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The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 17

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section Classified 5 Comics 16 Action Line 17 Feature Page 17 Business News 18 sports 1974 Johnny R. Conserves His Cool And His Fuel BILL LYON LONG POND, Pa so much for the theory that to win a 500-mile race all you need is a lead foot and the ability to stay away from things that are made of concrete, like walls. Meet, now, Johnny Rutherford, a good ol' boy from Fort (whoooo-haaaa) Worth, Texas, who drives with a feather touch and talks, not about stompin' the accelerator, layin' a whole batch of rubber and runnin' that baby 'til she burns up, but instead about aerodynamics, fuel consumption and finishing what you start. There weren't many more than a handful of cars still coughing and sputtering and smoking around Pocono International Raceway late Sunday afternoon when Rutherford, still running sweet and smooth, took the checkered flag to win the Schaefer 500. It was another victory for conservation, for husbanding' precious fuel, and for preserving, instead of destroying, machinery that is at once awesomely powerful yet oh-so-delicately fragile.

Some race drivers abuse their cars, Johnny Rutherford uses his. "Well, I just ran my own race," he was saying, sipping a-beer, then switching to iced tea. "I didn't worry too much about what the others were doing. "No one else seems to have the formula for mileage that we do. And obviously in a race this long, it's all in the last hundred laps or so." What Johnny Rutherford was implying was that all those other pole-sitters and hot shots can go out and zoom around at supersonic speed, but when you're running wide open right from the start you're asking for things like blown engines, thrown rods and all the other kinds of trouble machinery can produce when it finally rebels.

So at the Indianapolis 500 last month, Johnny Rutherford ran his patient, conserving race and waited. And A. J. Foyt, the leader, blew an engine and Johnny Rutherford won. And again, Sunday at Pocono, while two different drivers (Al Unser and then Gordon Johncock) were giving up the lead because they ran out of gas, Johnny Rutherford hung close and "And," he admitted, "there were some close callr out there." "Early in the race something went wrong.

It felt loose. pitted and we changed a tire and we loosened a wing, we dropped the front wing, and then I found my pattern and the car seemed to run with the same consistency lap after lap." Yeah, Johnny Rutherford was talking about wings. Like birds flap. Or those things that help planes fly. Rutherford, see, drives a McLaren car.

That's the British outfit that felt you could apply aerodynamic principles like wings, which help stabilize a car and enable it to take curves at much higher speeds to Indianapolis-type cars. It's not all that simple, of course. You need other things)'' like a very efficient crew that can do some of your thinking for you. "Right," Johnny Rutherford smiled. "These cars are great but after all they don't run by themselves.

And none of us ers can run as fast as they can. Communication with your crew (See LYON on 4-C) ran. his own careful style. And then, 13 laps from the finish, Wally Dallenbach a piston. And left the lead up for grabs.

Johnny Rutherford was there, waiting. He grabbed. Don't, however, get the idea it was simply a little Sunday afternoon spin. Or that Johnny Rutherford won by avoiding mechanical trouble because he wasn't moving out. He did, after all, set a new record, averaging 156.701 MPH.

l''r -Wt fj Rutherford Triumphs at Pocono As Luck Deserts Dallenbach Indy Victor Gets Lead Near Finish ZT JLZL. tM-M4mmtL Mario Andretti's car spins on an oily track and hits the outside wall Associated Press i Johnny Rutherford beams after donning victory garland at Pocono W. Germany Halts Sweden; Poland Remains Unbeaten sending the Nazareth, driver out of his car, which was running fifth try yj zZiLj From Inquirer Wire Service, jn tne 77tn mirdlte Sunday, Substitute Juergen Grabow- leading West Germany to a 4-' ski, who entered the game 2 victory over Sweden in only i 12 minutes earlier, World Cup soccer at Dussel- scored the tie-breaking goal dorf, Germany. by BILL SIMMONS Inquirer Staff Writer LONG POND, Pa. -Johnny Rutherford, who came out of Texas with high hopes and winning reputation only to spend 11 frustrating years waiting for hb turn in the limelight, now looks like he may never lose again.

In the fickle world of Indianapolis car racing, where one victory is a major accomplishment and two in a row is a startling achievement, Johnny Rutherford on Sunday beat almost astronomical odds to make it three straight as he won the fourth annual Schaefer 500 before an estimated 100,000 at Pocono International Raceway. "I think I'd like to win a. couple more and then maybe we could get a sponsor," Rutherford said with a laugh as he celebrated the $100,000 victory that made him the first man in the four-year history of auto racing's triple crown to win two 500-mile events in the same season. The handsome 36-year-old blond was referring to the British-based Team McLaren's lack of a. major sponsor this season after Gulf Oil withdrew its participation in the face of the energy crisis.

Although he started from the middle of the second row here, his victory was no less impressive than the rally from 25th starting position that carried him to victory in lat month's Indianapolis 500. But it was considerably more dramatic as the Rutherford-McLaren duo didn't really take control until just 13 laps from the end when a burned piston ended a deserving effort by Wally Dallenbach in the strongest of the three-car STP-Eagle entry. "He deserved to win. He drove a great race," Rutherford said of Dallenbach who led on four different occasions for a total of 41 laps around the 2'2-miIe trioval. "When I saw Wally go out, it truly was a case of mixed emotions," Rutherford explained.

