The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 71

MONDAY, MAY 29, 1995 S9 33! THfc INDIANAPOLIS SI AH I ht INUIAIWOUa INtWO iriDY Continued from Page 1 Villeneuve finds there's no place 1 like Hoosier home 1 11 I Indianapolis Newspapers Photo John Gentry JUMPING FOR JOY: Crew members for Jacques Villeneuve celebrate their victory. Crashes common in this year's '509' Ten cars were sidelined by crashes during this year's Indianapolis 500, the most since 1992. cale got last year's top rookie back in the hunt. "We did everything we could not to win this race," said Ville-neuve, who only led 15 laps and overcame two stalled engines and one aborted exit from the pits with his fuel hose connected. "But we fought back to be with the leaders and got yellows at the right time.

I thought the first Canadian to win would be Goodyear, but It turned out to be us." of the estimated 375,000 "spectators thought Goodyear was lock to put Firestone back in Victory lane and give Honda a miraculous story because they were clearly the fastest combination. iAnd he was sailing toward a well-earned landmark in his roller-coaster career before a routine-restart ruined his day on Lap Goodyear, leading the field, accelerated through Turn 4 he almost ran over the pace car. He Clearly passed the Corvette before get off the track but claimed it was justified. 'When I was beside the (pace) I looked up and saw the rgfeeji." said Goodyear, who lost tbClosest finish ever to Al Unser in 1992. "When the green light is on, tt means go." Villeneuve's view differed, of course.

"1 saw him (Goodyear) -overtake the pace car and that's why I jumped on the brakes. If 'they penalised me for it, there's no Reason they wouldn't penalize him. "Chief steward Tom Binford said it was an obvious violation." Goodyear ignored the black flag from Lap 193 on and was officially scored 14th (with 195 laps) in his MCI '95 ReynardHonda. "It was very clear who won this race," said Goodyear, who was -consoled by Steve Home and his Tasman crew. It was a crushing blow for Firestone, back at Indianapolis for the first time since 1974.

With 15 laps targo, Goodyear and Firestone's factory favorite, Scott Pruett, were running 1-2. But Pruett, who did all of Firestone's testing, got high coming off Turn 2 on Lap 185 and clouted the wall in his Patrick Racing '95 LolaFord. Maybe I got a little greedy, but we didn't come here to run second," said Pruett, who escaped injury. Firestone motorsport manager, 3U-Speyer, said, "We had the best afckage on the track today we showed 'em, and we'll be back." Honda's engine was disgraced last May, abandoned by RahalHo-an because it was so But it propelled Goodyear to the fastest lap of the race at 224.009 mph and almost a shocking victory. "We're thrilled with the performance of our engine, Scott and the entire team," said Honda's Robert Clarke.

only Fittipaldi in the field (urjied in a superb drive to finish second in the MarlboroChapeco '95 ReynardFord. was the longest race of GOODYEAR Continued from Page 1 first lap of the race, Billy Foster hit outside wall, setting off a chain-reaction There were no injuries, but 11 cars eliminated from the race. It took more hour to get the "500" started again. more cars crashed later In the race. "So when you win a race or something great happens, it's a little more like being with friends.

You can open yourself a little bit more. That's why It got a little bit crazy there." Jason King of Indianapolis, the left-rear tire changer, was one of the mechanics sharing the pandemonium on the Victory Lift. "He's the best driver I've ever been with," he exclaimed. "I was with Al (Unser) Jr. last year.

Jacques never gives up and smart. He's so mature for age." Owner Barry Green, a native of Perth. Australia, who operates his team out of Indianpolls, said his goal now is to keep Villeneuve, who finished second last year and was named Bank One Rookie of the Year, happy so he won't leave for Formula One too quickly. "I'm convinced we will lose him to F-l, because he is that good." Green said. The Monaco Grand Prix, Formula One's premier event, also was run Sunday, but Villeneuve said he had no desire to be racing there instead of at Indy.

"This is the greatest race in the world," he said. "To win this race Is as big as winning a championship. There is more pressure, there is Just more hype about it. "If you have the choice of winning just one race in your life, make sure it is the Indy 500." The entire celebrating Team Green lives In Indianapolis. Ken Moyer is crew chief and fueler.

