The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 31

GolfD2 BaseballD3-5 NFID6-7 Auto RacingD7-8 OlympicsD9 Scoreboard09 The Indianapolis Star lndyStar.comsports Monday, August 2, 2004 Section Singh edges Daly at Buick Open. D2 No. 300 eludes Maddux, but Cubs win. D5 Ffr jtff No grand for James entrance this year Colts begin quest for title This season likely will be the final opportunity for this group of players to reach a Super Bowl. TERM HAUTE Ind.

-Now it was 215 in the afternoon, a good half-hour after the heatstroke had set in, and still no Edgerrin James. Of course, the fertile imagination ran wild. Was Edge in Thailand hanging out with Ricky Williams? Might this be Edge's first attempt to force a trade to the Miami Dolphins? Could it be that Edge was refusing to report until somebody knocked off that arrogant Ken Jennings weasel on At one point, we were considering an Edge alert. Yes, be on the lookout for a man with dreadlocks and a number of gold teeth. He will be driving well beyond the speed limit.

Be sure to monitor all 0" Online Go to lndystar.comcolts for a report today from the opening of the Colts' camp, as well as training camp roster, schedule and locator map. -7 Rob Ooebol The Star Ready to go: Colts place-kicker Mike Vanderjagt is all smiles as he arrives at training camp. The team's first practice is this morning. days and make the days Pollard said as he stood outside the players' dorm at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. "I know I'm going to look to do that myself." Bratzke's point: Seize the moment, because the future is promised to no one.

And isn't that the truth? Bratzke, a fixture in the defense since 1999, was released in February in a cost-cutting move. Pollard listened to Bratzke's words, took them to heart. See Colts, Page D6 Bob Kravitz highways that lead south and east out of Indianapolis. Be aware of any car that bears a Miami Dolphins bumper sticker. By 4 p.m., we had our answer to the Edge Question, or what will have to pass for an answer until the Colts actually produce the body this morning.

According to public relations officials, James was in the complex on See Kravitz, Page D6 BUI forms Itre iragllsf Bud cscojetd UfiX NJ WsJ MUM WaJ I MUM Today's practices 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Inside A player spotlight on Ran Carthon and reports on the other happenings on the first day of camp. D6 Pocono. "We feel we've got a better COLTS CAMP By Mike Chappell mike.chappellindystar.com TERRE HAUTE, Ind.

Tight end Marcus Pollard reported on Sunday for his 10th training camp with the Indianapolis Colts, driven in part by advice from a former teammate. The veteran tight end gave little regard to the notion the team faces a closing window of opportunity. Instead, Pollard, 32 and one of the most veteran Colts, recalled comments last summer from defensive end Chad Bratzke. "Chad said, 'Start counting the next race in the series, Sunday at jv "-J, Blowing smoke: Jimmie Johnson celebrates his Nextel Cup victory at car to take to Indy," he said of the He earns 4th victory of year Earnhardt's pain Injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaves his rough-riding car early in race.

D8 Sunday 130 p.m. Brickyard schedule Track action, ticket prices for Speedway, Indianapolis Raceway Park. D8 "We feel we've got a better car to take to Indy." In any year but this one, Johnson would have a stranglehold on the championship. He heads to Indianapolis with a 232-point lead on Hendrick Motor-sports teammate Jeff Gordon, who finished fifth Sunday and leapfrogged Dale Earnhardt Jr. into second place in the Nextel Cup standings.

See Johnson, Page D8 off Mark Martin and Kasey Kahne for his fourth victory and 14th top-five finish in 20 races this season. "It wasn't a cakewalk by any means," Johnson said after making it look like one while establishing himself as the man to beat in NASCAR's next race, Sunday's Brickyard 400. As dominant as Johnson's Chevrolet was, he could be tempted to use it again next week. But he sounded an ominous warning for those tired of chasing him: By Steve Ballard steve.ballardiSindystar.com LONG POND, Pa. Jimmie Johnson gave himself another reason to hate NASCAR's new championship format while giving everyone else more reason to love it Sunday with a dominating victory in the Pennsylvania 500.

Driving the same car that carried him to victory lane in June at Pocono Raceway, Johnson led 124-of-200 laps of the 22-mile triangular track to easily hold Matt Detrlch The Star Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Getting used to It Jimmie Johnson holds up his trophy for winning the Pennsylvania 500, his fourth NASCAR Nextel Cup victory of the season. yrv 1,111 1 and Warren Central in Class 5A, Roncalli in 4A, Bishop Chatard in 3A, Tri-West in 2A and Ritter in A are intent on returning to the RCA Dome. "We have a number of kids in major roles who were supporting players last year, but we have a good feeling," said Warren Central coach Kevin Wright, whose Warriors will open practice with 240 players, led by senior Josh Bailey and juniors Andre Hatchett and Jason Onyebuagu. "In a sense, it's like we're starting over, considering how many players we graduated.

But our (junior varsity) and freshmen See Fall, Page D10 1 Fall sports teams set to start long seasons Practice, meets in many sports begin today; 5 area football teams seek repeat state titles. Peculiar strategy costs Kanaan win Rice, allowed to take lead, gets victory in race marred by several pit road incidents. k' ami i 1 2l By Pat McKee pat.mckeendystar.com After a summer of conditioning and a variety of workouts, camps and other events, the intensity for high school athletes across the state picks up today with the start of official practice in football, cross country, soccer, volleyball and boys tennis. In addition, girls golf competition can commence today after a week of practice. While increased temperatures and high humidity are likely to accompany the upcoming activity, Indianapolis-area football is certain to be a hot topic.

Five area schools won state football championships in 2003, if 0C Next race What Belterra Casino Indy 300 at Sparta, Ky. When: Aug. 15, 2:30 p.m. Inside: Tomas Scheckter runs into a lot of trouble. D8 operator Steve Namisnak fractured his right leg though a half-dozen others were in harm's way in the harrowing situations.

It was safer on the track at top speed. There were only a couple of minor car-to-car contacts before a crowd estimated at 40,000. Soe Strategy, Page D8 By Curt Cavin curt.cavinindystar.com BROOKLYN, Mich, Sunday's Indy Racing League event at Michigan International Speedway will be rehashed for some time. Tony Kanaan, who dominated the Michigan Indy 400, will try to discern why his Andretti Green Racing team leaders asked him to let eventual winner Buddy Rice pass him 11 laps from the finish. On pit road, teams will evaluate how three crew members were struck by race cars.

Only one person was injured seriously Panther Racing vent and jack 6nt 8rtff The Star Look out A member of Dan Wheldon's crew gets out of the way of a flying tire during a pit road accident..