The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page D1

INSIDE Spurs take command in West San Antonio grabs a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals with a 91-79 victory over Utah. D3 NHL: Ducks rally in Stanley Cup opener. D6 SECTION THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2007 INDYSTAR.COMSP0RTS HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS SPORTS "It would be easy (to walk away), but I'm having a blast' Indy 500 champ Dario Franchitti Franchitti not ready to drive into sunset ZACH DOBSON For The Star BASEBALL SECTIONALS: Cathedral's Anthony Agnew (28), who pitched a three-hit shutout, is congratulated after his home run in a 10-0 win over Lawrence Central on Monday. Story, D8 NORTH CENTRAL, N0BLESVILLE TAKE RUGBY STATE TITLES North Central scores a 22-3 victory over Brownsburg in the boys Division I state championship game, while Noblesville defeats Columbus 12-7 in the boys Division II final. Story, D8 ANN MILLER For The Star UPHOLDING TRADITION: Dario Franchitti (left) and members of his crew kiss the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after he won Sunday's 91st Indy 500.

Patriots player dies in accident on lake Defensive end's body found the day after he was reported missing near New Orleans Associated Press NEW ORLEANS The body of New England Patriots defensive end Marquise Hill was found Monday, a state official said, a day after he was reported missing following a personal watercraft accident on Lake Pontchartrain. Hill's body was discovered by searchers INDY 500 CHAMP FEELS REJUVENATED, CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO SPEEDWAY I Riding along as a good guy revisits his road to stirring win It is Monday, the day after the big race, and we are driving Indianapolis Motor Speedway with winner Dario Franchitti. Well, OK, so Franchitti isn't driving. An IMS employee is doing the honors, with Franchitti riding shotgun. And we're not going around in Franchitti's No.

27 Canadian Club DallaraHonda. Instead, a number of reporters have been I 7 3 mm stows about a quarter of a mile from where the former LSU star and a female companion were involved in the accident, Capt. Brian Clark of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department said. "The family will have to make positive identification," Clark said, stuffed into a van. (Hey, Dad, are we there yet?) Oh, and we're not going 200 mph we hit 40, maybe although I pushed 80 on the BOB KRAVITZ Marquise Hill By Curt Cavin curt.cavin(3indystar.com Dario Franchitti won Sunday's Indianapolis 500 with opportunistic fuel strategy.

Now the question is, what's left in his personal tank? Plenty, he said. Retirement apparently isn't in Franchitti's immediate racing plans as it was for Gil de Ferran when he capped his Hall of Fame career with a 500 victory in 2003. "Oh, no, I don't think so," Franchitti said before collecting a winner's check of $1,645,233. "Yeah, it would be easy (to walk away), but I'm having a blast. "I love my teammates; I love the team.

I'm enjoying the (Indy Racing League's) season with more short ovals, more road courses." He paused and smiled. "And this," he said. Franchitti, who turned 34 after earning a spot on Sunday's front row, admits he might have spoken differently a few years ago. He was a former loyal member of the IRL's rival, now known as the Champ Car World Series, and wasn't a big fan of the all-oval series, which included the 500. Because of the open-wheel split, he didn't have the emotional attachment to Indy his boss and friend, Michael Andretti, had.

Franchitti's only connection to Indianapolis Motor Speedway was his admiration of fellow Scots Jim Clark, the 1965 winner, and Jackie Stewart, a two-time starter. Franchitti had been in CART six-plus years before his 500 debut in 2002, and even that felt detaching. In addition to his car struggling, his team, owned by Barry Green, left IMS bitter after teammate Paul Tracy lost HOLDING THE SPOILS: Franchitti holds the Borg-Warner Trophy, on which his likeness and name will be added to those of previous Indy 500 winners. He posed with the trophy during the victor's photo session Monday at the Speedway. way to the Monday morning photo session, fearing I might be late.

This is all part of an inspired idea by the Indy Racing League's public relations folks to get the race winner and the reporters to take a ride down memory lane and into victory circle, albeit at a far slower pace. So come along for the ride. And behave. Seriously, don't make me turn this thing around. As we leave pit road, Franchitti is asked about his initial thoughts Sunday.

As he answers, I notice he looks ridiculously spry for a guy who partied with the Andretti Green folks at Subterra Lounge on Sunday night and hit the bed around 4. Might have something to do with adrenaline. "The last thing I remember, just before I got into race mode, I was looking in front of the car and right See Kravitz, Page D6 "but the body we found was that of Mr. Marquise Hill." The Coast Guard was called Sunday night, Petty Officer Tom Atkeson said. The search began immediately, using boats and helicopters.

Hill's agent, Albert Elias, said he had been told Hill and a young woman were on the lake Sunday when both of them went into the water, which had a strong current. Elias said the woman was able to make it to a pylon and hang on until she was rescued, while Hill was last seen floating away from the scene. Hill played on LSU's national championship team and was a second-round draft pick by New England in 2004. "We are all shocked," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. Neither Hill nor the woman wore a life preserver, Atkeson said.

Elias said Hill spent much of his time since Hurricane Katrina helping family members rebuild their homes. SHORTENED INDY 500S Year Laps Miles Reason 2007 166 415 rain 2004 180 450 rain 1976 102 255 rain 1975 174 435 rain 1973 133 332.5 rain 1950 138 345 rain 1926 160 400 rain to Helio Castroneves after a discrepancy with the caution lights. Franchitti missed the 500 the next year after breaking his back while riding a motorcycle. He seemed destined to miss the Brickyard's appeal. But while watching his team, which became known as Andretti Green Racing, from the sideline in 2003, something clicked.

Maybe it was seeing Robby Gordon qualify his car on the See Franchitti, Page D6 Note: The 1916 race was scheduled for 120 laps. JAMES MIGHT REACH FINALS BEFORE JORDAN JUST NUMBERS GAME FEVER PLAYERS ON BALLOT Voting is under way for the WNBA All-Star Game on July 15 in Washington, D.C. Five Indiana Fever players are on the ballot, including four-time All-Star Tamika Catchings and Tamika Whitmore, who both made it last season. Fans can vote for their favorite players at Fever games or at wnba.com until June 24. The Star Michael Jordan didn't reach the NBA Finals until his seventh season.

LeBron James Qeit) has a chance to get there in his fourth. His Cavaliers trail the Pistons 2-1 in the Eastern finals. Game 4 is today (8 p.m., TNT). Year Jordan James Rookie 1st round 3-1 DNP 2nd 1st round 3-0 DNP 3rd 1st round 3-0 2nd round 4-3 4th 2nd round 4-1 In East finals MINUTE SPORTS EDITOR Jim Lefko SPORTS PHONE: 317.444.6352 Indiana Fever players Tamika Catchings (left) and Tully Bevi-laqua are on the WNBA All-Star ballot. East finals 4-2 5th Sept.

10, 1995 The last time the New York Yankees were 12V2 games out of first until Sunday. Joe Torre (above) was hired as manager after that season. 6th East finals 4-3 7th NBA champion The Star.