The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 48

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1992 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR D-9 AUTO RACING Tony Johansson believe they're ready to make move Many hands grasping for IndyCar tide Emmo still a factor in season points chase 4g ASSOCIATED PRESS Actor Paul Newman, helping Michael Andretti's pit crew Saturday, looks down the track for Andretti's car. Fittipaldi gets victory clouded by objection "I'm really pleased I was able to stay with Tony because he gave me a chance." Johansson, pursued by two or three teams, admitted If Tony hadn't come up with current cars and engines he wouldn't have been interested in returning because "you're always a step behind with old equipment." Even though Penske vowed to never make one of his current cars available to another team after Emerson Fittipaldl won Indy for Pat Patrick in 1989, The Captain obviously had a change of heart. "It just made sense," replied Penske, who has had Bettenhausen as a customer the past two years and also does some heavy Detroit Diesel business with AMAX Inc. Paul Diatlovich, who chlefed Tony's successful debut at Indy back in 1981, will remain chief mechanic, ably assisted by Rick Duman. Tom Brown of Penske Cars will also continue to work with Bettenhausen Motorsports.

Tony and Paul have come a long way since they towed their old McLaren all over the country with a pickup truck and worked out of Gasoline Alley. They've worked hard and it's nice to see them move up the ladder. Bettenhausen says he hasn't retired as a driver, but I hope he sticks to just running the team. He qualified for 10 Indy 500s and enjoyed a lot more success than anyone ever thought he would. He can walk away without a limp and, with Johansson and A-1 equipment, maybe get a leg up on a bunch of teams.

Robin Miller And, instead of running year-old cars with less-than top shelf engines, Bettenhausen Motor-sports will move up to first class equipment next year. Johansson will have a pair of 1993 Penskes and the new Chevy-C engine under his talented touch. "We've got the whole package now, and I think we're going to be very competitive next year," said Bettenhausen. "I think maybe we'll even make it to the top of the podium. "We're 100 percent committed to Stefan and BettenhausenA-MAX Motorsports will be a class act next year." Considering their uphill climb, this season has been a success.

Besides his strong showings on street circuits, Johansson was running fifth in his oval debut at New Hampshire before losing power. The ex-Formula One jockey definitely has the right attitude to succeed and survive over here. "I'm excited about everything," declared the personable 32-year-old Johansson. "The amount of enthusiasm is so great and I haven't been as inspired since my Formula II days. These are a great bunch of guys and we've got perfect chemistry.

En excess of Sell it quicker in the i a i Ji ii Wm. L. who attained Congratulations! We congratulate "ANDY" PHILLIPS, CRB, CRS a 1992 residential sales volume azareth. Pa. The auto graph seeker handed his program to the driver and politely asked, "Tony, will you sign this?" Stefan Johansson smiled and penned his name, realizing he had AMAX on the front of his uniform and it was only natural this young fan figured he was Tony Bettenhausen.

Of course there aren't many similarities between them. Betten-hausen Is a born-and-bred American oval-tracker, while Johansson is a Swede with a road-racing heritage. Bettenhausen's hairline is eroding quickly, while Johansson has a healthy crop of blonde hair. Behind the wheel, Tony B. is strictly conservative, while Stefan's style is unrestricted aggressiveness.

But Bettenhausen decided to take a chance earlier this season. After missing the Indianapolis 500, the 40-year-old veteran and his crew were a depressed lot. AMAX, Tony's sponsor the past three years, wasn't too excited either since Indy carries so much exposure. Bettenhausen was at the crossroads with the train bearing down and he faced two tracks: keep slogging along and hope for better results or hire a younger, hungry driver who might keep everyone interested. Fortunately, Tony thinks as well as he plans, entertains and manages his books.

He stepped out and bolted Johansson into his year-old PenskeChevy-A. This partnership has blossomed into one of IndyCar's best stories in 1992 and it figures to get better in '93. Because the swift Swede debuted at Detroit with a marvelous third place and then ran second at Vancouver, AMAX is sticking around. Because AMAX Is back, Bettenhausen was able to keep Johansson happy and under contract. OPEN TODAY! NFL, NBA, Baseball and College Sportswear 10-8 Ssl.

10-S Sun. 11-4 32nd Shadeland Behind Drexel 1992 U.S. Tobacco Co. rLQGoT jLeJ i i 2 ill MARLBORO FINISH At Nazareth, Pa. 1.

E. Fittipaldi, 156.127 mph. 2. Michael Andretti. 3.

Paul Tracy. 4. Scott Goodyear. 5. Raul Boesel.

