The Indianapolis News from Indianapolis, Indiana • 35

Thursday, fun 28, 1973 THE INDIANAPOLIS NIWS Pag 35 Pocono Pits To Be Busy Place In Sundays Race Hi other drivers expressed concern about the low miles per gallon-versus-supply problem. A month ago at Indianapolis, the drivers were allowed to carry 75 gallons on board, evenly divided in tanks on either side of the car. They were allowed another 275 gallons in But the United States Auto Club, reacting quickly to flaming crashes that claimed the life of driver Art Pollard and critically injured drivers "Swede" Savage and "Salt" Walther, adopted new rules that cut the overall supply of fuel by 25 gallons and ordered that the on-board 40 gallons be carried only on the left side of the machine. The left side theory developed when research showed right side tanks were more likely to explode or ignite when hit. "That new rule added at least four pit stops to the number we normally would make, so that now we'll probably have to stop about 12 or 13 times if we go the distance," McCluskey said.

He added, "If I were a fan I'd pay the top admission price for a seat along pit road. That's where the action is going to be, and that's where the race will be won or lost." By BLOYS BRITT MOUNT POCONO, Pa. (AP) How would you like to start out on a 500-mile journey, knowing your car would give you only about 60 miles on a 40-gallon tank of fuel. You'd probably stay home. Thirty-three drivers will start the Pocono 500-Mile championship auto race Sunday in cars that are limited to 40 gallons in their tanks, 300 more in reserve tanks in their pits, and with an engine that at best gets only about 1.8 miles to the gallon.

"You're going to see the darndest procession of gas stops in the history of racing," predicted 42-year-old Roger McCluskey of Tucson, Ariz. "It'll look like a line of cars backed up on the freeway trying to get to the only gas station open on Sunday." McCluskey should know. He won the California 500-mile race at Ontario, last September with all the fuel gone from his pit tank and only about two gallons left in his car. McCluskey starts the $374,650 Pocono from 16th position. He says his Lindsay Hopkins-owned McLaren gets no more than two miles per gallon of fuel "even under the best conditions." The 33 starters for the No.

2 race in the United States Auto Club's "Tri ple Crown" of 500 milers were given a four hour session on the 2' mile Pocono International Raceway yesterday afternoon to check fuel consumption and tire wear. It was the last time they'll be allowed on the course until the cars are rolled out for Sunday's noon start. The other jewels in racing's "Triple Crown'' are the Indianapolis 500 and the California 500. Earlier, the last six positions in the field were decided in a special qualifying round, necessitated when rain cut short last Sunday's time trials. Dick Simon, a 39-year-old Salt Lake City businessman, drove his Eagle four laps at a speed average of 180.054 miles per hour to earn the 28th starting position.

Simon's speed, though the best of yesterday's six qualifiers, was more than 10 m.p.h. off the pole-winning speed of 190.648 posted by Peter Rev-son in a McLaren last Saturday. Rev-son's speed was a track record. The speed average of the 33 starters figured out to 183.559 m.p.h., compared with 177.338 last year and 165.499 for the inaugural Pocono in 1971. That's a jump of more than 18 m.p.h.

in three years. It is because of this escalation in lap speeds that McCluskey and the This muMiple exposure picture shows young David Cryde in pitching motion against Twins. UPI. Clyde Wide, Then Twins Died McGinnis Pays With Autographs By LARRY FORTNER So there was big George McGinnis toolin' through Noblesville, his "Queen Mary" in tow after a day of boating on Clyde, who pitched nine no-hitters in high school, will start again Monday night against the Chicago White Sox. "I couldn't be more elated," said Rangers' manager i Herzog.

"He's so mature I don't think one victory will go to his head. This boy just might be able to cope with success." Twins' manager Frank Quilici added, "I thought he did a heck of a job for the amount of pressure he had on him. He didn't let things get him down. He just kept challenging the hitter." Clyde said, "I think I can pitch in the major leagues now. But if they still want to sent me down to the minors, that's okay, too." Fat chance, David, is the way Rangers' pitching coach Chuck Estrada sees it.

"This kid -will' get better and better just the way he won it out there tonight is most impressive," Estrada said. I "I was lucky they didn't kill me," Clyde said. "I was nervous and wild the start, but those three consecutive strikeouts in the first inning gave me the confidence I needed." Mike Adams hit his first major league homer off Clyde in the second. "Well, I knew I was going to give up one sooner or later in the big leagues," Clyde said. "Only 1 didn't think it would be that soon." He retired nine consecutive batters in one stretch to get credit for the victory with relief help from Bill Go-golewski.

However, Clyde walked seven. "I was in awe when I walked out there," said Clyde, the No. 1 free agent pick who asked for and received the same number worn by former Los Angeles Dodgers' great Sandy Koufax. Among those in awe of Clyde was American League president Joe Cro-nin, who said, "Maybe this is God's way of bringing major league baseball to Dallas-Fort Worth." By DENNE FREEMAN ARLINGTON, Tex. (AP) Once No.

32 shook off the nervousness that gave him fits of stomach trouble before the game and caused his bullet fast ball to sail off mark, young David Clyde flashed the form last night that made him worth every penny of his $100,000 bonus. Clyde, an 18-year-old schoolboy just graduated from Houston Westchester High School, allowed only one hit and struck out eight Minnesota batters in his major league debut as the Texas Rangers downed the Twins, 4-3, before a sellout crowd cf 35,698. The left-hander walked the first two batters and thought, "Good Lord, here it is the first inning and I'm not going to get anybody out They're just gonna rip Then Clyde struck out Bob Darwin, George Mitterwald and Joe Lis to a thunderous ovation from the fans, who've had precious little to shout about in the Rangers' two years in north Texas. it. It's just an ol' and trailer had been duly registered and licensed, but McGinnis had failed to put the tag on the trailer.

