The Indianapolis News from Indianapolis, Indiana • 28

Pft 28 THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS MjnJjy, May 20, 1974 500 Qualifying Goes To Court time will be extended until there is not a car, at the line properly presented for the first timo except that any extension shall end if it might interfere with preparation for the race." The outraged car owners feel this rule was not obeyed. However, the bone of contention is that the Vatis car No. 94 got into line for a second qualifying attempt and thus broke the line of continuity. Binford, who feels the Speedway will return to the old four-day format next year, first gave the complaining car owners until midday yesterday to get all 33 qualified car owners to sign an affidavit agreeing to reopen qualifications. Yesterday Binford extended this deadline 25 hours.

The cars left at the line were 19, 26, 30, 58, 74, 38, 63, 69, 76 and 86. Sammy Sessions in No. 30 was sitting with his engine roaring when the closing gun sounded. A beer bottle was hurled at the pistol shooter. Fans stood at the fence and shouted, "One more hour." Down at the line the squabble began.

Sessions sat in his car for 10 minutes before finally slowly pulling himself out. "No sense in making a big fuss," said the greying veteran. "It happens every year. The bad part is not getting a chance to get a crack at it." By DICK MITTMAN Attorney Don Tabbcrt was expected to apply for an injunction halting the running of next Sunday's 500-Mile Race as the battle be-tween the Speedway and unqualified car-owners continued at the Speedway today. Wright llugus a Connecticut lawyer representing at least four of the car-owners whose race cars did not get an opportunity to qualify last Saturday, said the decision to go to the court was made after the Speedway turned down two proposals to rectify the hassle.

"I said originally there would be no action taken to stop the race," Hugus said. "This was done in good faith, but because of the lack of any counter proposal by the Speedway and the fact it turned down both proposals we made, I have instructed Tabbert to begin legal action against the Speedway and the United States Auto Club." Hugus, who is a curly-haired attorney for the U.S. Olympic Skiing Team, is representing Richard E. Deutsch, entrant for the Roy Woods racing team; George Morris, Webster Racing and Carl Gehlhausen. All four had cars in line at 6 p.m.

Saturday when the gun sounded ending qualification. First a protest was filed with chief steward Tom Binfoid. It was denied, but then an alternate plan was offered by USAC Mat required llugus to get signatures from all 35 qualified car owners allowing qualifications to be reopened. "We obtained 24 signatures and agreements from seven others and one definite denial from Larry Cannon's car-owner," explained llugus. Cannon qualified his car in 33rd and last place at 173.963 miles per hour.

Hugus then went to the Speedway and vice-president Joe Clouthler with a proposal yesterday to allow a 12th row to be added to the starting field composed of the two alternates and a qualifier from the unqualified machines. This was denied so Hugus then madea second proposal in a 2-hour meeting with Cloutier this morning. "I asked that they let the six unqualified cars run and bump anyone in the field," Hugus said. "My client, Richard E. Deutsch, would endemnify all losses suffered by other car-owners and post a bond.

This was denied and I really don't know why." The rule reads: "If at all times during posted qualification time there has been a car at the line properly presented for qualification for its first time when posted qualifications ends, qualification 'WE CAN WIN IT' Veteran Learnin' No He's Hiss But Name 500 Champ: On the entry blank below, or a reasonable facsimile, name the driver you think will win this year's Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. Also enter his average speed, to the thousandths (three decimal points) of a MPH for 200 laps. If yours is the winning entry, you will receive $200! Only one entry per person is permitted. Employees of Indianapolis Newspaper, and their families are not eligible to enter. All entries must be received by The News by 12:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 25, 1974. By DICK DENNY Mike Hiss feels the memory of his first race for Roger Penske makes him better prepared for a higher finish in his second ride for the demanding owner who won the 1972 Indianapolis ENTER TODAY 500 with Mark Donahue. If the 32-year-old driver from Tustin, should improve just one position next Sunday from that first assignment, he will wheel his No. 68 Norton Spirit McLaren into Victory Lane at the Speedway. 500 Winner Will Be His Average Speed (To be used only as a tie-breaker) ms-AL J3M Hiss UPI Photo, Jim Sweikert Speedway decision not to extend qual Ifylng time left line of cars untested.

