The Indianapolis News from Indianapolis, Indiana • 15

turday. May 5, 1990 THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS A-15 Mears: Teammate Fittipaldi good to work with GKnnSV Walther not up for rookie award What la it going to take to win the pole for the 500? I'm terrible at guessing numbers. Last year I missed my own speed by a bunch. But if the basic question is whether we will go faster or slower this year. I answer It this way: During testing earlier this year when I ran 221 mph.

It was very cool but windy. We had the car buttoned down a little because it was so windy, but I believe that if qualifying day conditions were about the same, our speed would be the same. If I had the ability to predict the weather. I might be In a position to say, but I can't. What's more important yon, winning the pole or winning the Race? The Dayton, Ohio, driver must complete two more phases of the test and then drive 10 laps above 200 mph before he Is eligible to make a qualifying attempt.

If he makes the Race, his 1 1 years between starts will not be a record. Roland Free drove to 20th In the 1930 Race, then didn't make the field again until 1947 when he finished 17th. Those were his only two Races. Argentinian driver Raoul Ri-gantl drove In the 1923. 1933 and 1940 Races.

DICK MITTMAN The Indianapolis News David "Salt" Walther Is not eligible for the annual rookie of the year award If he makes this year's 500-Mile Race field. Walther last drove in the Race In 1979. He went through rookie orientation last week, but he was taking a USAC refresher test as all drivers do who are away from the Speedway for several years. Walther. 42.

drove in eight Races in the 1970s. In 1973. he was Involved In a frightening crash on the main straightaway at the start and suffered severe burns. Sloppy punches golden, effective for local boxer I always say we have two races here in May. the one for the pole and the one for the Race.

I try to win each one in turn. By far the toughest Is winning the pole, because the car has to be absolutely perfect, and so do you. You have only four laps, the longest four laps of your life, and you have to take every corner perfectly. If you mess up Just one corner, you're history, as far as the pole is concerned. As for the Race, you have all day to make the car right.

There Isn't the same pressure to make every corner exactly perfect. You can play with the car and plan ahead. You have the team to rely on, making pit stops and In case some little thing goes wrong. The race Itself Is a lot easier to run than those four laps. 1990, race officials called the car where some A- to 1990 Sim VandarboKhTlM Indanapoas Nawa down." he said.

"Yes. It will slow them down." He said the rule was approved last year, and the majority voted for it. -ftt17 ayir naag yz I 1 i Continued from A-1 it was apparent from the results of the first practice session that we were nowhere near where we ought to be. So with three drivers, we set out in three different directions to try different setups. By doing that we found what we were looking for quickly, and by the time we qualified for the race, all three of us were in the run for the pole.

Emmo wound up just missing It, and Danny and I were right behind him by just hundredths of a second. I find Emmo. who is the new one on the team, very good to work with. Our thinking about the car is very much the same. And it's well known that Danny and I have had an especially good relationship since he came to the team In 1985.

to stay The Indianapolis News An attempt by five car owners to eliminate the air diffuser on pre-1990 race cars for the 500-Mile Race has been turned down by the United States Auto Club and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The diffuser is two-inch metal stripping attached at the rear of the tunneling under the car. It Is Intended to alter the airflow beneath the car, lessen the ground force and slow the cars down. The same diffuser is built Into the 1990 cars, but engineers used wind tunnel tests and discovered how to Incorporate it In the chassis so as not to diminish the ground force. In the first two races, It was proved the older cars are slower.

"We just don't have a reason to change the rule," said Dick King, president, of USAC. Dick Simon, who Is running both a i 1990 and said Diffuser By JIMMIE ANGELOPOLOUS The Indianapolis News Indianapolis pro boxing promoter Fred Berns says Chad Wright, one of Indiana's Golden Gloves fighters, throws "sloppy, dopey-looking, off-angle punches." So Berns must think Wright, an 18-year-old Manual High School senior at 165 pounds, will become one of Indiana's easy victims In next week's national championships in Miami. Not so. "Wright." Berns points out. "is an unbelievable version of Champ Chaney (Wright's trainer at Indy PAL).

Wright throws those slow, sloppy, mushball-punches. His hands are not where they're supposed to be but he's very effective. That's how he beat Lanford (defending champ Stuart Lanford. 4-1). "This kid has had only about eight or nine fights.

He's one of the hardest workers I've seen. He may not win much in the nationals but wait until he gets experience." A year ago, Indiana's open fighters. led by 147-pound champ Matt Steadham, won only three fights In Knoxvllle, Tenn. But Berns believes Indiana will perform creditably In some weights beginning Monday. Chaney.

67. says: "That kid (Wright) is something else." How will the other 10 Hoo-siers fare? Berns contends a lot depends on the draw. Indiana's lack of open-division experience belles Its potential in at least three weights. Only three-time 156-pound champ Joe McKlnney of Evans-vllle will vie In Miami after fighting for the state title last week. Jeremiah McNeal of Sarge Johnson (112 pounds) and Ellsworth Paul of Terre Haute (119 pounds) had no tourney opponents, and two-time champ Mlckle Orr (139 pounds) had a walkover.

Entering their first national tournament are super-heavyweight Hobart Combs of Muncie. and Indy PAL's Alfonzo Fowler (132 pounds). school soccer High (Backup cars carry T-deaignations) No. Ctt-Endne 1 Emtraon Fittipaldi '90 2 Rick Maara '90 Pantka-Chavrolat 3 Michaal Andratti '90 Lola-Chav. 4 Tao FaM "90 March-Porache 5 Al Unaar Jr.

-90 Lola-Chevrolet Mario Andratti 90 Lola-Chavrolet 7 Danny Sullivan "90 Panake-Chev. Rich Vogter 88 Panska-Buick Tom Snava 89 Panaka-Buick 10 No Drivar t9 LoU-Judd 11 Okflar Thaya t9 Panaka-Buick Randy Lewia "88 Panaka-Buick 14 A J. Foyt 90 Lola-Chavrolat Jim Crawford "89 Loia-Buick 16 Tonv Battenhauaan 89 Loli-Suick 17 Johnny Rutherford '89 Lola-Coaw. Bobby Rahal '90 Lola-Chevrolet 19 Raul Boeaal '89 Lola-Judd 20 Roberto Guerrero 89 March-Alfa 11 Geotf Brabham '89 Lola-Judd 22 Scott Brayton "90 LoU-Cotworth 23 Tare Paimroth "90 Lola-Coworth 25 r-Eddie Cheever ti Panake-Chev. 27 No Driver 90 Lola-Chevrolet 28 r-Scott Goodyear '90 Lola-Coaw.

29 Pancho Carter '90 Lola-Coaworth 30 Aria Luyandyk '90 Lola-Chevrolet 31 No Driver "89 Lola-Judd 33 A J. