The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 1

rfj-i r- TlHTF TNimiAMAPAir.TQ TODAY'S CHUCKLE A speech is like a wheel. The longer the spoke, the greater the JL JLJL JLJ JLL1 1 llT JLL-L JJlX 11 JLJL JLiJL vy JL 1 1.JHL Yesterday High, 71; Low, 51 Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Cor. 3 17 VOLUME 76, No. 357 Copyright 1979 The Indianapolis Star MONDAY, MAY 28, 1979 tr -ir ir C1HHIER OCUVFREO 5c PR WK SlnoU MOTOR DEUVEBEO 90c PER WK Coov OtTLASTS AL UNSER, TEAMMATE BOBBY U. Rick Mears Wins 63d '500 i i1 r'r i- winner's circle would be mechanical trouble.

An THAT'S pvartiu what hannpnpH as his brilliant pSrffeST er began smoking at the halfway point. Four laps later, he was done, sidelined by a broken transmission seal. "It's a shame to have something like this put you out of the race," exclaimed Unser. "But it was just one of those bad days at work. I'll say this, though, that car is a dream." With h's brther one' Bbbv r.erT15'ned comfortably 5eCnd sPreaa 00 8 co 01 occaslons Meanwhile, Ongais, Mosley and Foyt were going at it tooth and nail, lap after lap.

Danny who passed Bobby U. earlier on the outside, actually tagged the outside concrete coming off the fourth the 13'h goaround breaking the outside rim of his wheel in the process. THE FIRST serious yellow light of the afternoon flashed on when Larry Rice lost control going through the second corner on the 154th circuit. Last year's co-rookie got on the brakes in time to reduce his impact with the wall to an easy bump, and neither car or driver was injured. Foyt who lost a to the leaders he killed on P.

had a crewman stuff a Plllow between his head and the cowl on his next-to-last stop See MEARS Page 8 Related Stories And Pictures On Pages 6, 78,9, 10,13,27,52 And In Sports Section driver to win from the pole and the first sophomore to win since Johnnie Parsons in 1950. "And while I felt bad for him, it was hard for myself not to feel good because I knew I'd have my hands full By ROBIN MILLER Rick Mears, rapidly becoming a master at going faster, gave a storybook ending to a fairy tale month Sunday by winning the 63d Indianapolis "500." Starting from the pole in his second try at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Mears outlasted the Unser brothers and stormed across the finish line 45 seconds ahead of A.J. Foyt to become the freshest face to make Victory Lane in a decade. The 27-year-old sophomore sensation sailed through 200 laps in 3 hours, 8 minutes and 47 seconds to become the youngest winner here since 29-year-old Mario Andretti turned the trick in 1969. FOYT, TRYING for his fifth triumph, lost a cylinder late in the going and coasted across the line for the runner-up spot as the crowd of 350,000 cheered his effort.

A.J. was the only driver besides Mears to complete the distance as daring Danny Ongais blazed from 27th to third, Bobby Unser staggered home fourth and Mike Mosley turned in a sparkling drive for fifth. Mears. who averaged 158.899 miles an hour in Roger Penske's Gould Charge, only led 25 laps, but as he was when offered a job with Penske two years ago the mellow Californian was in the right place at the right time when the checkered flag fell. It was announced after the race that there would be no traditional victory lap with Mears in the pace car because the crowds had climbed the infield fence and poured onto the track.

IT APPEARED for a long time that Rick would have to be happy with third place behind the Unsers. Al, the defending champ seeking his fourth Indy victory and fifth straight 500-mile triumph, dominated the first half of the race in Jim Hall's impressive Penn-zoil Chaparral. After he had paced 85 of the first 100 circuits, his dreams of tying Foyt's win record were ended when a transmission seal failed on Lap 104. That left the top spot in Bobby experienced hands, and the two-time Indy victor was heading toward No. 3 when his Norton Spirit began losing fourth gear with just 18 laps to go.

Forced to use third gear and slow his pace to 140 mph, the elder Unser staggered home fourth in his Penske-Cosworth while his young teammate capitalized on the turn of events. "I WAS RIGHT behind Bobby when he had his problem," said Rick, the 14th Star Photo By Jerry Clark front are Mears' mother, his father, an unidentified person, Mears' wife, Dina Lynn, Penske and photographer Jim Schweiker. Jubilation The Roger Penske crew and Meors family members react with joy as Rick Mears wins his first Indianapolis "500." From left to right in 'LIKE A FAIRY TALE' Veterans Watch As Mears Goes By; First-Timer Parks In Victory Lane with him those last 20 laps. Mears, an off-road racer who went from the desert to champ cars in the fall of 1976, confirmed that he was having trouble realizing how quickly he made it to the top. "It's just incredible," exclaimed the fellow who sat on the front row last May at 200 mph as a rookie.