"After the job he did, I would have liked to see the guy stay in and, hopefully, run him down at the end. "On the other hand, it was just like at the (Indianapolis) Speedway when I saw A. J. (Foyt) go out. I could breathe a little sigh of relief because I knew 1 didn't have to race him again." Although he wound up averaging 156.701 MPH for the three hour and 11 minute chase to break the record of (See POCONO on 4-C) PRANK DOLSON 1 Associated Press 4 1 and over the wall to safety on the 133d of Pocono's 200 laps Mi.

Bucs Beat Phils, 11-8, 3-2 5 Straight Losses Drop Phila. Into 3d Place opener for the Phillies, lasted just four innings and was tagged for five runs on seven hits and three walks. The lefthander entered the game as the league's leading strikeout pitcher, but failed to fan a single member of the free-swinging Pirates. The Phillies collected the astonishing total of 16 hits off Brett and two successors in that contest, yet were never really in the game, despite In other games, Poland remained undefeated and untied in the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Yugoslavia while defending champion Brazil eliminated Argentina, 2-1, and Holland blanked East Germany, 2-0. The West Germans, who trailed 1-0 at halftimc, came back to score four goals in the second half for the victory.

The triumph gave West Germany a 2-0 record in Group in the second round of the tournament, while Sweden dropped to 0-2 and was eliminated from any shot at the championship. West Germany meets Polandalso 2-0 in Frankfurt Wednesday, and the winner of that game will advance to Sunday's championship match. Should that game end in a tie, West Germany would advance because of a better goal differential. At Frankfurt, Grzegorz Lato scored Poland's winning goaf in the 63d minute, racing in to meet a perfectly placed corner by Robert Gadocha and converting it from the left wing. Johann Cruyff, meanwhile, led the Dutch soccer team through rain and mud at Goel-senkirchen.

Johnny Nesskens put Holland ahead, 1-0, in the eighth minute of play, and that goal stood up through the first half. Rob Rensenbrink scored an insurance goal for the Netherlands in the 59tb minute. Holland now has a 2-0 record in the second round, and will play Brazil Wednesday at Dortmund to determine which club advances to Sunday's championship game. Defending champion Brazil eliminated Argentina on goals by Rivellino and Jairzinho at Hannover. The gave Brazil a 2-0 record second-round play while the loss was the second for Argentina and ended its championship hopes.

How They Stand The Mets Lose It On Split Decision NEW YORK A lot of zany things have happened at Shea Stadium. Casey Stengel managed here. Marv Thorneberry played here. Ron Swoboda became a World Series' hero here. Pete Rose and Bud Harrelson had a fight here.

But this was the topper. Bottom of the ninth, and the last-place Mets had rallied to tie the first-place Cardinals. Two on. Two out. Cleon Jones at Reliever Orlando Pena had just arrived from the Cardinal bullpen.

"He's been unbelievable," Tim McCarver said before the game. "Just unbelievable." Little did he know. Pena threw; Jones swung, and the game appeared to be over. It was a looping line drive to right center, and it was dropping fast. Reggie Smith, the Cardinal right tielder, came charging in on that bad leg of his, reached down and tried to pluck the ball off the grass.

From the pressbox, it looked like a trap. On the instant replay, it looked like a trap. To first base umpire Chris Pelekoudas, it looked like a trap. Emphatically, Pelekoudas made the palms-down signal that raced across the plate without a play. The scoreboard flashed meant, "No catch." Wayne Garrett, who had been on second, the final: Mets 4, Cards 3.

The Shea Stadium guards ran on the field, the way they always do at the end of the working day, and lined up along the baselines to prevent the fans from running wild. The Mets, thankful for a split of the double header and the four-game series headed for the clubhouse. "Everybody came in here," said John Milner, who was on-deck when Jones' delivered his apparent game-winner. It seemed like the place to be except for one thing. At the very moment that Pelekoudas, the chief of the umpiring crew, was signaling that Smith had trapped the ball, second base umpire Paul Pryor was signaling that he had caught the ball.

"One called it one way, one called it the other way," Milner said. "I don't know whose decision it is And, for a while, neither did the umpires. With the Cardinals crowding around them, with the fans streaming for the (See DOLSON on 2-C) (July NATIONAL LEAGUE Sunday's Result Pittsburgh 11, PHILLIES 0, 1st Pittsburgh 3, PHILLIES 2, 2d V. 5 irt St. Louis 5, New York 3, 2d, 10 innings Montreal 10, Chicago 2 Atlanta 7, Cincinnati 3 Houston 3, San Diego 1, 1st Houston at San Diogo, 2d Los Angeles 5, San Francisco 3 Saturday's Results Pittsburgh PHILLIES- 3 New York 4, St.