In addition to King, others over the wall were Tony Cotman, Dave Po-pielarz, Eric Haverson and Jim Wilson. Engineer is veteran Tony Cicale. Also joining in the joy was Villeneuve's sister, Melanenie, and girlfriend, Sandrine Gros d'Aillon. "I don't know words," Gros d'Aillon said when asked to express her feelings. Villeneuve, whose uncle (also named Jacques) drove In the 1986 race, actually drove 505 miles to win.

On Lap 51 he was assessed a harsh two-lap penalty for ly passing the pace car more than once during a caution on Lap 37. He regained one lap on Lap 66 and 54 laps later was back on the lead lap. Incredibly, he took his second lead of the day on Lap 156. He led only 15 laps total. "When I was two laps down, I sweared a little bit," Villeneuve said.

Green, whose brother, Kim, is part of the team, said he told his crew over and over Jacques still had a chance. "We fought back to be with the leader," Villeneuve said. "I am proud of the team and their work in the pit early." ill 11942-1945: KtU Im fi 1 1- if! No races because of 91 A Hi '51 "56 "66. rTt- 86 91 "95 3 1992: Thirteen cars forced out of race in accidents. Drivers struggled to keep tires warm and tracking under slow caution speeds and chilly air.

STAR STAFF GRAPHIC teammate Arie Luyendyk soldiered home seventh, on the lead lap, in his Glidden '95 LolaMenard. The race opened with a nasty accident that eliminated Carlos Guerrero, Lyn St. James, Gil de Ferran, Eddie Cheever and Fox. Fox's Delta Faucet '95 Reynard-Ford appeared to snap loose going through Turn 1, then the USAC standout turned right into Cheever and rocketed Into the outside wall with a vicious impact. Cheever was uninjured and Jimmy Vasser, Scott Sharp and Davy Jones walked away from contacts with the IMS walls.

I I il Overcomes early penalty and benefits from late one to win 79th 500; By Dick Mittman INDIANAPOLIS NEWSPAPERS Jacques Villeneuve was born in St. Jean de D'lberviUe, Quebec, and raised in Monte Carlo, Monaco, but Sunday he called Indianapolis the greatest home In the world. Villeneuve moved to Indianapolis this year and now will be forever linked to the city's, as well as the world's, greatest sporting event the Indianapolis 500. The 24-year-old son of the late Formula One star Gilles Villeneuve won the 79th running of the "500" by recovering from a two-lap penalty to take the checkered flag in an unbelievable finish. Villeneuve assumed the front spot when leader Scott Goodyear was assessed a one-lap penalty on a restart nine laps from the finish for passing the pace car.

Villeneuve later said his car had developed an understeer and he could not have overtaken Goodyear in the remaining 22.5-mile sprint to the finish. Thus, Villeneuve, Instead of Goodyear, became the first Canadian to win Indy. The young French Canadian refused to believe his victory came with a blemish. "Why should it be tainted?" he retorted to a media questioner. "It was close racing to the end.

You know, the 33 cars In the field had the speed to be in the field. The Penske team had a big advantage last year so you can say the race was tainted last year." Villeneuve pulled his blue and white No. 27 (same number his father carried in Formula One) Player's LtdTeam Green Reynard-Ford Cosworth into Victory Lane and exploded out of his cockpit like he had been resting on an ejection seat. He hugged every mechanic within grabbing distance. He took the ceremonial bottle of milk with his back facing the mass of photographers after having the victory wreath placed across his shoulders while standing outside the car.

"I was very, very excited," said the youngest winner since Troy Ruttman in 1952. "It was the best feeling I've had in racing so far. I am lucky to be with a team where you can be close with pretty near everybody on the team. We have a great relationship. You not only work with them, but you can have a good time and take your mind off racing.

i I i said, "but I don't think that I could have overtaken him." Despite the bitter outcome. Home had kind words for his driver. "Thank you for winning the race," Home said as he shook Goodyear's hand In the conference room. In comparison to the alternative he thought was his, it was little consolation for Goodyear. The Borg-Warner, and all that accompanied it, weye gone.

Mauricio Gugelmin led the most laps (59) and ran strong most of the way in his Hollywood '95 ReynardFord but late handling problems dropped him to sixth. Michael Andretti dominated the early going, leading 45 of the first 77 laps In his KmartTexaco '95 LolaFord before clipping the wall and being sidelined on Lap 77. "It was my mistake." admitted the man who's now led 382 laps at the Speedway but Is still looking for his first win. Polesltter Scott Brayton, plagued by a fuel pressure problem in the Quaker State '95 Lola-Menard, never led a lap, while V'S- Li i ''if v'. Number of cars knocked out I of race In crashes, 1911-1995 1966: 14 12 my life it felt like 5,000 miles and I thought I was going to hit the wall on every lap," said the 24-year-old nephew of the two-time Indy winner after starting 27th.