6. Bobby Rahal. 7. John Andretti. 8.

Al Unser Jr. 9. Mario Andretti. 10. Danny Sullivan.

ond time for a supposed fuel leak Is ridiculous. Our team talked to the officials to have the observers around the track check for a leak but they refused. I guess the four officials in the tower made the call but how could they see it up there?" IndyCar officials claimed they didn't black flag Rahal for a fuel leak, but rather for leaving the pits with his fuel hose still attached. "We were told one thing during the race and another after the race was over and that's what got me excited," continued Rahal. "One has to wonder why the story changed." On the lighning-quick Pennsylvania International Raceway, any stop during the green flag is costly and Fittipaldi was unchallenged after assuming the top spot.

"I think it would have been a great 3-car race, but we will never know, said Fittipaldl, who averaged 156.127 mph in his first- ever win of a Marlboro-sponsored event. "I got by Michael on our pit stop and I think I'd have been very close to Bobby. Andretti, who earned $200,000 for his Newman-Haas KmartTexaco team, wasn't sure he could have handled Fittipaldi. "I'd have been all over him, I know that, and it would have made a show for the people." Paul Tracy started eighth and overcame two pit stops to take third in Penske's Mobil 1 Special, while Scott Goodyear finished fourth in the Mackenzie Lola-Chevy-A. Rahal, who confronted IndyCar officials afterwards, felt like the show suffered instead of benefitted.

"I thought this was the showcase event with the best drivers in a shootout, but it didn't end up that way," said the 1986 Indy 500 winner. "I think it was contrary to the concept of the Marlboro Challenge, but maybe it was about a Marlboro car winning." and say, 'Oh, it's a freak that that and then just go on," he said. "Then somewhere down the road, the same thing would happen again. "Now, we try to get to the bottom of it and make sure it doesn't 471 AW I By ROBIN MILLER STAR ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Nazareth, Pa. Emerson Fittipaldi, Roger Penske and the Marlboro people were happy with the outcome of Saturday's Marlboro Challenge, but they were definitely in the minority.

The $1 million race, pitting winners and polesitters from the 1992 IndyCar season, wound up with Fittipaldi in victory lane and his main competition foaming at the mouth. Fittipaldi. starting third In the Marlboro PenskeChevy-B, took the lead on Lap 62 and breezed to a 10-second triumph over Michael Andretti in the 100-lap sprint that paid $300,000 for first. But Andretti and Bobby Rahal. who paced the first 62 circuits, were effectively eliminated from any chance of winning after being penalized by IndyCar officials.

"This is supposed to be a showcase event, but it was run by a bunch of amateurs today," raved Rahal, who was black-flagged twice and eventually scored sixth in the 10-car field. The controversy centered around the lone caution flag, brought out when Al Unser Jr. clipped John Andretti and spun out on Lap 54. With one mandatory pit stop, the leaders (Rahal. Andretti and Fittipaldi) all came in on Lap 56.

IndyCar rules state you cannot pass the pace car before crossing the blend-in line entering the pits. Andretti's in-car ESPN camera clearly showed Rahal accelerating and passing the pace car before the blend-in line with Michael pointing out the infraction. Both were given stop-and-go penalties for passing the pace car and then Rahal was black flagged again for a supposed fuel leak. "It's very obvious Bobby passed the pace car before the line and that's why I was pointing." said the defending IndyCar and Marlboro Challenge champion. "I made sure I stayed even with the pace car and then accelerated when I got to the line.

"I don't know how they figured I had a pit lane violation but they nailed me, too." Rahal wasn't seething afterwards. "Here we are winning the race and we get black-flagged for not blending into the track properly under a yellow. OK, I'm a big boy. if that's the rule. fine.

I'll take the stop-and-go penalty. "But to get blackflagged a sec- $3,000,000 through September! When you Talk to Tucker, talk to Andy at 846-7751. F. C. nicker Company, Inc.

Realtors Since 1918 lr Star News Classifieds. By ROBIN MILLER STAR ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Nazareth. Pa. The PPGIndy-Car championship probably won't be decided in today's Bosch 200 (8 p.m.. ESPN), but somebody can certainly get a good grip on the.

trophy. With only the finale at Laguna Seca remaining after this afternoon's 200-lapper around Pennsylvania International Raceway, four drivers are still in the hunt for PPG's $1 million title payoff. Al Unser Jr. owns a 1 -point lead over Bobby Rahal, with Michael Andretti 10 back and Emerson Fittipaldl still mathematically alive but 18 points behind. However, based on Saturday's Marlboro Challenge and recent history, Fittipaldi could be a major player by the time the checkered flag falls in Monterey, Calif.

