The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 45

1H" D6 FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2002 Sports THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR WWW.INDYSTAR.COM AUTO RAGING UPCOMING RACES; Scheckter's camp calls him free agent 2001's top NHRA rookie solves sophomore slump PIT PASS Curt Cavin it was the car," Russell said. "I knew I was secure, and that meant a lot." Russell, who won the 1997 U.S. Nationals in the much slower Top Alcohol dragster division, said the biggest adjustment in moving to Top Fuel was training his brain to keep up with the car. "You accelerate so fast that the car would be at the finish line and my brain would just be getting to half-track," he said. "It took 40 or 50 runs to get my mind in synch with the car." The next challenge was learning to "pedal" the car to keep it going straight when the tires spin.

It's not, something easily practiced. "It's an art form to learn that," said Amato, who was one of the best at it. "Now that he's got a couple hundred runs down the track, he's a lot more comfortable doing what he's doing. He's more relaxed (and) it shows in his driving." Russell was the fastest in testing last week at IRP and is looking to improve upon his 2001 U.S. Nationals performance, when he lost to eventual champion Larry Dixon in the second round.

"Three weeks in (to the season), I didn't know if I'd see Indy," Russell said. "Now we arrive with all the confidence in the world that we can run with any team out there." Call Steve Ballard at 1-317-444-6184. Brag Brtffo Staff photo Big move: Darrell Russell has won three times climbing to fourth in the standings since Joe Amato shuffled his team. won three times, climbing from 13th to fourth in the season standings going into this weekend's Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

He credits his rapid progress to Amato, who was forced by eye problems to retire after the 2000 season with 52 wins and a record five Top Fuel championships. "There's not a lot in this sport Joe hasn't seen," said Russell, 33. "He loves it when I ask questions. He has a great answer for everything." Amato's answer to this season's slow start was to replace crew chief Jimmy Walsh with Wayne Dupuy. That caused a mini-revolt on the team and the loss of several crew members.

But it also served to instill confidence in the young driver when he realized he wasn't getting the blame. "Joe kept telling me the driving part of it wasn't the problem, that I The contract conflict between Eddie Cheever Jr. and former Indy Racing League teammate Tomas Scheckter remains unresolved. Scheckter's manager, Enrico Zanarini, said Thursday that the rookie driver severed his ties to the team and technical partner TWR before last weekend's race in Madison, I1L Zanarini maintains that Cheever and TWR have no right to offer a contract buyout or to sue, as Cheever told The Star last week. "It's very straightforward," Zanarini said by telephone from Belgium, where he will attend this weekend's Formula One race at Spa-Francorchamps.

"We have terminated the contract for reasons I cannot yet tell you. "But Eddie Cheever has no right on Tomas' contract. He simply cannot do the things he's said." Cheever said Thursday that his lawyers tried unsuccessfully this week to serve Scheckter lawsuit papers for violating his contract that extends through the 2003 seasoa Zanarini said Scheckter would return to the IRL "very soon," although he declined to elaborate. Two IRL team owners have contacted The Star in search of Scheckter, who could not be reached for comment Thursday. Cheever accepts part of the blame for the fallout with Scheckter.

He said he chose Scheckter after the son of former F-l champ Jody Scheckter had a good test But Cheever said he was more swayed by the driver's ability to bring $25 million in sponsorship, which Cheever said never arrived. When Scheckter began crashing cars, tension mounted. "He went through about $2 million worth of equipment," Cheever said of Scheckter. "It got to a point where the numbers didn't add up." Gordon thinking streak Jeff Gordon needed almost a year to win a NASCAR Winston Cup race, a drought of 31 races. Now the former Indiana resident is eyeing his second victory in as many weeks.

The defending series champion will be at arguably his best track this weekend: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, site of Sunday's Southern 500. Five of his 59 career wins have come at the track, including a record four in a row in the Southern 500 from 1995 to 1998. He and Bill Elliott have the most Darlington wins among active drivers. "When we weren't winning, finishing the races is what kept us in the points chase," said Gordon, who is third in points, 111 behind series leader Sterling Marlin. "But now that we've tasted victory (at Bristol, this team wants more." Da Matta seeks seventh Cristiano da Matta has five races to become the fifth driver in Championship Auto Racing Teams series history to win seven races in a season.

