The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 16

C2 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR MONDAY, JULY 28. 1997 il Nothing old about Berger's F-l win i (... V-fe. I 1 IRL earns praise for racing at Charlotte -v ods. "It was a heart-rending thing to have happen, but we charged a lot better in the second half." Ruttman passed Sprague while the Chevrolet driver listened to his crew argue a penalty call.

Sprague was penalized 15 seconds with three laps left for what was thought to be an illegal, off-course pass, but NASCAR officials reversed the decision after reviewing television tapes. "I was screaming and arguing and I couldn't concentrate." Sprague said. "I couldn't drive worth a lick." Gibbs is 2 for 2 again Cory McClenathan won the Top Fuel title and Jim Yates took the Pro Stock competition in the Autolite Nationals on Sunday, giving former NFL coach Joe Gibbs his second straight NHRA double, this one in Sonoma. Calif. Ron Capps took the Funny Car title, beating Tony Pedregon with a run of 5.205 seconds at 280.72 mph.

Pedregon. who had traction problems, finished in 7.827 seconds at 105.46 mph. ers' title, finished second in a Ferrari, with Mika Hakkinen of Finland third in a McLaren-Mercedes. Jarno Trulli of Italy, who won six Formula Three races in six starts on this circuit, drove his Prost Mugen-Honda to fourth place for his best career finish. Ralf Schumacher, Michaels younger brother, was fifth in a Jordan-Peugeot and Jean Alesi of France in the second Benetton was sixth.

Ruttman wins truck race Joe Ruttman won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Lund Look 275K Sunday in Topeka, muscling his Ford past Jack Sprague with less than a mile to go after leader Jay Sauter ran out of gas. Ruttman, who edged Sprague by 0.820 seconds, overcame a restart infraction on the 34th lap that dropped him from fifth to 21st in the 34-truck field after a NASCAR-lmposed trip to pit road. "I didn't think it was just," said Ruttman, who averaged 74.433 mph in the 81 -lap race slowed by six caution peri From Wire Services Gerhard Berger, the oldest driver on the Formula One circuit, made a spectacular comeback Sunday, winning the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim, for his first triumph' in three years. The Austrian, who was considering retirement, gave Benetton-Renault its first win since 1995, when Michael Schumacher won the Grand Prix of Japan. Berger, who will be 38 next month, had missed the previous three Grand Prix races because of sinus surgery.

Less than two weeks ago, he buried his father, who died in a plane crash. "I was very motivated because I wanted to show that I still had it in me although I am not the youngest anymore," Berger said. Berger's last Formula One victory also came in the German GP, in 1994. when he was driving for Ferrari. His 10th career victory came in his 203rd Grand Prix race.

Schumacher, seeking his third driv I1 (V. 'is i fog-fig-l -J liiiini ii ml Associated Press NOTHING BUT A NUMBER: Gerhard Berger, the oldest driver on the Formula One circuit, celebrates his victory in the German Grand Prix with Benetton team chief Flavio Briatore. when he crashed into the Turn 2 1 1 Rahal's day ended on Lap 127, U.S. 503 (Top finishers) Driver Equipment AtexZananfl Marti Blundell Gil de Fwran Paul Tracy-Bryan Herta Maurlclo Gugelmln Dennis Vltolo Max Papls Hire Matsushita R-H R-M R-H P-M R-F R-M L-F R-T R-T R-F 10. Gualter Salles Chassis: R-Reynard, L-Lola, P-Penske Engines: H-Honda, F-Fofd, M-Mercedes Scries point leaders: Zanardi 127, Tracy 121, de Ferran 108, Michael Andrew 103, Greg Moore 95.

both these kinds of mistakes and it worked very well." As Zanardi regained his composure and pace, the lead was taking its toll. Bobby Rahal and Scott Pruett both looked strong before hitting the wall, while Patrick Car-pentier. Dario Franchitti and Michael Andretti were KO'd by mechanical problems. As his competition conked out or crashed, Zanardi stayed around 221-222 mph and the race really came back to him. He claimed the top spot for the first time on Lap 119 before leading 93 of the final 98 laps.

A week after not being able to catch Blundell while finishing second on the Toronto streets, Zanardi returned the favor. "I got a lot of buildup on my tires at the end and kind of Just cruised to the finish to make sure of the points, but Alex had us covered," said Blundell, who started 11th. Gil de Ferran, in the Valvoline ReynardHondaGoodyear, lost a lap early, got it back and plugged along to take third (one lap down) and retain the No. 3 slot in points heading to Mid-Ohio in two weeks. "This was not an easy race for us with a pit-stop penalty and lots of understeer most of the race, but by the end of the race we had a pretty good car," said de Ferran, Martin becomes IROCV first three-time series champion By Curt Cavin STAFF WRITER CONCORD, N.C.

Some of the veteran drivers on the Indy Racing League circuit remember how they used to race in the fishbowl known as Michigan Speedway, where 18-degree-banked corners made for breakneck speeds and extreme G-forces. Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway, those same drivers experienced the 24-degree turns that critics believed would chew them up. not to mention their equipment. Fortunately, they escaped the anticipated shark tank unharmed. There were only two accidents in the VisionAire 500-kilometer race won by Buddy Lazier.

