The Indianapolis News from Indianapolis, Indiana • 20

Page 20 THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS Tuesday. May 7. 1985 Brayton works to keep pace Can'f gef behind at --ST 'iSV By DICK MITTMAN The Indionopolis News Scott Brayton calls himself "a darkhorse to run up front" in this years 500 Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 26 year-old Michigan native returns again with a Buick powered race car. veteran chief mechanic Jim Wright but with only one driver in the garage.

Him. Last year Brayton had journalist Patrick Bedard as a teammate. Both made the race at more than 200 miles per hour, but Bedard suffered a serious head injury in an accident and Brayton fell out with transmission problems after 150 laps, placing 18th. Brayton said this year he had to concentrate every working moment and sponsorship dollar on a one car effort. It's necessary, he says, to keep up with the burgeoning budgets of many of the teams.

"If you get behind at Indianapolis, you can't catch up," he said. With two cars, work on a blown engine, for instance, could be delayed a vital hour or two while the crew concentrated on the other machine. This could mean the difference of getting back on the track again that day or the next. "This year I have enough sponsorship money to give it my best shot with just me," he explained. "We'll see what comes out and whether we can hit a grand slam." Earlier this year Brayton took his car to New York for a press conference at a restaurant in Central Park.

He hoped to attract additional or a major sponsor, but didn't come out of it with anything intrinsic. "I wanted to familiarize people with who I was," he said, "and make them aware I was looking for a sponsor." Uncle to nephew Al Unser Jr. (left) listens to histtnele, three-time 500-Mile Roce winner Bobby Unser, during a meeting in the garage area at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Bobby retired from racing after winning in 1981. Al however, in the 500 starting field.

The is seeking his third starting spot News Photo, John Gentry. John Paul Jr. puts troubles behind him i b. Li U) 'LET'S GO i I I FISHING 1 1 PISHING1 viv Marriage Sullivan's Continued from Page 17 zation to the Roger Penske stable this season, Sullivan began the year with a third place finish at Long Beach. "Everybody has got their own life and lifestyle and what makes them happy and comfortable should be sufficient for the other person," said Sullivan, who got up to 207.277 mph Monday in his March-Cosworth.

"You should like me for what I am and not what you want me to be. "If they've got a problem with it I can't do anything about it. I just know I dont't knock other people for their habits or what they are or how they treat the press. That's their business." Sullivan was born in where his family remains, but now has homes in Apsen, and Los Angeles. In his spare time he skis, plays squash, tennis and racquetball, lifts weights, reads, cooks, watches The Indianapolis News Shoving aside the aura of the Speedway and legal problems involving his father, John Paul Jr.

has set his sights on winning the 500-Mile Race. Although Sherman Armstrong had contacted Paul about replacing the withdrawn Willy T. Ribbs a week ago, Paul was officially named the driver of Armstrong's No. 43 March Monday. The Muncie-born driver came to the Speedway as a very promising rookie two years ago but was sidelined by leg injuries in an accident in practice.

Later that season, however, he became the first rookie (since Ray Harroun won the first Indianapolis 500) to win a 500 mile race when he took the checkered flag at the Michigan 500. Last May his car was uncompetitive and his team folded the day after qualifying ended. Although Paul is still considered a rookie at the Speedway, he feels he has an edge on most freshmen drivers at the Speedway. "I think I have a win the race," he stated. "I know what it takes to go 500 miles, whereas some of the other rookies really don't know what is involved mentally much less physically.

"Basically it takes concentrating on the job at hand. This place is a real head game with all of the history and the hoopla and you just have to put all of that behind you and concentrate." Paul has a little more to distract him than just the hoopla surrounding the 500. He was indicted in Florida on drug charges mainly relating to his father and has a federal court date June 3.. 1 John Sr. had fled the country after being accused of trying to kill an informant.

He was finally located in Switzerland. The U.S government wants John Jr. to testify against his father and he refuses. Paul has tried to block out his legal problems as much as posible. "Being able to drive in the IMSA series, I managed to get a hold of my emotions and concentrate on the job at hand which is trying to do the best job and earn a living," said fc i speeaway 4 50011 Brayton I I -v; The sponsors he does have include Dreisbach Son Cadillac, SME Cement and Protecta Liner.