This weekend's race is the inaugural street race in Denver. He can join Alex Zanardi (1998) and Juan Montoya (1999) as seven-time race winners. Michael Andretti and Al Unser Jr. won eight races i in 1991 and 1994, respectively. A win Sunday by da Matta also would go a long way to clinching his first CART title.

His lead is 55 points. Priestley done with ovals Jason Priestley, the actor seriously injured in an Infiniti Pro Series crash Aug. 11 at Kentucky Speedway, will not return to oval-track racing, team general manager Jim Freuden-berg said. "He does want to race again, but it will be in a sports car (on road courses)," Freudenberg said of Priestley, who is recovering in an undisclosed Indianapolis rehabilitation center. "Oval racing at those speeds is a little too risky for those who are not going to make (racing) a career." Freudenberg said he told Priestley, who turned 33 on Wednesday, that he would help him work toward a ride in the American Le Mans Series.

Notes The Jacques Villeneuve- to-CART story took another twist Thursday when the driver's manager, Craig Pollock told journalists in Belgium that neither he nor Villeneuve had ever seen the reported three-year, $50 million offer to join Forsyth Racing. Pollock said Player's CEO Bob Bexon floated the idea of Villeneuve returning to CART, but there was no offer, Pollock said. The Toyota F-l team is making moves that could lead to da Matta being hired for 2003. The team announced this week that drivers Mika Salo and Allan McNish will not be retained. Only one seat was filled; BAR driver Olivier Panis will move over at season's end.

Two-time Indy 500 winner He-lio Castroneves will have his F-l test with Toyota at the Paul Ricard Circuit in southern France during the week after the IRL season ends (Sept. 16-20), Team Penske officials said Thursday. The Arrows F-l team has been sold, although the buyer has not been disclosed. Reports are that it's an American investor NASCAR chairman Bill France under- went a heart bypass procedure Wednesday night after a fall that broke his hip. Doctors expect him to make a full recovery.

NASCAR driver Ward Burton has been fined $5,000 for his actions in last weekend's race in Bristol, Term. Burton walked out on the track during a caution to show his anger to Dale Earnhardt Jr. Kenny Wallace will replace Hut Stricklin at Bill Davis Racing. Wallace signed a two-year deaL Team owner Dale Coyne will field two cars in CART in 2003. He'll field one during the Sept 14 race in Corby, England.

The driver will be a Brit, likely either Johnny Herbert or Darren Manning. IRL vice president Brian Barnhart reiterated Thursday that the 2003 schedule is set There will be no additions despite rumors of a road course race at Watkins Glen, N.Y. Call Curt Cavin at 1-317-444-6409. PRETTY St CHnt Wood Associated Press Contenders: Kenny Bernstein (front) and Larry Dixon have built one of the best rivalries in all of motor sports the past few years. Russell turns around disappointing season in Top Fuel after owner shakes up crew.

By Steve Ballard steve.ballardindystar.com After taking his first 300 mph ride in a Top Fuel dragster, Darrell Russell wasn't too sure he wanted to take a second one. Russell was in Phoenix last year preparing for his National Hot Rod Association rookie season when he first felt the sensation of going from zero to 100 mph in less than a second and to more than 250 mph in three seconds. Team owner Joe Amato, the drag racing legend Russell was hired to replace, was waiting at the end of the track. Amato was grinning. "Joe said I was stark white," Russell recalled.

"I told him it was pretty scary and I wasn't sure I could handle it But he told me to give it a little time and I'd get used to it" A little time was all Russell needed. He won the season-opening race at Pomona, becoming just the third driver to win his first Russell won again in October on the way to being named NHRA Rookie of the Year. After a slow start this season led to a crew shakeup, Russell has Bernstein Racer reigns as the current NHRA Top Fuel champion. FromDI ends in November. Bernstein, who turns 58 next week, said nostalgia has not yet overtaken him and he doesn't expect it to this weekend.

Why be consumed with history when there's still more of it to be made? At a stage of life when most professional athletes can only reminisce about the glory years, Bernstein is living his. He is the reigning National Hot Rod Association Top Fuel champion, a strong contender to win it again and riding one of the hottest streaks of his storied career. It is with a mixture of pride and relief that he points to his last 38 races since bringing Tim Richards on board as crew chief. Together, they have gone to the final round 20 times and won 12. Those numbers make clear Bernstein didn't stay too long and, if anything, is leaving too soon.