First Man Out Of Race clivity for nearly pluperfect race preparations, Hiss has developed a more positive attitude. "Your attitude changes when you join a team like the Penske outfit (which Hiss did in April after Peter Kevson was killed in South Africa)," he said. "It's got to. You've got a whole team effort and I'm definitely thinking winning. "It's not the driver who wins races, it's the whole team.

You look back at when Mario Andretti was winning everything. They had everything working as a team to make that happen. "That's why Penske is so successful. He thinks only of winning. That's why he's here, not to finish second.

He did everything right at Ontario in '72. It was my fault we didn't win." Hiss, who started 25th and 26th in his first two Indy races and finished seventh (he was rookie of the year in 72) and 17th, says inexperience cost him the California title. "It was a lack of experience on the restarts (after yellow-light situations when the field bunched up it doesn't happen that way at Indy)," he didn't anticipate them well enough and Roger McCluskey blew away from me." Hiss feels he has sufficient experience to battle such crafty veterans as A. J. Foyt, Wally Dallenbach, Gordon Johncock, Mario Andretti and Bobby Unser who surround him.

"A.J. or Bobby might pull a trick on mo out there I don't know about, but I doubt it. I don't pretend to know everything. I'll just try to do the best I can." "500" Contest Editor The Indianapolis News 307 N. Pennsylvania St.

Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 First Qualifying Name Address I Fuss In Remarkably calm and confident aft -er an almost impeccable qualifying effort Saturday that placed him on the outside of the first row with a four-lap average speed of 187.490 miles per hour, Hiss talked yesterday of his second-place finish in the 1972 California 500 and how Penske's stern words afterward should help in his third Indy race. "After the '72 Ontario race, where I drove for Roger and substituted for Gary Bettenhausen, instead of congratulating m'e for finishing second, Roger said, 'You should have won related Hiss. "He was absolutely right. I should have won. Frankly, I just blew it.

At the time I was upset, but as I look back I'd probably have less respect for Roger today if he had not said that." Respect is the key word in that last sentence. Because of the Penske pro I City Stale I Zip Telephone GASOLINE vfe ALLEY By WAYNE FUSON, Sports Editor CONTRARY to reports being circu-lated in the Speedway's Gasoline Alley yesterday, drivers and car owners haven't always been arguing about qualifying for the 500-Mile Race. Actually qualifying didn't start at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway until Reno's Favorite: A. J. RENO, Nev.

(AP) Pole-sitter A. J. Foyt is a 5-1 favorite to win the Indianapolis 500-mile auto race Sunday, the Reno Turf Club said today. The club also posted 5-2 place odds and 3-2 show odds on Foyt. Astros Down Peqple a gree 1915.

That's probably when the bickering started. But for the record, starting positions were assigned in order of entry in 1911 and 1912. In '13 and '14 drivers drew for starting positions the night before the race. The first time trials actually came in 1915. It was one lap then.

It was changed in 1916 to three laps but only the best of the three counted. The four lap trial in effect today started in 1920. It took 40 years or more, however, to decide how to keep from having the driver raise his hand while going at breakneck speed to signify that he was ready to qualify. This year the crew chief waved a green flag when he was ready, based, of course, on predecided agreement with the driver. But the arguments go on.

Now there are those who claim they didn't get a fair chance to qualify. The way progress in rules changes have been made at the Speedway, qualifying should be all smoothed out by about 2014. he bed But Not Out: Sparky HOUSTON (AP) -Cincinnati Reds' Manager Sparky Anderson says future opponents better not take Houston lightly despite the Astros' present miseries. Anderson commented yesterday after the Reds had whipped the Astros 7-1 and extended Houston's losing streak to nine games, one short of the team's all-time record. "Houston's personnel is too good for this to keep going i66oC qualified, and the slowest cars in back.

You know, fast to slow all the way. It not only would be fairer, but it'd be a heckuva lot safer, too. Now there's one more thing. Since Pete DePaolo, the 1925 winner, was in knee pants, they've been starting the 500 with the field lined up in 11 rows of three. Well, they've sorta been lined up in rows of three.

The cars are too wide for that action now, some people contend. So, why not start 'em in rows of two. Thirty-three is no magic number. There were years when there were 38, 40 and even 42 starters in the 500-Mile Race! There are three basic things to change: 1. Give everybody a chance.

2. Start 'em fast to slow. 3. Start in rows of two. Faces In The Crowd 7.

R. McCRARY, Firestone's racing chief, was all smiles after the final count of the field was in and showed 17 of the 33 starters were on Firestone tires. But LARRY. TRUES-DALE, Goodyear's racing chief, didn't feel too badiy. He had the entire front row A.J.

