The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 40

OBITUARIES 7 THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1993 The Indianapolis Star 9 400 gel 94 for IMS in Brickyar Brickyard 400 tickets Practice, qualifying (Aug. 4-5, 1994): General admission, $10. Race day (Aug. 6, 1994): $25 to $100, depending on seat location. According to IMS, tickets will go on sale Aug.

18, 1993. Indy 500 ticketholders will receive an order form by mail in July this year. Information about the NASCAR event can be obtained by calling $Jr i mmmmmmmmmmmmmmammmmmmiml travaganza that would rival the lndy and Daytona 500s. "I think people are going to look back after 30 years and say (the inaugural NASCAR race at Indy) was one of the high days In the history of motor-sports," said France, the son of stock-car racing's founder. "I think It's the greatest day In the history of the track since the day my grandfather bought the track in late 1945," said George.

"My grandfather (Tony Hulman) had a lot of respect for (Bill France, the late NASCAR president) and I feel very comfortable I'm not making a decision that would cause him to be barrel-rolling in his grave I think Papa and Big Bill are shaking hands right now." Others shared the excitement. "I think it's great," said Indy-car veteran John Andretti. "I think it will enhance the not distract from it This Is the greatest race track in the world." "I think this solidifies Indianapolis as the motorsports capital of the world," said Indianapolis mayor Stephen Goldsmith. "We're ready to come back right now," said Elliott, who will race Sunday in North Wilkesboro, N.C. "I think we'd be ready to be here this year." No way, said George, who underscored the amount of work to be done before the stock cars arrive In town.

Television negotiations must be completed, tickets and suite rentals must be settled and the purse must be put together (reportedly in the $2.5 million range). In addition, many other details must be worked through, Including the creation of a second exit from Gasoline Alley, the number of cars which would start the event and the handling of test sessions. The days following the Aug. 15 NASCAR race at Michigan, the same days used for last summer's test, appear most likely for the second test here. Goldsmith said the law enforcement divisions and the Speedway were working together to make security more cost effective for both races.

See BRICKYARD Page 2 By Curt Cavin STAR STAFF WRITER Surrounded by the memories of 76 Indianapolis 500s, 33-year-old Tony George Wednesday delivered an announcement that shook the race track more than twice his age. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, owned by the Hulman-George family of Terre Haute, will host its first non Indy-car event since 1916 when the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing brings its top division, the Winston Cup Series, to the 22-mlle oval Aug. 4-6. 1994. George told the large crowd of media and fans gathered at the IMS Museum that the 400-mile, 160-lap race will be called the Brickyard 400.

A sense of awe swept through the room and the motorsports community. "The sacred halls of this place give me cold chills like I've never experienced before," said two-time Winston Cup season champion Darrell Waltrlp, a native of Owensboro, who participated in last summer's NASCAR test at IMS. "You mention all of the great drivers who have been a part of this history and to think you'd get the opportunity to actually race on this special track is terribly, terribly gratifying." "It's neater than sliced bread from my standpoint," said Bill Elliott, the Winston Cup champ in 1988. Waltrlp and Elliott were flanked by five-time Cup winner Dale Earnhardt. NASCAR president Bill France NASCAR vice president for competition Les Richter and a host of players from the IMS team.

They smiled, exchanged enthusiasm for the much-heralded event, and predicted a three-day ex Star Staff Photo Greg Qrttfo Tony George (left) and NASCAR president Bill France Jr. share limelight at IMS. Pacers tough on boards. Nets 1 I r- i nf i I rt'i't 1 IK Nets 90 Pacers 109 Next game: New York, 7:30 p.m. Friday, WNDE-1260.

1. By Dan Dunkin STAR STAFF WRITER Wednesday was season-ticket redemption night In Market Square Arena. It was nearly season-best rebounding night. The Indiana Pacers returned to the living by killing the New Jersey Nets, the league's best boardsmiths, on the boards, 63-44. The Pacers also won the scoreboard by 19, 109-90.

It goes without saying the Pacers can't clean their checkered slate In one night. But before a fourth consecutive sellout crowd of 16,530 which extended the NBA franchise record the Pacers turned on many of those who had stayed away and turned In their unused tickets for 36 minutes of enemy abuse. The Pacers, who will fall short of their goal of fourth place in the East, took the fifth-place team apart in the final three quarters. In the process, the Pacers (38-38) broke a two-game losing streak, avoided their third straight home loss and, most important, re- malned tied in the standings with Detroit, but not for eighth place. The Pistons, who beat Atlanta Wednesday, would get the final playoff spot based on the better conference record (currently 29-21 to the Pacers' 24-26).

The Pacers are only a half-game behind Charlotte for seventh and would win that tiebreaker by sweeping the Hornets 5-0. The Nets, hurting with injuries, are hurting for the final home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They extended their season-long losing streak to six in falling to 42-35 and 1 games behind Boston. New Jersey's league-leading rebounding numbers appeared to be a major typo, starting with a 19-8 Pacer exclamation mark in the second quarter. The Pacers fin-See PACERS Page 5 NCAA cuts seconds on shot clock Associated Press Kansas City, Mo.

The NCAA, in an attempt to speed play in men's basketball and reduce excessive fouling In the last minutes, voted Wednesday to reduce the shot clock from 45 to 35 seconds. Members of the men's basketball rules committee admitted they don't think many coaches will be happy. "Through the years, if the rules committee had waited for a mandate there would hardly have been any rules changes," said Hank Nichols, secretary-rules editor of the committee. "We think it will pick up the excitement and maybe take the game to a higher level of continuous action." The 45-second clock was introduced In the 1985-86 season. "The committee believes that 35 seconds on the shot clock will keep game action more continuous, and at the same time allow more conservative teams to still use ball control," Nichols said.