"I really can't believe all this has happened so fast; and like they say, it seems like a fairy tale." IT WAS THE second time Penske had conquered the Speedway (the late Mark Donohue did it for him in 1972), and the silver-haired owner was ecstatic with the results. "I couldn't lose there for awhile," said Roger, referring to the long period of time when his machines were 1-2. "But there was no strategy as far as who would win. It was between the two of them." Before Bobby's misfortune, Mears had closed to within a few car lengths, and the stage was set for a last joint pause for fuel and a final 15-lap spruit to the checkered flag. "I'm sure it would have been exciting, and it's too bad for the fans it didn't happen," Mears said.

Basically, it was a pretty racy afternoon for the paying customers as 17 cars were moving at the finish (the most since 1960), and the dicing among Ongais, Mosley, Bobby U. and Foyt held everyone's attention. THE RACE BEGAN with Al Unser (from the outside of Row One) sneaking ahead of Tom Sneva and Mears going into the first corner. As Al moved out to a healthy advantage, Mears took Sneva, and the trio pulled away from everyone else. Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser and Foyt went at it for fourth pretty well until Lone Star R- lost fourth gear and spent 31 minutes in the pits while his Bud we is-er McLaren crew repaired the damage.

Ongais, who took the green flag in 27th position, had charged into the top 10 before 20 laps were gone and was keeping the fans happy with his aggressive style behind the wheel of the Interscope-Panasonic Parnelli. Al Unser was turning laps from 188 to 191 mph, and it appeared that the only thing that would keep him out of the Inside Today's Star News Summary On Page 2 Amutement Paget 20, 21 Billy Graham. 24 Bridge 23 Comic 28 Crotiword 22 Editorial 18 Finance 37 Goiiip 26 Obituoriei 39 Sportj 29-37 TV-Rodio 25 Unci Ray 22 WantAdi 39-51 Weather 51 Women'i Paaei 13-17 Food 16 Court Newt and Statiitict 51 Star Telephone Number Circulation Main Office Want Ads Scores After 4 30 633-9211 633-1212 6.13-1200 Today's Prayer You, dear Lord, are all things to us. Today let us thank You for the healing touch You give to our minds, our bodies, and our souls, and for restoring us to health. Amen.

How They Finished UNOFFICIAL FINISH Pos. No. Driver Laps Status 1. 9 Rick Mears 200 158.889 I. 14 A.J.

Foyt 200 158.260 3. 25 Danny Ongais 199 158.087 4. 12 Bobby Unser 199 158.023 5. 36 Mike Mosley 199 Running 6. 1 Gordon Johncock 197 Running 7.

46 Howdy Holmes 195 Running 8. 22 Billy Vukovich 194 Running 9. 11 TomBagley 193 Running 10. 7 Steve Krisiloff 192 Running II. 19 Spike Gehlhausea 191 Running 12.

77 SaltWalther 191 Running 13. 72 Roger McCluskey 191 Running 14. 44 TomBigelow 190 Running 15. 1 Tom Sneva 188 Wrecked 16. 69 Joe Saldana 185 Running 17.

97 PhilTtareshie 172 Running 18. 4 Johnny Rutherford 168 Running 19. 31 Larry Rice 142 Wrecked 20. 10 Pancho Carter 129 Wheel bearing 21. 34 Vern Schuppan Ill Broken Transmission 22.

2 Al Unser 104 Transmission failure 23. 50 Eldon Rasmussen 89 Broken header pipe 24. 80 Larry Dixon 86 Fuel pump 25. 92 John Mahler 66 Fuel pump 26. 17 Dick Simon 57 Broken clutch 27.

6 Wally Dallenbach 43 Lost wheel 28. 24 Sheldon Kinser 40 Broken piston 29. 29 Cliff Hucul 22 Broken rod 30. 89 LeeKunxraan 18 Scavenger pump 31. 73 Jerry Sneva 16 Burned piston 32.

15 Johnny Parsons 16 Burned piston 33. 59 George Snider 7 Fuel pump 34. 45 Janet Guthrie 3 Burned piston 35. 23 JlmMcElreath 0 Bent valves Lap leaders: 1-24, Al Unser; 25-27, Rick Mears; 28, A.J. Foyt; 29-69, Al Unser; 70-73, Bobby Unser; 74-78, Mears; 77-98, Al Unser; 97-181, Bobby Unser; 182-200, Mears.