FOYT, WALLY DALLENBAUI and MIKE HISS There are seven rookies in the field, the fastest of whom is TOM SNEVA, who qualified in the middle of the third row at 185.147 There is only one really new car in the field. That's national champion ROGER McCLUSKEY'S No. 1 built by ROBERT RILEY Oh, yes. This is the first time in most observers memories that a front engine "roadster" didn't even make it to the Speedway. JIM HL'RTLBISE did enter his old Mallard roadster, but didn't bring it here.

He qualified a rear-engine car After an inspection tour yesterday, Speedway pro ROLLIE SCHROEDER and groundskeep-er WILLARD THOMAS declared the golf course unplayable so the race drivers' MIKE SULLIVAN Memorial tournament, which was much longer," Anderson said. "Things are just not going right for them. Somebody is going to pay for all this." Don Gullett pitched a five Men and women with ataste for the best neversay "Canadian" without saying "Club." Because they won't settle for less than the unique taste that distinguishes it from all other whiskies. A taste that never stops pleasing. In short ones before dinner, tall ones after-Canadian Club hitter in handing Houston its latest loss.

The Reds used three -run first inning to launch their eighth victory in the last 10 games, is perfect company all evening long. So discover C.C. tonight. Lifetime friends are rare. Tony Perez had a home run, a double and a single in leading the Cincinnati attack Mw.

KMmmjzs APPOlNTMEHt UItr (K (WWW V- luwiw Cmpm Cii HAW .1 on Houston starter Dave Rob It could be done easier and quicker, say, by next year. The four lap requirement is fine. So is the green flag waving by the crew chief. But from there on things should be changed. For one thing every entrant should get a shot at qualifying.

If a guy pays his $1,000 entry fee he should have a chance, by golly, if it takes until the morning of the race. One chance, mind you, and within reason. For instance, a guy couldn't keep stringing the officials on. But if the track were clear and he had the opportunity to go and didn't then it's tough luck. This wasn't the case this time, in spite of what you may hear.

Oh, technically, the officials are correct. But the point is arguable. Then there's the matter of who starts where. Now cars are lined up by speed by days. In other words the fast qualifiers on the first day line up first, but the rub is that the slow qualifiers the first day line up ahead of the fast second-day qualifiers.

Why not, to simplify things, let the fastest cars start in front, no matter what day they were erts and three relievers. "I felt strong all the way. I to hi Mjti'r ouun curifrn HilUiJ WALKIR A S0H3 LJMITC0 WALKUMILE. CANADA had all my pitches going for 9um to have been played today, was postponed until tomorrow This is A. J.

FOYT'S third time to start the 500 from the pole, but he never wen from the front spot. His victories came in 1901 (from seventh starting spot), 1064 (from fifth) and I9G7 (from fourth). me," said Gullett who struck out 10 and walked only one in boosting his record to 4-3. The only run Gullett allowed was Lee May's seventh home run of the season in the fourth inning. After Roger Mctzger led off the first inning with a single, Gullett allowed only a walk to Doug Rader until May hit his two-out homer in the fourth.

The other three Astros' hits were Tommy Helms' single in the fifth, Rader's single in the sixth and Bob Watson's single in the ninth. With the excep "4 This whisky is 6 years old USAC Log Shows Time ee a pnoof TffiHlHIIHU! The hassle over unqualified available for qualifications. opened 11:07, closed by rain at reopened r.t 3:39, closed by rain at 4:09. Total With 36 cars qualified, that tion of May's homer, Gullett 109 minutes. cars at the Speedway, which may result in an injunction against running the race next Sunday, appears to be a matter of simple arithmetic.

Saturday, May 13 Track allowed no Houston runner to figures out to an average of about 8 minutes each. USAC certified 51 cars as eligible to qualify. Time for qualifications came as follows: Saturday, May II Track According to the United 1 1UK 010. miWtO IN BOTTLE ffiOH CANADA tl HIRAM WAlKtff IMPOBTtRS DETTOIT. MICH.

86 8 PBOOf. BLMOCO CANADIAN opened for qualifying at 11:14, reach second base, closed by rain at re- Gullett said Houston is the opened at 4:20, closed at 6. kind of team "that can break Total 189 minutes. out any minute." States Auto Club log there total of 298 minutes was a.