But with his son Brandon, 30, eager to take over next year, and with his ownership role allowing him to stay close to the sport, Bernstein said the retirement announcement he made two years ago still stands. "I'm the kind of guy that once I make a decision, it's done. It's final," he said. "I've been fortunate never to look back and I don't think that'll change. It's time, and I'm comfortable with it." Bernstein delved into NASCAR and CART as a team owner in the late 1980s.

He had marginal success in both, winning a few races and the 1992 Indianapolis 500 pole with driver Roberto Guerrero. But it was a frustrating time because he wasn't ready to be a non-driving owner. He is confident he can handle it now. "Driving is what turns my crank, I know that," he said. "But what's different now is Brandon.

It's a new era with my son. Hopefully, I can help him develop into a champion and maybe someday he'll take over the business. That would be the ultimate goaL" Winning the championship in 2001 after a couple of down seasons makes walking away easier no matter what happens the rest of this year, Bernstein said He is retiring by choice, not because he was forced into it. He is reasonably certain that when he gets out of his car at the end of this season, he'll never get back into it. "I don't feel there would be any WINSTON CUP Next green flag: Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway; qualifying, 2 p.m.

today; race, noon Sunday Points leaders Sterling Marlin 3,240 Mark 3,145 3,129 Jeff Gordon Tony Stewart ,3,101 Jimmie Johnson, 3,095 CART Next green flag: Grand Prix of Denver on city's downtown streets; qualifying 3 p.m. today and 2:30 p.m. Saturday; race, 2 p.m. Sunday Points leaders Cristiano da Matta 161 Dario Franchitti 106 Patrick Carpentier 101 Bruno Christian Fittipaldi INDY RACING LEAGUE i ftlnvt dPOAn flatf Holnhl InHu MWM WWII IIMa fVIIIII IVi 300 at Chicagoland Speedway, Sept 8 4 Points leaders Helio Castroneves Gil de Ferran -436" -429. Sam Hornish Jr, Felipe Giaffone.

-391 Alex Barron 3ia FORMULA ONE Next green flag: Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, Sunday Points leaders Michael Schumacher Rubens Barrichello .112 45 Ralf Schumacher- .40 .40 .34 Juan Pablo Montoya David Coulthard NHRA Next green flag: U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park, 1 Thursrlav-Mnnriav Points leaders Top Fuel Larry Dixon Kenny Bernstein Cory McClenathan Darrell Russell Tony Schumacher Funny Car John Force Tony Pedregon Gary Densham Del Worsham Whit Bazemore Pro Stock Greg Anderson Jim Yates Jeg Coughlin Jr. Warren Johnson Ron Krisher ON TV NASCAR Busch: South Carolina 200, noon Saturday, TNT NASCAR Winston Cup: Southern 500, qualifying, 2 p.m. to- day, TNT; race, noon Sunday, TNT CART: Grand Prix of Denver, qualifying 3 p.m. today and 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, SPEED; race, 2 p.m. Sunday, SPEED Formula One: Belgian Grand Prix, qualifying. 6 a.m. todav and Saturday, SPEED; race, 6:30 a.m. Sunday, SPEED Si NHRA: U.S.

Nationals, quali- tying, 11 a.m. Saturday, ESPN2, race, noon Sunday, ESPN2 WHO'S HOT John Force National Hot Rod Association Back-to-back wins en tering the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park again have 11-time Funny Car champ atop standings. Five wins this season have extended his record total to 103 and opened the way to a 10th consecutive title. 4, WHO'S NOT Kenny Brack Championship Auto Racing Teams 1 The 1999 Indy 500 win-' nerwasa l( popular pre- season pick to win CART)Vj, title in his a first year 1 with Chip Ganassi Racing.

But after a series-high four wins and runner-up points finish last year for Team Rahal, the Swede, has struggled with seven finishes of 14th or worse in mostly, 18-car fields. He has three last-" place finishes in past seven events. 1.417 1,337 996 954 9p 9 985 885 807 4 4 'II mg away. "The car will still be red and it'll still have a Bernstein driving it. It'll be the same to me," he said Bernstein's legacy among his peers, Dixon included is more what he did off the track than on it.

