The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 25

GolfD3 BasketballD4 BaseballD6-7 NFLD8-9 Auto RacingD10-11 ScoreboardD11 The Indianapolis Star lndyStar.comsports Monday, August 11, 2003 Section InfoUne: 624-INFO (4636) Fever tumble out of playoff position. D4 Palmer's Bengals debut is rocky. D9 IRL EMERSON INDY 250 6f. -I a jr i '4Qj -I -r- 4 AW HattKrjger The Star Dejected: Colts lineman Tupe Peko watches from sideline as Bears win in final seconds. Poor grades expected for Colts Dungy sounds displeased after reviewing game film of preseason loss to Bears.

Pit-row crash, injury mar Castroneves' 1st victory since 2002 Indy 500 Next up What: Bel-terra Casino Indy 300 Where: Kentucky Speedway p.m. Sunday TV: WRTV-6 Inside 'r i 4.. By Phillip B. Wilson phillip.wilsonindystar.com A preseason Sunday of rest provides a break for some, but for those unproven players trying to earn a spot with the Indianapolis Colts, it can be an agonizing day of wondering how they'll be graded in film reviews. Immediately after a 20-18 loss to Chicago on Saturday in Champaign, 111., an exhibition decided by Paul Edinger's 38-yard field goal as time expired, Colts second-year coach Tony Dungy gave a predictable assessment: There was some good and some bad.

But after reviewing the game film for three hours Sunday afternoon, Dungy sounded more displeased before discussing it for two hours with bis assistants. A team that was supposed to have made progress See Colts, Page D8 1 Inside Colts injured in Saturday's preseason loss to the Bears were running backs Ricky Williams and James Mungro, middle linebacker Jim Nelson and defensive end Robert Ma-this. D8 By Curt Cavin curt.cavinindystar.com MADISON, 111. Helio Castroneves finally broke his long Indy Racing League losing streak Sunday in a race marred by injury and heartbreak. Castroneves celebrated his victory in the Emerson Indy 250 at Gateway International Raceway with his famous fence-climbing performance before a crowd estimated at 30,000.

"I tell you, I was a little rusty," the excitable Brazilian said after winning for the first time since the 2002 Indianapolis 500. However, the race had a downside. Anton Julian, a crew member for Kelley Racing, suffered a right knee injury and a concussion in a frightening pit-road incident. The injured Julian, a New Zealand-bom Indianapolis resident, was in fair condition Sunday night in a St. Louis hospital with a cut to the back of his head.

He is expected to return to Indianapolis today for further evaluation on his knee. He apparently suffered no other injuries, IRL officials said. Julian, the left-rear tire changer on Al Unser car, was struck by the front of Bryan Herta's car. He was crouched behind his car when Herta veered off line after slight contact with Buddy Lazier. The shaken Herta left the track without commenting.

Lazier couldn't explain what happened. "Bryan's car seemed to slip as he moved up into me leaving his pit box," Lazier said. "But our contact See Helio, Page D10 .5. 11 Jl 17 5 ss. TTi CART leader: Paul Tracy (above) finally wins the Mid-Ohio road race after 10 tries.

It was the sixth victory this season for the Canadian. DTI Rattled: Pit crew describes accident D10 I Bob Kravitz Greg firiffo The Star He's back! Helio Castroneves body language screams his delight with his first race victory since the 2002 Indy 500. He led a race-high 96 laps at the 1.25-mile Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis. 1st impression solid for Clark NASCAR SIRIUS AT THE GLEN R.

Gordon rules the road Luck, pit stops fall into place for two-time road-course winner. .1 Someday, he can put his grandkids on his surgically repaired knees and tell the story: "Have I ever told you kids how I blew up Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Ur-lacher on my first professional reception?" Dallas Clark can say. "Yep, caught a wobbly pass over the middle from Peyton Manning he's in the Hall of Fame, too then lowered my head, gritted my teeth and boom! next thing you know, I was running downfield and the Bears' trainers were picking Urlacher off the turf with a spatula." Yeah, Cramps, we've beard that story. You got a couple of bucks on you? At the risk of overstating things, and there's always that tendency during a preseason that has" a way of skewing reality, Clark's debut Saturday night in Champaign, I1L, was how do you say it? Shockey-esque. A catch-and-hit-and-run involving Urlacher, Another short reception followed by See Kravitz, Page 08 have begun or ended any worse.

In the process of falling from third to 33rd on the final lap, he all but fell out of the Winston Cup points race. Starting on the pole, Jeff Gordon was spun out by Greg Biffle on the first turn of the first lap. After dropping back to 36th, he needed nearly all of the 90 laps on the 2.45-mile, 11-turn layout to catch up. Then, running third with a lap to go, he ran out of fuel Trying to coast to the finish See NASCAR, Page D10 Next race What: Michigan 400 When: 12:30 p.m. Sunday TV: TNT Gordon very well might have won without help.

But he got it anyway when Rusty Wallace drove off the track at just the right time. That allowed Gordon and eventual runner-up Scott Pruett to make advantageous pit stops that carried them to the finish. For Jeff Gordon (no relation to Robby), the day could not By Steve Ballard steve.ballardindystar.com WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -Luck ruled the day Sunday at Watkins Glen International Robby Gordon had it. Jeff Gordon most definitely did not.

Robby Gordon firmly established himself as NASCAR's king of the road courses by adding the Sirius at the Glen to his victory two months ago at Sonoma, Calif. Given his road-racing acumen and his stout Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Kevin fflvod Associated Press The happy Gordon: Robby Gordon celebrates at Watkins Glen, N.Y., after winning his second road race of the season. Iverson proud to represent United States 1 Controversial Philadelphia 76ers guard ready to take on foes in Olympic qualifying tourney. Here's how it's done: Allen Iverson (left) listens as Larry Brown, the U.S. coach and former Philadelphia 76ers coach, instructs the American squad in preparation for its Olympic qualifying on last summer's World Championship team, but he was added to the Olympic roster thanks in part to some lobbying from his former coach, Larry Brown.

To Iverson, one of the most fulfilling aspects was making the team without having to remake himself. "That means everything to me. I don't want to change who I am, because I'm satisfied with the person my mom raised," he said. The American team opens the qualifying tournament Aug. 20 against BraziL of waiting and hoping that someday he'd be deemed worthy to represent his homeland.

Iverson was out there with the rest of the U.S. men's basketball team as it held its first practice in preparation for an Olympic qualifying tournament later this month in Puerto Rico. It was somewhat of a strange sight to see the 6-foot Iverson bouncing his skinny, tattooed body around while wearing the letters "USA" on his jersey. The U.S. basketball federation passed over Iverson for inclusion wise, people look at it as though I'm supposed to be here, but personality-wise and who I am, people don't think so," Iverson said.

"I have flaws just like people in any country. There's a lot of people in all different countries that have flaws and have made mistakes, and I just want to represent that." Sunday was a special day for Iverson, the culmination of years By Chris Sheridan Associated Press NEW YORK Allen Iverson plopped himself down, covered his cornrows with a red, white and blue do-rag and pronounced himself proud to be representing all Americans especially the troubled ones with whom he has something in common. "In a lot of people's eyes, I'm not supposed to be here. Talent- Stephen Chernki Associated Press.