So he was instructed to return at a later date which he missed, even though he did have the license bureau verify his trailer's registration and license. But because he had missed 'a court appearance in Noblesville, the "sentence" meted out when he showed up two days later was that he had to sign autographs for two hours. "Yeah, I did sign a few autographs," he confirms. And with that episode ended, he took off for the Bahamas and a stint of skin- diving. He excels at that, too, according to reports.

Morse Reservoir, when a member of the local constabulary spotted an McGinnis, it seems, didn't have a license plate on his boat trailer. So the policeman, ignorant of McGinnis' real identity (he's not your every-day pleasure boater, but real McGinnis Ken Griffey-No. 1 in thefts. Indians May Set Theft Mark ly one of pro basketball's brightest stars), proceeded to award the Indiana Pacer with the appropriate citation. Car, boat don't have a name for STIFFER PENALTIES NEEDED By LESTER KOELLING If your memory goes back to 1948 you will recall that this town was all agog over the base-stealing antics of the Indianapolis Indians.

Fengler To Call It Quits? That's Unfair Question' a mrmi it By DICK MITTMAN Harlan Fengler, the controversial chief steward of the 500-Mile Race, when asked today if he has plans to resign his job, said: "That's an unfair question." He wouldn't elaborate on his future at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where he has been the chief official for 16 years even though he has personally been criticized throughout the country in light of the rain-delayed and accident marred race. On this, the one-month anniversary of the aborted Fengler Fans were in a frenzy when Jack Cassini, Ted Beard and Tom Saffell were on base. They were running wild and the Indians stole almost 100 bases that year. Cassini was the individual leader with 33. Those marks have been surpassed many times in the years that followed with the Indians leading the league in eight of the last 11 American Association years.

They went as high as 138 in 1960 and again in 1961. The late Chico Ruiz swiped 44 in 1961 for a league high. The Indians may not reach those marks this year, but they're going to come mighty close. During the Tribe's shocking 7-4 and 4-2 defeat at the hands of Oklahoma City last night, Ken Griffey stole two bases for a season total of 17 and he has missed more than two weeks of the season while in military duty. The Indians as a team have a total of 61 thefts, by far the best mark in the leaque, and with more than half of the schedule yet to be played, could reach the 1960-61 totals although playing a 136-game schedule now as compared to the 154 games of those years.

Not too far behind Griffey is Joel Youngblood with 12 thefts and then comes Ed Armbristcr with seven. Of course, you can't steal if you don't get on base, and that was the Tribe's problem last night when the 89ers won their first twin bill of the season. The Indians managed only six hits in the first game I tell Pat (starter Pat Vidan) to let them go just before the green light near the entrance to the pits. You have to let them know in advance. But when the flag drops, the situation changes.

"The start the last day (May 30) was pretty good. There was all this talk, but nothing went wrong. This jumping the flag has been going on for years. This is a contest, but I'll never understand why they want to win it in the first turn. "The thing on Salt Walther came after the green flag dropped.

I haven't seen anything, in films or pictures, that convinced me anybody touched him. He just veered to his right." Fengler, who drove in the 1923 500, said he has received "very few" letters and no phone calls despite the outcry of criticism in the media, much of it aimed at him. "I only got one letter that was really bitter," he said. As to the criticism, he says, "It doesn't bother me." "I heard things that people were absolutely hysterical," he continued. "Some fellow I don't even know was saying in the paper that the race had 'it's usual This is untrue.

"This is the easy way. Who in the hell is the press? It doesn't have anything to do with the running of the race. I don't feel anyone who runs anything of this magnitude should be influenced by the press. "How do you deny you are 70 years old?" he added in reference to' many comments about he and other officials being too old. Fengler is in the midst of writing his report on the race.

Although he didn't want to elaborate on what he planned to say, he did indicate the drivers are more Interested in the lights than the starter's flag. He also indicated there has been no flagging of interest in the race itself. "I've never had so many people want tickets for next year," he concluded. mi geE a goodl deal mre first start of the 500, the 71-year-old Fengler suggested instead that possibly the starting alignment of the race field could be better contained if the chief steward had authority to levy stiffer penalties on drivers who try to cheat on the start. "Maybe it would help," he said by phone from his New London, Ohio, home, "if the chief steward could impose a stiffer penalty." Under the current rules, Fengler is allowed to fine drivers who move out position before they reach the starting line only $100.

A. J. Foyt, Peter Revson and Steve Krisiloff were handed such fines for being out of line at the start. Foyt's only comment was, "I don't care about it." Fengler suggested to Dick King, USAC chief steward, further penalties be assessed. USAC hasn't acted.

"All the drivers have to do is go up where they belong and behave themselves," said Fengler. "Obviously, people are going to criticize the chief steward, no matter who he is. "When I take a look at the field and at the time I say they are ready to go, they are ready to go, but then it changes. AMERICAN MOTORS BUYER PROTECTION PLAN 1. A simple, strong guarantee.

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"Actually," the commissioner said, "the drug ubu.se program we have now is an ongoing one. We will enlarge on It to some degree. In what direction, I don't know." Based on two meetings with Rep. llarley O. Staggers of West Virginia, chairman of a special House subcommittee probing alleged use of drugs In professional sports, Kennedy told ch.b owners that the league already had met "several" of Staggers' requests, which were made to all pro sports.

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