The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 62

00 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS MONDAY, MAY 26, 1998 S11 Race day memory Rick Mears (right) started first, led for 89 laps, and steered his' Indy Chevrolet V8 into victory circle. Emerson Fittipaldi, despite persistent pit-stop troubles, finished second, just 7.08 seconds behind. Eight crashes eliminated 10 drivers, including Scott Brayton, Roberto Guerrero and Tony Bettenhausen in the first lap. Danny Sullivan led for 91 laps before crashing on lap 102. "1 4ir Jm-nmJa Jk.

il fa 4 Gearbox knocks Luyendyk out of run for third win Gordon's gamble pays off Associated Press Eight days after making a losing call, Jeff Gordon's crew redeemed themselves with a winning one in NASCAR's longest race. AUTO RACING Giving their driver four fresh tires while the rest of the leaders gambled on just two during the final pit stop, Gordon's crew set up their driver to charge through the pack and win a 16-lap sprint to the finish in the Coca-Cola 600 in Concord, N.C., on Sunday night. The former Pittsboro, 'resident's 32nd career Winston victory broke up bids by Rusty Wallace and Bobby La-bonte to collect a $1 million bonus from series sponsor R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. Wallace, who wound up second, and Labonte, who came in third, were two of five drivers eligible for the bonus.

But nobody had anything "over the final laps for Gordon, Who eight days earlier lost the circuit's annual all-star race at Charlotte when his crew miscalculated and he ran out of gas while leading with less than one lap remaining. Hakkinen wins in Monaco Finland's Mika Hakkinen easily won the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, guiding his McLaren-Mercedes along the twisting streets of Monte Carlo. RELUCTANT SPECTATOR: After gearbox problems sidelined his Luyendyk had to watch the race from the pits. together." Luyendyk, who led four laps, was bidding to become the 500's first repeat winner since Al Unser in 1970-71. Ray makes a run Greg Ray entered the month without a sponsor, yet threatened to steal the winner's share of the prize money.

He led 18 laps before slowing on the backstretch as the leader on lap 32. He finished 18th. He had received financial backing from Texas Motor Speedway, where the next IRL race will be held (June 6), but he isn't sure what his team's sponsor position will be after that. "We made a hell of an impression out there today," he said. "We're set to go through (Texas).

From that point on, we'll have to see how many people have taken notice. "But winning is first, money is second." Greco blasts IMS crew Marco Greco had a difficult day, finishing 14th with a car that got stuck in fifth gear and then in fourth. It was in the latter when a lap 49 accident occurred, which in- volved seven cars. When Greco slowed to avoid the turn three melee, he stalled the engine. He chastised the Speedway's track crew for waiting five laps to surgery May 13.

Notes Tony Stewart kept the Indy Racing League points lead despite finishing 33rd. Jeff Ward moved to second, six back of Stewart. Stewart's 22 laps completed were the second-most for the last-place finisher since 1954. Stewart recorded the fastest lap for the second year In a row (214.746 mph). In '96, his rookie year, he set the race record for lap speed by a leader (234.412).

Eddie Chee-ver's 76 laps led were the most by a 500 winner since 1989 Jack Miller was 21st, the first time he's finished an IRL race. Best quote from a non-winner: "It was a really long race," said rook- Arie Luyendyk lost first gear early in Sunday's Indianapolis 500, but he didn't lose sight of victory until his gearbox failed on lap 151. The two-time winner at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway came close to retrieving Pit Pass Curt Cavin a third Borg-Warner trophy from a lame 28th starting position. Before the pit stop that eliminated him, Luyendyk was in the lead. He was satisfied with the effort.

"It was better than being the leader, then 20th and then breaking down," he said. "I know I have a good crew and the pit stops were awesome. I knew I could be there at the end." Luyendyk, who won the 500 in 1990 and 1997, did not initially race to the front because his car was loose driving off the corners. But when the Treadway Racing team adjusted on the first pit stop, his speed and position improved dramatically. Once Luyendyk lost first gear, he knew it was a matter of time before the gearbox went, too.

The irony is, It broke while exiting the pits for the next-to-last time. "It wasn't going to get better," Luyendyk said of the clutch. "I was only hoping it would stay After the first yellow flag came out at 13 laps when Jeff Snelllng tapped the wall In the first and second turns, Steele dropped low coming off the fourth turn on the restart and took command. He stayed In front through two more caution flags, one after 15 laps when Ryan Newman's car stopped on the front straightaway and another at halfway when Robby Flock's steering failed and he hit the wall near the same spot. Leffler was second, six seconds ahead of Jay Drake.

Johncox placed fourth, with Ricky Shelton rounding out the top five. In the 50-lap Star Mazda Series feature, Tony Buffomante won for the second straight year, leading every lap after starting on the pole. Buffomante qualified at 22.524 seconds (109.643 mph). Darren Palmer was second, with Chris Shultz third, Dale Van-denburg fourth, and James Mala-kowski fifth. 36 WOKTti LEASt $499 i Steele records first Midget win FREE NIGHTS WEEKENDS help him refire.

"There were workers standing there with their arms crossed," Greco said. "They didn't even try to push me." Another Bryan at Indy Cindy Bryan, the daughter of 1958 winner Jimmy Bryan, attended her first 500 on Sunday. She was 6-months-old when he was killed while racing at Lang-home, in 1960. Sunday, she clutched her father's Air Force dogtag. "It's really an emotional time," the Long Beach, resident said.

Bryan came to Indiana to visit her sister, Stephanie Vaughan of Peru, who underwent open heart TlllMill i clear wireless service 1 Special Report Dave Steele got the first USAC Midget win of his career In the 53rd annual Budweiser Night Before the 500 Sunday at Indianapolis Raceway Park, beating teammate Jason Leffler by 2.5 seconds after 50 laps on the Indianapolis Raceway Park oval. Saturday's rain had forced the race to Sunday. Steele, who qualified fastest at 21.195 seconds (116.518 mph), came from his sixth starting spot to third in Just two laps while Leffler grabbed the lead from pole-sitter Ronnie Johncox in the third and fourth turns on the first lap. Both Steele and Leffler were driving Steve Lewis-owned cars prepared by Bob East, powered by Ford-based engines. On the third lap of the repaved oval, Steele moved Into a challenging position behind Leffler.

Q45 Staff Photo Paul Sancya car, two-time winner Arie JhfJ17' Tve had to go to I the bathroom since the Rthlap." ABC-TV reporter Jack Arute said there were 450,000 people at the race, but that's impossible. There are roughly 300,000 seats and a limited infield. The scoring pylon was hit during the night by lightning. Track officials arrived at 2 a.m. to replace many damaged light bulbs Where's our money? WTHR-13 weather man Bill Meek said there was a better chance of hitting the Powerball lottery than getting -Sunday's race in without rain.

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