Louis 0 Chicago 2, Montreal 1 Houston 3, San Dieqo 0 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta 1 Los Angeles San Francisco 4 Standinqs some remarkably inept defense by the Pirates. It was a 11-1 contest until the Phillies sent 12 batters to the plate in their ninth-inning outburst. Pittsburgh starter Dock Ellis was forced to leave the second game after five innings with a pulled hamstring muscle, and the Phillies leaped into the lead when Willie Mon-tanez doubled in two runs off reliever Ramon Hernandez in in the sixth. But in the eighth, that margin disappeared in vhat three-run rally in the history of major-league baseball. "This is how the Pirates salvaged a sweep from what ap-pared a likely split: Al Oliver opened the eighth against Schueler by lining a double to left field.

Dave Parker stepped in and slammed the first pitch off the center-field fence for a triple. Rich Zisk ran to the plate and walloped Schuler's, next pitch into the lower deck in left field for the home run that brought victory to reliever Bruce Kigon. That dramatic reversal worked an obvious effect upon the thought processes of Phillies' manager Danny Ozark, who promptly came up with the year's shakiest analysis (See PHILLIES on 2-C) 1, 174) AMERICAN LEAGUE Sunday's Results Cleveland 9, Boston 2 Baltimore 3, New York 0 Milwaukee 4, Detroit 1, 1st UPtrOH MIIWriUKlie 4U Kansas City Oakland 7 Chicago Minnesota 3, 1st Minnesota Chicago 3 Texas California 2 Saturday's Results Boston 12, Cleveland 2 Milwaukee 9, Detroit Baltimore 2, New York 0 Chicago 4, Minnesota 3 Kansas City 2, Oakland 0 California (, Texas 3 Standinqs East Division Pet. Boston '1 32 .2 Baltimore 30 34 .521 Cleveland 30 34 .571 Detroit 38 34 .514 Milwaukee 34 35 .517 New York 35 39 .473 By BRUCE KEIDAN Inquirer Stall WritA PITTSBURGH "Yes We Can" is on the critical list. The Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday administered the last rites of the National League East.

Patiently piling up runs throughout the opening game of a Three Rivers Stadium double-header, the Pirates withstood a seven-run Phillies ninth inning to triumph, 11-8. Trailing by two runs in the nightcap, thev turned three successive Ron Schueler pitches into a 3-2 victory. Those markedly contrasting contests sent the slump-stricken Phillies stumbling into the month of July with a five-game losing streak. The Pirate sweep dropped the Phillies games off the pace of the Eastern Division-leading St. Louis Cardinals and plunged them into third place, half a percentage point behind the Montreal Expos.

It may be a trifle premature to write off the Phillies and "Yes We Can" for the season, especially in the unpredictable East, but all the evidence on display before a crowd of 25,730 in windy, overcast Three Rivers Stadium suggested a Phillies collapse. Consider: Steve Carlton started the Calendar Eas Oivision Pet. .541 .507 .507 .444 .431 34 34 37 40 41 40 35 33 31 St. Louis Montreal PHILLIES Pittsburgh Chicago New York West Division 2' i 3'i 4 Vj G.B- 2' J'J 3 I 10 44 30 .405 West Division G.B. Vi 7 I 10 G.B.

7' lOVi 14 If 20 Vj Pet. .539 .507 .504 .500 .432 .419 41 37 39 34 32 Oakland Kansas City Texas Chicago Minnesota Pet. .587 .500 .430 52 44 42 30 34 Los Angeles Cincinnati Atlanta Houston San Francisco 32 44 California Today's Games .420 San Diego 34 BASEBALL Chicago White Sox 'vs. Kansas City Royals. (TV Ch.

3. 1:15 P.M.) HARNESS RACING Atlantic City Raceway, Mays Landing, N.J., I P.M. Brantfywin Raceway Is dark tonight. LACROSSE PHILA. WINGS vs.

Toronto at Spectrum, a P.M. THOROUGHBRED RACING Liberty Bell Park, Knights and Wood-haven 1:30 P.M. (Radio WCAM-1310, 3:15 P.M., WTMR-MO, 5:15 P.M. and 5:45 P.M. Monmouth Park, Oceanport, N.J., 1 P.M.

Delaware Park is dark today. Perm National it dark toraght. Today's Games Boston (Lee 8-7) at Baltimore (Alexander 3-3), 7:30 P. M. Milwaukee (Wright 7-9 and ROdrl-guez 5-D at Cleveland (Peterson 5-4 and Bosman 0-6), 2, 5:30 P.

M. New York (Medich 0-6) at Detroit (Coleman 6-9), 8 P. M. Texas (J. Brown at Minnesota (Decker 0-6), 8:30 P.

M. Kansas City (Solittorff 87) at Chicago (BahJi5er 78), 9 P. M. Oakland (Hamilton 5-1) at C'Hlomia (Ryan 10-4), II P. M.

Chicaoo (Bonham 4-10) at Montreal (McAnallv 5-81, 8:05 P. M. Houston (Wilson 3-4) at Atlanta (Niek-ro 8-6), 7:35 P. M. (Only games scneduled) The Inquirer number for late scores is L03-2S42..

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Years Available:
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