"But it's fantastic what happened." In his typical heads-up style, Rahal rallied from 21st starting spot and a stop-and-go penalty to take third in the Miller Genuine '95 LolaMercedes. Rookie Eliseo Salazar did a nice tidy Job in the CristalMobil 1 '95 LolaFord to take fourth and Robby Gordon, despite a late pit stop, wound up fifth in the Valvo-lineCummins '95 ReynardFord. Goodyear's rear wing, agreed with the ruling. "Even if it's green, you can't overtake the pace car," Villeneuve, another Canadian, said. "But he got by the pace car before It was green." It didn't matter anyway, since the Infraction Is not subject to protest under USAC rules, and there was no apparent recourse for Tasman.

"We feel we won the race and Scott was in the right," Home said. "If we'd taken the black flag we would have been history anyway." The disheartening finish ruined what had been a dream day for Goodyear, whose previous "500" claim was running second to Al Unser Jr. in the closest finish ever in 1992. After qualifying on the front row two weeks ago, he nearly put the Honda engine into Victory Lane on Sunday, a year after it was laughed away from the Speedway. "I was very pleased overall," said Goodyear, who landed the Tasman ride for Indy only In March.

"We set a goal this month and the team worked flawlessly. We had good pit stops. We had a strong engine. We played the game right all day long. "You need to be there at the end so you can have an opportunity for victory.

We were racing at the end. Even the stop before last, we were faster than everybody else on the racetrack." Indeed, Goodyear and Scott Pruett had assumed control in the last 75 miles of the race and were battling for the honor of giving Firestone a victory in the tire maker's first year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway following a 21-year hiatus from Indy-car racing. Goodyear overtook Pruett for first on Lap 176 and the two were still dicing nine laps later when Pruett's Firestone-sponsored Lola-Ford suddenly darted into the St 1 1 6 jt- 1911 "16 -21 '28 31 "36 Source: Star staff reports On the the crash. were than an Four EXECUTIVE GOLF SEMINAR LEARN GOLF ETIQUETTE RULES Donl offend clients with improper golf course behavior. Proper golf protocol will enhance your business, this is for anyone who plays golf at any skill level.

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lv ppodyear and Tasman Motor-sports owner Steve Home were adamant that Goodyear had not committed a violation. Goodyear said that as the pace car dipped toward the pit apron coming out of Turn 4 and he accelerated, he saw the green light flash on the track signal system. "When the green light is on, it means go," he said. J. Goodyear was concerned about getting a good restart because Villeneuve, In second at the time, was on his tall.

It proved to be the and most costly of several misadventures involving the pace car during the race. "You're trying not to get passed coming down the front straight," Goodyear explained. "You saw today that anybody that was in the lea4 at the restart immediately fell to second or third (because they had to hold up for the pace car). That's the way It happens here." Home said videotape particularly an on-board camera on Goodyear's car would tiate- their claim that the green was showing before he passed the pace car. However, a replay made available to the media appeared to back USAC's claim that the yellow was -still beaming when Goodyear bjew past the Corvette driven by Don Bailey.

"The interference was he passed the pace car before the green light went on for the restart," said Binford. serving his final "500" as chief steward before, becoming commissioner of the Indy Racing League. "The pace car is In control and the drivers have the responsibility of remaining behind the pace car." with the view off v' Indianapolis Newspapers Photo Gary Mook TRYING TO COPE: Scott Goodyear is consoled by his wife, Leslie, after the race. "I looked In the mirror to see if Scott Pruett was going to get a run on me and he ended up hitting the wall." That brought out the yellow that preceded Goodyear's jump-start. Sad thing Is, Villeneuve, who could only watch from second spot as Unser Jr.

pulled away to victory a year ago, had pretty much accepted a repeat fate this day. "I would have run with him (after the restart)." Villeneuve wall coming out of Turn 2. There but for the grace of racing luck, Goodyear said, It could have been him. "I thought It was going to be a battle right down to the wire," the 35-year-old Goodyear said. "When I went through Turn 2.

I must have hit some oil or something of that nature, because the front end slid out from underneath me. I ended up taking the car toward the wall. I got on the brakes and had to g) down to fifth gear..