He says he needs to expand his budget to keep pace with the bigger teams. Racing, he says, has become a year round project. If a team is unable to improve its design and test, it falls behind. "We are a lot better prepared than we were last year," Brayton said, "due to the fact McLaren ran the engine in IMSA." The Coldwater, resident said speeds approaching 215 miles per hour are "awfully fast." But Tie said he believes his new March is a better car than last year's model. He said this makes the speed advance deceiving because it's easier to reach those higher speeds than it was to make 207 in 1984.

"An added 4 mph doesn't make the difference whether a person lives or dies," he said. "These cars are a lot safer." Brayton said he thinks he has the best combination of car and crew in his five years at lndy. And he believes he just may have the experience to make a good shot at qualifying near the front. "Everytime you run one of these things, you learn something." not in future movies and rides motorcycles and snowmobiles. "I was in the restaurant business for awhile and my father is a gourmet cook," Sullivan said of his interest in cooking.

"There's a certain kind of peace to cooking. You have to concentrate on it and it is so far removed from anything else I do." For the moment, marriage is on the backburner for Sullivan. "The divorce rate is pretty high in this business," Sullivan noted. "It's tough on relationships. Racing is just part of it.

The sponsorship commitments keep me on the road a lot, too. "Sponsors don't just want to pay their millions to the team and not get more out of it. It's part of the deal. They are actually writing it into the contracts now 'you will make number of 'Sure, it's tiring. It would be nice if I could just go out there and win races and lay in bed and do nothing, but it doesn't work that way." NBA playoffs The series started with Utah's 7-foot 4 defensive star, Mark- Eaton, out with torn knee ligaments.

But the injury lists have evened out. The Nuggets' Dan Issel played Sunday although his right ring finger was in a plastic cast. He sank a crucial 22-foot bank shot in the final minute, putting Denver ahead by three points. Issel is listed as probable for Game 5, but point guard Lafayette Lever is out. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Monday night and a team spokesman said he would be sidelined seven-to-10 days even if no major damage was found.

Lever had been a standout, averaging 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the first three games before he hyperextended his left knee at the close of Game 3. Rookie Willie White will start in his place. Portland stayed alive Sunday night with a 115107 victory over the Lakers, their first loss in seven playoff games. "It's win a game so we have a chance to win another," guard Jim Paxson said. "One thing that impresses you about the Lakers is that they bounce back quickly." The Lakers have won 21 straight games the Forum.

The Trail Blazers forced 28 Los Angeles turnovers Sunday with a surprise trapping defense. "We haven't been trapped in a while and we didn't do a good job handling it, but we'll be ready next time," said Michael Cooper, who turned the ball over nine times. by George Tilford The News Outdoor Writer fX 11 All Hoosier anglers rod and reel in hand in pursuit of game fish will want this valuable sourcebook. Written by The News veteran outdoor writer George Tilford, this 1985 edition contains: Jazz hoping raps won't play tonight maps and information for 36 of the finest fishing spots in Indiana camping guide chart with information on parks and recreation areas operated by the state fish identification chart up-to-date listing of fishing regulations, seasons and limits official state list of record fish caught by Hoosier anglers i- information on boat rentals, marinas and launching ramps location of bait shops at major lakes Speeds climb fast who take The News public service N. Pennsylvania Street.

handy coupon to order for just $4.25 (includes for postage and handling and 20o sales tax). State Zip (Price includes'Nw 14 tax) John Paul Jr. Paul, who is out on a $125,000 bond and is not allowed to discuss the trial. "I don't really worry about it (the trial) too Paul wasn't actively seeking a ride at Indianapolis but became interested when Armstrong contacted him at the Riverside Grand Prix a week ago to fill Ribbs' spot. "Willy did the right thing," said Paul of Ribbs' withdrawal.