No one during the week was injured even though there was almost constant high-speed competition. "If you had asked me three or four years ago about running here, I would have said you were nuts." Arie Luyendyk said. "But these cars are built pretty strong and it makes you feel comfortable knowing you can run fast on this kind of track without losing something on the car." By all accounts, the IRL's summer races at the sister tracks of Texas and Charlotte, both similarly shaped 1.5-mile ovals, were a success. Charlotte featured six leaders five led double-figure laps and passing in all spots. Lazier twice went to the grass entering Turn 1 to make an attempt.

Racing under the lights made the cars look sleek and nimble, even moreso than they are. Drivers went three-wide in the corners more times than track owner Bru-ton Smith could have Imagined. If he indeed sold more than 70,000 tickets without Incentive ties to stock car tickets, most patrons surely left impressed and hungry for more. -Newspaper columnist Ron Green has spent years watching NASCAR Winston Cup races at the track, but in Sunday's edition of the Charlotte Observer he wrote that "this was better racing." Said third-place finisher Scott Goodyear: "I think this was the raciest event we've had." Pole-sitter Tony Stewart led 74 of the first 75 laps and appeared to be sailing free when his car's handling characteristics changed, reducing him to second-tier status. The other four prominent players Lazier.

Billy Boat, Roberto Guerrero and Jimmy Kite appeared strong enough to win at various points. Boat and Kite are rookies in the IRL but veterans of high-banked night racing. They figure to be securing a path for future elevation from the U.S. Auto Club ranks. After the Texas race.

Guerrero's spotter, Doug Boles, said he had never been so exhausted by a race. Because the Pennzoil team switched from Nissan's Infiniti to the more powerful Oldsmobile Aurora, Boles and Guerrero fared better at Charlotte. "I thought it was a great race, I really did," said Guerrero, who crashed with Davey Hamilton on Lap 144. "The banks were fun and there was always something going on, like there is on other good short ovals." "I thought the race was fantastic and I think the crowd was very, very good for our first race here," said Lazier's winning car owner, Ron Hemelgarn. "I was really worried about (bringing) Indy cars to NASCAR country but we had 'em excited." IRL founder Tony George, along with CMS officials, promised that the three-year contract would stay intact.

"That's about as good (of a race) as we can do right now," said George, who knows he still needs more cars. "We had close racing, a couple of racing incidents and we certainly think this was a success." FREE Buffat Daily West Only FREE Kbft Sink Buffet BabM Wirt Only Suodiyl-7 Noti Stop Linttria Shew! Both Location! Evirj Friday WEST 0pen Dally 3 33th Lafayette Rd. 299-0433 iVl MILLER Continued from Page 1 his Hollywood ReynardMercedes-Firestone encountered electrical problems that cost him several -z laps and any chance to win. i0' As Blundell sat on the podium and fielded questions from the press, Gugelmin stood on pit road thanking his crew for their efforts and handled another disappointment with amazing aplomb. With just a little luck, the 34- year-old Brazilian would have been celebrating his first victory Instead of reflecting on what was denied htm again.

"We had a great car today, all' day, and they were telling me to 1 slow down but I was already slow," said Gugelmin, who started second and led 34 of the first 35 laps before equipment problems sidelined him on Lap 64 while running fourth. "I lost five laps, then I went back out and got within two laps when I had a left-front tire ex- plode. We had a lap of 232 mph later on and there was only one stint when the car wasn't as good." McCaw spoke for everyone who knows the always-amiable min when he said, "I really thought today was Mo's. He had -the best car and he deserved it." In an arena where the lines between self-preservation and selfishness sometimes cross, Gugelmin gravitates between hilari-. ousand humble.

He joined PacWest in 1995 and, he's nurtured it into a consistent contender. He may not own a first-place trophy yet, but he does have the respect of his team. "I wouldn't trade Mo for any- body," said John Anderson, Pac-- West's team manager. "Not only is he excellent at reading and driving a race car, his attitude is incredible. "He's such a pleasure to work with and it reflects on our (: And it's always amazing how he, -can bounce back from disappointment.

That's so important in this business. I mean, he never bitches unless there Is good rea- son-" It's hard to say whether moving Blundell's family to the United States or moving engineer Alan McDonald to his pit has helped most, but the 31 -year-old Brit is driving with renewed "We made some changes that 11 helped the chemistry and got into Mark's brain, that's all," said An-J derson, who also credits the engi-J neering efforts of Jim Hamilton, 1 1 Al Bodey, Patrick Beaumier and Andy Brown with aiding Pac- -West's performance. "We've always had a good core of people and this is a very com- petitive series it's tough to win right out of the box." With three seconds in his five' year career and the best qualify-" ing record of anybody in CART this season (average start in 12 races is 4.25), Big Mo is big-time'1 overdue to see that checkered flag first. "I've got to get this monkey off my shoulder pretty soon," he said with a chuckle. "I mean, that's racing, so what can I do? "What Mark is doing is great for this team and these guys reaK ize what I'm doing.