By luring Anheuser-Busch into the sport in 1980, he opened a window to corporate America. "You look at all the companies involved with us now, Kenny paved the road," Dixon said. Bernstein was willing to share the wealth by convincing Bud-weiser to invest in other programs, including the Big Bud Shootout for Funny Cars that Sunday will pay $100,000 to the winner. "I don't think he's ever gotten the credit he deserves. He opened a lot of eyes that if you do it right, you can get deals like that," Funny Car champion John Force said "I learn a lot every time I talk to him.

He tells me, 'John, just cut the BS and get to the point' "He's totally honest, totally ethical He might talk you out of something, but he'll never cheat you out of it." Whit Bazemore called Bernstein his inspiration starting out. The two-time and defending U.S. Nationals Funny Car champion said Bernstein deserves to be remembered for more than his business and marketing savvy. "Not many people remember how hard it was for Kenny as a driver. He wasn't a natural, yet he became one of the best through hard work and desire," Bazemore said "I think his most admirable quality is his tenacity.

He got himself good and he showed me that you can never give up on yourself." NHRA founder Wally Parks has called Bernstein the best role model in the sport's 50-year history. Funny Car driver Tony Pe-dregon knows why. Bernstein no doubt has long forgotten a moment Pedregon will never forget. "I was just starting out. He beat me good one day, and while I was getting out of the car, he walked over and said, 'Good job, young It was one of the biggest compliments I ever got.

"I'd like another shot at him, but I guess it's not going to happen now. Maybe I can catch him in a rental car one of these days." Bernstein said all the praise is gratifying and appreciated "I always tried to do business the right way," he said "I did my best to look at what was good for the sport and not just what was good for Kenny Bernstein." Call Steve Ballard at 1-317-444-6184. Mac Tools U.S. Nationals schedule What 48th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Where: Indianapolis Raceway Park, Clermont, Ind.

From 1-465, exit Crawfordsville Road (Hwy. 136). Head west four miles. Main entrance is on the left, one-half mile past Raceway Road. Purse: In excess of $2.2 million Today: Pro qualifying: 6:45 p.m.

Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, 7:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Tickets: Reserved: $40, $20, $10. General admission: $30, $10. Saturday: Pro qualifying: 12:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.

Pro Bike eliminations, 12:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 4:45 p.m. Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, 7:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Tickets: Reserved: $52, $48, $22, $18, $12, $8. General admission: $40, $10. Sunday: Pro qualifying, 11:15 a.m.

and 2:45 p.m. Budweiser Shootout Eliminations, 12:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sportsman eliminations, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: Reserved: $60, $56, $24, $20, $14, 10. General admission: $45, $10. Monday: Pre-race ceremonies, 9:30 a.m. Final eliminations: 10:30 a.m. Tickets: Reserved: $60, $56, $24, $20, $14, $10.

reason to do that. I've been fortunate to accomplish so much that I don't know what I would have left to prove," he said Among those accomplishments: six championships, four in Funny Car (1985-88) and two in Top Fuel (1996 and 2001), making him the only driver to win titles in both divisions; 65 national event wins, including four this season; and the NHRA's first 300 mph run, in March 1992 at Gainesville, Fla. Bernstein and Larry Dixon have built one of the best rivalries in all of motor sports the past few years. It features not only the drivers but the owners (Bernstein vs. Don "Snake" Prudhomme), crew chiefs (Richards vs.

Dick La-Haie) and sponsors (Bud vs. Miller). Dixon, whose 259-point lead has been cut to 80 the past five races, doesn't see that rivalry go- If you like RACECARS and then you'll 1 SHOWTIME 3pm-3om frlf UmM QUfiUftlDIQ 1000FTNORTHOF465 IVMWIIXW -1 Championsrtp night tor aH classes Doutte Pointa -1 Walte 100, Legends 6s. Baby Grand plus Floadrunrm UTWMr, AUGUST 11 7 PM I I -I SUNDAY, SEFTBHEM 7 PM I. ChampwrohipNit Late Ma One Ha RgunB Enaro.

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