"I went through the same thing. "When you enter the turns here and get down into the apex, your mind goes, woe, if something breaks you are going to be history. You have to get past that mental barrier. You have to get your foot to stay down. "Once you can do that, it's easier." ZACH DUNKIN teams we haven't heard from, like Penske and A.J.

Foyt. "And when you do it now (post the top speed of the day) it's more of an accomplishment. It's not like five or six years ago when only three or four teams could win. "Penske has done a great many things, but he's not the only one out here with the desire to win. There are other owners here just as eager to win, the Jim Truemans, Rick Galleses and Doug Shiersons.

"They're not here just to have fun and lose money. It's a business and they're here to win." Dick Simon's 209.302. fastest speed the first day of practice, was the only first-day figure to remain on the top 10 list. Joining him on the speed chart were Danny Ongais at 209.253, Josels Garza 207.804, Pancho Carter 207.421, Danny Sullivan 207.277 and Bill Whittington 207.086. Randy Lanier, who passed his rookie test Sunday, was asked by USAC to get more experience.

"I'm disappointed," he said. "My team and I have made a determined effort to be patient and take things slowly, to learn as much out of each practice session as possible. "If, in our efforts to be conservative, we have not lived up to the expectations of officials or competitors, we are truly sorry. I certainly agree that I need more experience with open-wheel cars on ovals, and I'm going to get it and come back next year to be in the 500." On sale now at 307 Or use this by mail $1 .1 9 Let's Go Fishing The Indianapolis News P.O. Box 145 Indianapolis, IN 46206 The Associated Press There's only one way to overcome a 31 disadvantage in a best-of-seven series, says Utah Coach Frank Layden.

Take it one game at a time. "I don't think you look at three games," Layden said before meeting the Denver Nuggets tonight in Game 5 at McNichols Arena. "You look at one. You go there and try to win one. Then they have to come back here (to Salt Lake City) and you try to win one game.

You can't start wishing your life away, thinking of three games." The Jazz, whose rally from 24 points behind the Nuggets fell short in the final minute Sunday night, will be eliminated from the Western Conference semifinals if they lose again. "We're in a hole and there are only two things we can do," said forward Thurl Bailey. "Get out of it or go home. And we don't want to go home yet. Tonight's other Western Conference semifinal has Portland at Los Angeles to meet the Lakers, who lead the series 31.

On Wednesday, Detroit is at Boston. The winner of that series, tied at 2-2, faces Philadelphia, a 4-0 winner over Milwaukee, in the Eastern Conference finals. The Denver-Utah series could also have been tied 22 as the Jazz reduced a 6238 Denver lead to one point with 30 seconds remaining. was a great game for us," Nuggets Coach Doug Moe said. "Naturally, when you're up 31 you feel pretty good but you can't relax.

It takes four games to win. Also, if we do advance to the next round, we need some rest. We'd certainly like to finish it Tuesday." Continued from Page 17 said Johnson candidly. "The last three days we struggled with the turbo. We thought the gauge was goofy.

We tried everything to straighten it out. "Finally I touched the gauge and it stopped vibrating. We had been unable to get an accurate reading of the manifold and for three days we tried to get around it." -'Actually, the manifold pressure was 3 inches low and after Johnson steadied the gauge with a touch, all the crew had to do was increase the power. Bingo, a speed that enabled Herm to exclaim, "I'll be able to sleep tonight." Guerrero, who doesn't seem to be bothered by the proverbial sophomore jinx, drove his Bignotti-Cotter March-Cosworth at a speed of 209.643 and stated, "Everybody can go quickly very easily. "The cars are so good we're all going to be faster.

It's whoever can get the best out of the cars the next four or five days," added last year's co-rookie of the year. Guerrero's second place finish in 1984 "obviously puts a little more pressure on me. People didn't expect much of me last year. I can only improve one place this year and that gets harder." Rahal likes the fierce competition. "It will get even more intense," he declared.

"There are many good Please send copy(ies) of "Let's Go at $4.25 each (price includes $1.19 for postage and handling and sales tax). Enclosed is my check payable to The Indianapolis News for Name Address City THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS.