The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 8

-SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1978 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR PAGE 8-SEC. 1- 1 59S I iiihhiV I 1 jl I i i mirr I -1 If. a i I i 'I UYk mS i A AD it IJ SUNBATHING, RELAXATION MARK DAY BEFORE THE "500" Waiting For Race In Parking Grounds South Of Track HE'S NO RACER BUT CAR STILL CAUSES TROUBLE Doug Wymer, 20, Of Findlay, Ohio, Has Flat Tire (Sttr Phots bv Frtnk M. Full) PAIR OF RACE FAN'S PREPARE HAMBURGERS FOR BREAKFAST Alex Vispoli (Left) And Bob Kennelly From New Jersey Race- 0 ff S''f '-''lib iP--l back to last year's setup because it was much more reliable. BUT ONE V-8 driver predicted that half of the Cosworths wouldn't be around at the finish.

And that's what guys like Johncock, Parsons and Mike Mosley are hoping for, since the trio is propelled by 4-cylinders. Even though Gordie has won twice in 78 and was leading last year here before breaking with just 16 laps to go, he still doesn't think he can beat the V-8s without help. "If we can stay on the same lap through the halfway point we might have a chance," replied Parsons, second in his class this month in Lindsey Hopkins' Lightning. At Saturday's driver's meeting, all 33 drivers, including Janet Guthrie, appeared healthy and ready for the go. Indy's first lady fell on her wrist Friday while playing tennis in the USAC Benevolent Fund tourney but said that the slight sprain shouldn't give her any problems today.

BECAUSE OF the hot. humid, conditions expected, Billy Vukovich, Bob Har-key and Larry Cannon all were cleared as relief drivers. (Stir PMHI THESE RECREATIONAL VEHICLES APPEAR AS THOUGH THEY ARE READY TO START THEIR OWN RACE Race Fans' Campers Are Packed Tightly Into A Parking Lot On West 30th Street Continued From Page 1 his 200 122 on the opening day of qualifications. But he didn't. He must start 20th.

and he isn't too wild about it. "The last time I started back this far, I never made it to the first turn," said Foyt, referring to the first lap melee in 1966 that KO'd 11 cars. "I'll just try and keep my nose clean and take things as they come." Carter, the amazing young man who was hospitalized for two months last winter following a crash in practice at Phoenix, owns the sixth-fastest speed (196 829i but had to qualify on the second day because of problems with his Bud-weiser Lightning PANCHO SELDOM backs up and that goes ditto for Bobby who'll be giving Dan Gurney's new Arco Eagle its christening. But the guy to keep a stopwatch on is the tiny one in the last slot. Mario Andretti never has started Indianapolis in 33rd spot and nobody ever has come from there to win.

However, if there is ever to be an exception to the rule, this much-respected veteran from Nazareth. Pa could do it. After the first weekend of time trials was washed out. Andretti missed qualifying his Penske-Cosworth because he was busy winning the Belgium Grand Prix and reclaiming the Formula One point lead. Mike Hiss stepped in and qualified Mario's Gould Charge fast enough to take the middle of row three, but the 1969 winner must take Pat Vidan's flag from dead last because of the rule about drivers assuming rides they didn't qualify.

"I'D MUCH rather be up front, obviously." said Andretti, "but the starting position isn't that critical in a 500-mile race. "I just want to make a good, clean start and take it from there If I can catch the leaders fairly early, then I've got a shot." The last man to come from behind was Rutherford, who stormed from 27th to take the 74 race. This time around, however, Lone Star R. and Team McLaren are as concerned with finishing as they are winning. "We've had problems with our cylinder heads," admitted yet to go the distance in any of the four 78 races "Cosworth casted some bad heads and that's knocked us out three of the four times.

But I think we've solved the trouble Gary Knutson, the engine man for Team McLaren, confirmed the trouble spot as valve seats and said he's eone 16TH STREET MADNESS And the question of who'll give the command to start the engines remained a question Speedway President Joe Cloutier said everyone would find out today. Excitement Mounts Among Waiting Fans Crash in the low 90s, thousands of race fans, waiting for the gates to open at 5 a.m., spent the afternoon swilling cold drinks, washing each other down with hoses and whistling at the girls. As dusk approached and tension mounted among the restless fans, one Indiana State Police trooper reported By RICHARD D. WALTON It was the quiet before the storm along West 16th Street Saturday night but the storm was building on the eve of today's 62nd running of the 500-Mile Race Under sunny skies with temperatures Order Of The Day a.m. Salute bombs.

All gates open. 6 a.m. -8 a.m. Concert music by Continued From Page 1 head injuries, and the other, lacerations and shock. Their truck was carrying tar and tar-spraying equipment, and the force of the crash spewed tar at least 100 feet on westbound 38th Street.