My day will come." If there's any justice in It will. SpeedNet has more While the Champion- ship Auto Racing Teams take a break, action is just heating up in Indy. Learn the latest NASCAR news. StarNews Online, SpeedNet and Indiana's Game are on the Internet's World Wide Web at http:www.stamews.conV djjr OUT OF THE RUNNING: Bobby ZAIJARDI Continued from Page 1 snatch the PPG points lead away from Paul Tracy after 12 of 17 races. "You always have to be lucky to win a 500-mile race, but I think we had, an advantage today with the Honda engine," said Zanardi, who withstood the 135-degree track temperatures and averaged 167.044 mph in the Target ReynardHondaFirestone.

"It seems to suffer less from the heat than the other engines, and I think that was a factor, too." In winning for the sixth time in 28 starts, the aggressive 31 -year-old Italian repeated his performance at Cleveland earlier this month, when he came from 22nd to first after a penalty. Running fifth when the yellow flag waved on Lap 33, Zanardi ran over teammate Jimmy Vasser's air hose exiting the pits after killing the engine. He came out of the pits in 13th place, then fell to 21st after being black-flagged and serving his drive-through-the-pits penalty. "I realized I was too fast coming into the pits, then I realized I was in Jimmy's pit, and that's a mistake that could have cost me the race," Zanardi said. "After I stalled the engine I was screaming at myself, but my engineer (Morris Nunn) and Chip (Gan-assi, car owner) kept me calmed down on the radio." Even though he led 208 of the 500 laps in the two 500-milers staged here in 1996, Zanardi wasn't around at the end for either.

He over-stressed his engine in the inaugural U.S. 500. then crashed while leading the Marlboro 500. "Last year at the U.S. 500 my only mistake was probably abusing a little too much my equipment," he said.

"At the second 500, my mistake was abusing a little too much on the trust of my talent. "This year I tried to avoid doing Associated Press wall. He finished 17th. Associated Press THREE'S A CROWD: Mark Martin's eighth-place finish behind winner Randy LaJoie was good enough for the IROC title. mets for saving my head." Johnstone may have cut a tire but Rahal, who looked strong in leading 25 laps, lost control of his Miller ReynardFordGoodyear while lapping Dennis Vitolo.

"I was going high and he moved up so I moved up a little more, got In the marbles and that was it," said Rahal, who suffered a bruised right hip in the impact. Pruett, the pole-sitter who led 32 laps in the Brahma Reynard-FordFirestone, wasn't sure why he pushed into the concrete. "I was crusing along, not taking any chances and the nose just washed out," he said. Firestone remains hot Firestone was crowing after Zanardi's win the sixth straight in CART competition and, more impressively, it left Firestone undefeated for June and July in CART and the Indy Racing League. For the season, it's Firestone 13, Goodyear 5 on the two Indy-car circuits.

rv 11 i 'j 1 By Robin Miller STAFF WRITER BROOKLYN. Mich. Mark Martin headed for Indianapolis with $225,000 and what he called the greatest accomplishment of his career after Sunday's International Race of Champions. Martin became IROC's first three-time champion after finishing eighth in a 50-lap race won by Busch regular Randy LaJoie. "It's the great accomplishment of my career, so far, and it could CART NOTEBOOK only be topped by winning the Winston Cup," said Martin, the veteran NASCAR star who Is competing this week in the Brickyard 400.

"It's meant a lot to my career just to be invited to compete in this series it's an honor." LaJoie started seventh, blasted around pole-sitter Alex Zanardi for the lead on Lap 3 and never gave up the top spot. "I practiced with Mark (Martin) and he showed me the groove to be in and I might hire these IROC guys to set up my Busch car," said LaJoie, last year's IROC champion. "My goal was to beat Jeff (Gordon) and Terry (Labonte) to finish third in the series and I did. I'm thrilled." Robby Gordon finished second in Sunday's race and second in the IROC standings to earn $100,000, while LaJoie banked $60,000. Al Unser Jr.

was fourth and collected $50,000. Drivers avoid serious Injury Sunday's U.S. 500 was hard on equipment but, thankfully, not on drivers as Bobby Rahal, Parker Johnstone and Scott Pruett all pounded the Turn 2 wall and destroyed their cars. "It's a testimony to CART'S safety and Reynard for building such a safe car." said Johnstone, who suffered a laceration on his forehead when his suspension assembly smashed into his helmet. "I've also got to thank Bell Hel- iiiiiimuuiiiinuffWT NOW APPEARING JULY 28 AUGUST 2 Babes East Only Cover of July '97 Score Adult Video Star Discover Her 75 EEE's I Eft 4 If ft J' WELCOME RACE FANS if THIS WEEKS FEATURED ETEKTAIEK i LJr' MISS NUDE NORTH AMERICA jf BROOK a a a a a 4 BIG SHOW DAILY e-s30- iom- 1230 No Cover Till 6 PM pm' 3 am' EAST 7259 Pendleton Pe 545-5100 STAR and NEWS CLASSIFIEDS CALJ 633-1212 7pUUlllUalIl,.