Time of race: 3:08:47.97. By DAVE OVERPECK For the first time in what seemed like a long time, it wasn't old home week in Victory Lane. And, boy, was it fun for the first-timers who greeted Rick Mears in automobile racing's most charmed circle. There was his wife and his mother and his dad and a sister and the whole Roger Penske crew. Penske himself had been there before in 1972 with Mark Donohue.

For the rest, it was a first-time occasion. And they enjoyed it. Wife Dina Lynn was the first to embrace the first Speedway sophomore to take down the top prize since Johnnie Parsons in 1950. Afterward, she sat on the engine cover and tried to stay calm. It wasn't easy.

At one point, she looked like she might pass out. BUT SHE HELD in there. So did Mom, who had the pleasure of telling her son, "I told you so." Said Mrs. William Mears to her son, "What did I tell you this morning?" as she embraced him. Mears was about the calmest person on the scene, as he swigged the traditional milk with as much relish as any recent winner.

The 27-year-old Bakersfield, resident killed off most of the quart of milk with only minor help from car owner Penske. For the first time in recent years, the winner didn't get a victory lap around the Speedway in the pace car. That was canceled because of the number of fans pouring over infield fences at the end of the race. Instead, Rick went straight to the winner's post-race interview. At that point, he still was groping with the transition from being a "Who's he?" to a "He's an Indianapolis winner." "I DON'T THINK it's soaked in yet," he said.

"But it feels great." Mears admitted he was surprised See VICTORY Page 9 ypt mih.jjii .41 smvuim 'A Wi: 1 4S-: 7t. ft i 'L--V --4 The souvenir shops, on the other hand, were swarming with grown men and women who bumped, pushed and shoved to get to the front in a desperate quest for spark plug decals. As always, shops catered to all tastes, however curious. For the fan who has everything, there was an official 500-Mile Race back scratcher. Durable plastic.

Your choice of color. However, after an early boom, sales of felt rain cushions literally tailed off. THERE WAS NO immediate word on how the practical "helmet lamp" was selling. Green visor and checkered shade included, it was tacitly guaranteed to clash with almost any decor. The once-raucous Snake Pit in the first turn of the infield was a portrait of muddy tranquility, compared to its inglorious past.

There was, of course, the Mears, this year's average speed Thanks, Mom Rick Mears leans over to give his mother a kiss after winning the 63d Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. pole-sitter, won Sunday with an of 158.889 mph. (AP Photo) Perennial Sideshow Of 500-Mile In The Year Of The Buyer 'Scalped' By RICHARD D. WALTON Hard times came to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday. It was almost bad enough to turn a fella against free enterprise.

"Terrible, just terrible," groused a journeyman practitioner of one of the most ancient and periodically honorable businesses at the track. "Not good at all," said another. Race obligatory number of bare-chested lads perched atop vans, emrjoiaenea oy arin and the ready laughter of their comrades, who delighted in shouting inelegant "compliments" to passing women. And there were abrupt yelps and primal screams cut loose without warning from sheer youthful exuberance and a few beers starting to take effect. But on whole, authorities happily agreed, the creatures of the Pit showed remarkable restraint.

In fact, it wasn't until late in the day that they gave in to the seductive allure of a very large mudhole in the center of the turn. A BURLY YOUNG man, noting correctly that the race just "keeps on going on," described the act of sloshing about in the dirty water as a swell way to relieve the tedium. Under the several See SCALPED Page 9 Th Weather Joe Crow Says: Looks like the new group in iuwn juii i CARTed off an Indy vicwry. Indianapolis Mostly sunny today; high, 74. Fair and cool tonight; low, 52.

Mostly sunny and warmer Tuesday; high, 78. Indiana Mostly sunny today; highs, 70-77. Fair and cool tonight; lows, 47-55. Mostly sunny and warmer Tuesday, with a chance of afternoon showers extreme southwest; highs, 73-82. CHIME ALERT If You See A Crime Committed Or Spot Suspicious Activity Coll This Number 911 DISSS' "Business? There ain't no business," said yet another.

The normally irresistible pitch of the professional ticket scalper was like a cry in the wilderness this race day. It was strictly a buyer's market, with the consumer finally enjoying the upper hand in the one-on-one war euphemistically called "price bargaining." THEY BLAMED THE month-long controversy at the track, the gasoline crunch and the early morning rain. But whatever the reason for the shocking lack of sales, the proud hucksters of West 16th Street were a pitiful lot Sunday. Things got so bad so early that some of the scalpers resorted to selling one another tickets in the vain hope that perhaps a different combination of due-ants might break the evil spell. But their lined faces reflected a quiet desperation.

Star's Want Ad Counter Closed In observance of Memorial Day, The Star's Want Ad and Public Service Counter is closed today. Want ads may be placed by phone from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. by calling 633-1212..