Two other vehicles stopped at the intersection, a 1976 Corvette driven by Jim Roberts of Crawfordsville, and a Kawasaki motorcycle operated by Don Bryan of Paw Paw, were damaged slightly. JOHN K. GUTTERMAN of Richmond, an emergency medical technician who happened to be driving by moments after the crash, stopped and applied first aid. The Sunbird and the black pickup truck carried Indiana license plates but the plate from the Chevrolet pickup disappeared in the crash. Freijie All Stars band.

Paul Hartley and his wife of Maumee. Ohio spent the pre-race hours reclining comfortably in lawn chairs beside their van, wearing Goodyear hats Hartley reported he has attended every 500-Mile Race since 19.16 and is attracted principally by "the people." "The people here are down to earth," he commented "They're real folks." One group of celebrants in a used car lot escaped the heat, temporarily anyway, by washing themselves down with water gushing from a hose. One young woman washed her hair with the willing help of a group of male companions. ONE NOTE STOOD out among all the milling multitude. Almost everyone carried a cold beverage.

One store carrying a sign, "Cold Beer," was turning customers away. Eight-pound bags of ice were selling for $1.50 each and were going fast Many of the fans cavorted in front of their vans parked on a special lot with the sounds of rock music in the background and the inevitable Frisbees sailing over the rooftops. Scalpers were trying to get $50 apiece for tickets to seats on the backstretch. There was a long night ahead but. as one fan said, "It'll be worth it when the gates open and the excitement begins to build up." hesitantly.

"Things are peaceful so far. We haven't had any fights or other incidents reported. "But it's a little too early yet. When the sun goes down, that's when you worry. That's when they (the fans) can hide.

ANOTHER TROOPER declared that as soon as the race is over, "I'm going fishing at Black Rock Creek and just lie in the water and let the carp swim up on me." One of the waiting fans was Mike Theiler of Lincoln, who came to cheer for his hometown friend, Joe Salda-na, who'll start today's race in the 10th row after qualifying at a speed of 190.809 miles an hour. But Theiler, who drove to Indianapolis in a van and picked up eight friends along the way, said he also was attracted to the race by "the beer and girls." Randy Ross of Massillon, Ohio greeted passersby while wearing a paper sack over his head, a coonskin hat, a Florida State University T-shirt and tinted glasses. HE DIDN'T ATTRACT too much attention until a strolling woman stopped and planted a kiss on his mouth. Another man walked along 16th Street with an egg in one hand and a sign, reading "Chicken Dinners For Sale," in the other. 10:30 a.m.

Melody of tunes by Up With People. 10:34 a.m. Final inspection of race course by Thomas Binford, chief steward, in the 1978 Corvette Pace Car. 10:41 a.m. Combined United States Armed Forces color guard takes position.

10:42 a.m. A. announcer "Ladies and gentlemen" Purdue University band and the National Anthem. 10:45 a.m. Invocation, the Rev.

James Bonke of St. Christopher Catholic Church. 10:48 a.m. Taps: U.S. Armed Forces color guard.

10:48 a.m. "Back Home Again in Indiana" by Jim Nabors. 10:51 a.m. The command to "start your engines." .10:52 a.m. Start of the parade laps.

10:58 a.m. Start of the pace lap, bomb crescendo and galaxy of flags. 11 a.m. Start of the 62nd 500-Mile Race. 7 a.m.

Gasoline Alley track gates open. a.m. The big Band O-Rama. All bands enter racetrack from band gate near Gate 10. All units march to their assigned positions.

8:30 a.m. Race cars must be on the apron in front of their pits prior to this time. No electric carts to be used alter race cars are in pits. 9:45 a.m. Crews push race cars to starting positions.

9:45 a.m. "On Banks of Wabash" by Purdue Ail-American band, Al G. Wright directing on grass near starting line. 10 a.m. Celebrity Caravan moves through Gate 5 north through pits.

10:24 a.m. Lou Meyer, first three-time winner, will circle the track in the Miller-8 that he drove to victory in 1928. Indianapolis I $5. Motor i i i fW- i rl a--- vil Routes To The Track The dark line show the major routes race fans should use to reach the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today. Beginning at 4 a.m., Indiana State Police ond Circle City REACT will broadcast up-to-the minute traffic information on Channel 13 on the Citizens Band radio.

The information will include reports of traffic jams, alternate routes, preferred routes, hazards, and parking conditions. Police urge persons to use Metro buses which will provide express service to the track todoy beginning at 4 a.m. from downtown Indianapolis and at 5 a.m. from the lower level of Indianapolis International Airport. The buses will leave from designated spots along Illinois Street between Union Station and Ohio Street.

(Star Map) (SUr Pholtl) COUNTRY SINGER WAVES TO CROWD Rides In "500" Festival Parade Saturday GRAND MARSHAL ROY CLARK ARRIV ES Stands Beside Private Plane At Airport.