The women's committee voted to retain the 30-second shot clock It has used since 1969. Nichols said the committee voted to keep the 3-point arc at its present 19 feet, 9 Inches but predicted it will eventually be moved back. "The direction we're going, it will move back, probably sooner than later," he said. Besides chopping 10 seconds off the shot clock, the committee voted to stop the game clock after each field goal in the last minute of the regulation game or the last minute of overtime. It also deleted the 5-second dribbling violation while closely guarded.

Substitutions will not be allowed to enter the game in dead-ball situations when the game clock stops after a made field goal in the final minute. Both the men's and women's committees voted that when a defensive player forces a held ball, the shot clock will not be reset if the offensive team retains possession by the alternating-possession arrow. Schrempf, Petrovic refuse to fold after arduous year Bill Benner In an NBA season when Olympic burnout has been a popular theme, the Indiana Pacers' Detlef Schrempf and New Jersey's Dra-zen Petrovic have Schrempf, Petrovic and Golden State's Sarunas Marclulionis were the absolute, no-doubt-about-lt goto guys for their German, Croatian and Lithuanian teams, respective- iy. Not only did they play almost every minute of almost every game in Spain, but also in leading their teams through a grueling European qualifying tournament that preceded the Olympics. So now, as the most arduous of professional sports seasons winds down, one would expect to find Schrempf and Petrovic winding down with it.

But that's not the case. Schrempf, the Pacers' tireless warrior, Is closing out an All-Star season In all-star fashion. While some claim to have noticed a dropoff, it's not visible in the statistics. Going into Wednesday's game with New Jersey, Det had aver- been virtually flame retardant. While members of the Barcelona Games' gold medal-winning U.S.

Dream Team have cited last summer's Olympic participation as a factor in everything from injuries to exhaustion to fallen shooting percentages, Schrempf and Petrovic have had their best seasons as pros. Not that they couldn't be excused If their campaigns had gone up in smoke. Unlike the Dream Teamers, for whom the Olympics ML Star Staff Photo Guy Reynolds a i i I I II .1 il L. MM Inin' I t. ft AnVfm was more of a golf vacation with NOT this time: uaie uavis swats tne Dan oui 01 r.d.

u. ro hoops s)de BENNER page 5 Colts go West to acquire long-distance receiving threat rk Jeff George's arm and we think receiver. tllng a hamstring Injury. made their final attempt at retain- Bl fCox) brings a blfi-plav ability and "In our system, Cox has a AAhmPr thr 9R.vMr-nlrl ing starting free safety Mike Prior. (Cox) brings a big-play ability and "In our system, Cox has a A 4.4 burner, the 28-year-old STAR STAFF WRITER speed to the team that we've been i -M'lilit.

NBA Pacers Detroit 84 Chicago 92 LA Houston 96 Phoenix 98 84 Golden State 93 AMERICAN LEAGUE IYork 5 Boston 12 7 California Seattie toWmore Minnesota. i.Chjcago, ppd. NATIONAL LEAGUE Florida 6 San Francisco 4 Chicago 6 Atlanta 0 Houston 9 Montreal 5 riiadelphia New York 3 Pittsburgh tj 7 t. Louis at jJM "We've put a final offer on the table for Mike," Irsay explained Wednesday. "We're hoping to hear either way within the next 24 hours." Prior, who has started 78 games during his six-year career with the Colts, is Juggling offers from both Indianapolis and Green Bay.

The Colts, meanwhile, are still considering running back Kevin Mack, an unrestricted free agent with Cleveland. Sources close to the team Insist the Colts will Intensify their efforts to sign Mack If they lose Prjpr to the Packers. chance to do some things," said Irsay. "We feel he's a guy who Is a little bit untapped." That's because in Los Angeles, Cox labored behind Flipper Anderson and Henry EUard, a pair of marquee wldeouts. During a five-year career with the Rams that encompassed 71 games and 28 starts, he managed 98 receptions for 1,673 yards that's 17.1 yards per catch and eight touchdowns.

Cox's best year was his first when he snared 28 passes for 590 yards and five TDs. In 1992, he had 18 catches for 261 yarde.and no TDs while bat Cox will Join a receiving corps which Includes Reggie Langhorne, Jessie Hester, Clarence Verdln and Eddie Miller. Cox's road to the Colts Is Interesting as well. A three-year standout at Arizona State, Cox was a first-round pick of the Rams in 1988. Ironically, Los Angeles obtained that pick as part of the 1987 blockbuster deal which sent Eric Dickerson to Indianapolis.

Prior weighing options The Cftlts apparently have looking for," General Manager Jim Irsay said Wednesday. "We need to get the ball down the field a little more and he should certainly help us In that area." The Colts managed a 9-7 record In 1992, but they were noticeably deficient when it came to striking quickly or from long distance. The club registered only 13 passing touchdowns, averaged a modest 11.8 yards per reception and 17.1 yards per receiving TD. During one stretch, the Colts went 48 quarters and 446 pass attempts between TD receptions by a wide An Indianapolis Colts offense In dire need of a deep threat found one Wednesday afternoon. Convinced they couldn't cure their glaring need during the April 25-26 draft, the Colts turned to the open market and signed Aaron Cox, an unrestricted free agent from the Los Angeles Rams, to a two-year, $1.4 million contract.

The deal reportedly Includes a $175,000 signing bonus and base salaries of $525,000 in 1993 and $675,000 In '94. "We're trying to create bigger plays otpffense our strength is.