of the 8-cylinder English powerplants and still owed Ruby two. SO MILETICH met with White and worked out this agreement: The Cos-worth that arrived Thursday was put in Ongais' chassis. Another motor was to be You asked for it! Smooth Hydrostatic Drive, Big Tractor Features, and Lots of Extras AT NO EXTRA PRICE! Bad Hitting 'Beats' Topnotch Pitching WAS $2375 NOW $1780" SAVE $595.00 attachments Sports Over Lightly 25 50 SAVINGS (mm opening THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT'S NEW WAREHOUSE STORE Keystone Plaza in the old Belscot building The Athletic Department is celebrating the Grand Opening of their NEW Warehouse Store with special savings from 25 50. The Pros are featuring an outstanding selection of athletic shoes at discount prices: irregulars, discontinued models, and special buys. Plus a wide choice of top Name Brand shoes like Puma, Adidas, Nike, Converse, Spot-bilt, and Tiger.

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Jim Kaat and Gaylord Perry both are way over 200 in victories. But their fast ball wouldn't frighten a rabbit. Randy Jones may be the best control pitcher in the game. He wins a lot, but his fast ball wouldn't get arrested for speeding in a hospital zone. From the beginning, the glamour pitchers, the ones who can afford "his" and "her" Cadillacs, have been fellows who can rear back and throw that high, hard one.

RANDY JONES makes the hitters mad with all the junk he shows them. But, I'll guarantee you, they would rather be mad than scared. Fast-ball pitchers, especially, the ones who aren't big on control, will have the bravest hitter standing way up high on his toes. There is nothing that destroys a batter's confidence like a fast ball buzzing under his chin. All of the great ones or the ones we 1 1 hp Briggs Stratton Engine single pedal hydrostatic drive quiet performance quick response steering comfortable seat adjusts without tools full-width fenders and running board wide range of optional attachments At these participating dealers: MM jTj mmr convensE inuv adidas and future who went before him.

His name is Nolan Ryan and his fast ball will set off smoke detectors in the next county. An umpire once said, "That Ryan could throw a ball through a car wash without getting it wet." He already has tied the career record for no-hitters and he has pitched more one- and two-hitters than you can count. He is the definition of the old line, "You can't hit what you can't see." His lifetime earned run average is under two a game. He averages over one strike out an inning. Yet he barely has won more games than he has lost.

Reason: He labors fur the California Angels, a team that considers three walks and a sacrifice fly a big inning. In his first three starts this season he gave up a grand total of one earned run and was 0-0. LATER HE PUT a one-hitter and a two-hitter back to back. Both, according to stories, could have been no-hitters. He already owns the major league record for most strikeouts in a season 4383), has struck, out as many as 19 batters' in a game arid has sent 10 or more 'back1 to the dugout so many times most people have toil count.

This' season he seems better than ever. Batters are complaining that it's against the rules to throw aspirin tablets. But the Angels couldn't Nit. me. Thus, Ryan may end up with a big asterisk in the record book the first pitcher to strike out more than 400 batters, throw three no-hitters in one season and struggle 'n 20 games.

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