The 1989 Indianapolis 500 winner captured the rich Marlboro sprint and has triumphed In three of the last four IndyCar shows In Nigel Bennett's much-improved '92 PenskeChevy-B. "I am the last chance but I'm still alive and Nigel worked hard to improve the handling of this car and it shows," said Fittipaldl, who lines up beside Andretti in the front row today. "I never remember a racing championship with two races to go that still has four drivers that can still win." Polesitter Andretti, with a record run of 181.435 mph in his KmartTexaco '92 LolaFord-Cos-worth, owns the most wins (five) again this season and is usually the man to beat. "I have to do whatever I can to win I have to take big chances," reasoned the defending IndyCar champion. "Our mindset is to do whatever it takes to win.

"This is a tough track to pass on and whoever gets through traffic best will probably win." Rahal, starting third In the Miller Genuine '92 LolaChevy-A, agrees with Andretti's logic. "You've got to lead the most laps and win the race that's your only strategy at this point," said the two-time IndyCar champ. Unser whose lead has been achieved with his talents and the excellent preparation of Rick Galles' crew, starts way back in 13th position today. But other than his spin-out Saturday, the '92 Indy winner has finished all 14 races this season in the Valvo-line '92 LolaChevy-A. "He may start 13th but he won't be there long," predicted Andretti.

Unser Jr. added, "We've got the lead but the championship is a long way from being over." Rahal changing cars Rahal announced Saturday he would be switching from Lolas to a modified Truesport chassis in 1993. Truesports, which debuted In Indy-car racing with Rahal in 1982 and captured Indy with him four years later, is closing its doors after '92. Besides renting her spacious shop in Columbus, Ohio, to Rahal and Carl Hogan for the next three years, Barbara Trueman also agreed to sell her current cars along with the rights to the engineering, tooling and manufacturing equipment. "It was a decision that took three months and we put a lot of thought into it," said Rahal, who tested the car at Mid-Ohio two months ago.

"Its concept and quality are the things that Im pressed me and I don thinK there's a finer (chassis) anywhere." Scott Pruett has been competitive on a few occasions this year, notably Long Beach, Michigan and New Hampshire, but a lack of testing and development hindered the effort. "Its performance is not related to the actual package," continued Rahal, who has also hired True-sports designer Don Halliday and will have exclusive use of the Ohio State wind tunnel. "It's shown it was more than equal to a Lola on occasion and there's no reason it can't be at every race Rahal, rumored to be in line for Honda's Indy-car engine in 1994, said there are several advantages to having his own car. "There's only so much you can do with a Lola and we'll have the ability to make modifications as we go along. "And instead of sitting around from October until January, or whenever you get your new Lola, we'll be testing all this time.

We'll start in November at two different tracks and that will give us plenty of time to find out the weak and strong points of this car. "We'll have a new chassis designed around the new Chevy-C engine and a separate test team. I definitely think it'slhe way to go." Kulwicki chances slim for driving championship warn r3H jJSHOOTOUT ASSOCIATED PRESS North Wilkesboro, N.C. Alan Kulwicki doesn't want any sympathy for his lost chance at the NASCAR driving championship. After seeing his chances to catch points leader Bill Elliott literally hit the wall at Dover, Kulwicki is regrouping for a stretch run beginning with today's Tyson Holly Farms 400 (noon, ESPN) at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

"The key is to bounce back. and if we can't win the championship, then at least try to get second or third out of it and end the season on a good note," Kulwicki says. "Just because you can't win the champion ship, you can't Kulwicki quit trying and fall all to pieces, then before you know it, you'll be ninth or 10th in the point standings, and you'll look back on it and it won't look like such a good year." Part of the motivation for Kulwicki is the change in his crew's attitude and approach. "We ufd to break things before v5 If U.S. Dirt Nationals October 16-18 Indiana State Fairgrounds Indianapolis, IN Free! Shootout Poster to first 1,000 adult fans.

October 16 OnlyGates Open 7:00 A.M. For Ticket Info: Call (317) 927-1482 happen again," Kulwicki notes. "The car is getting more reliable." Kulwicki is third in the points chase behind Elliott and second-place Davey Allison. He will start Sunday's race ahead of that duo after earning the fifth pole of this season. Kulwicki also is going for his third victory the year following wins at Bristol and Pocono.

"We collectively learned as a team from our problems and the mistakes that we made," he said. "That's resulted in a better, more dependable car." The bid for the next victory comes on a five-eighths-mile track that Kulwicki says has characteristics that make It a little unique on the NASCAR circuit. "There's no other place where you go up and down like this." Kulwicki says of the track's contours. "The way the first and second turns are, the two turns are completely different from each other. "It's just a typical short track.

You slip and slide a little bit. It's hard to fcl traction.".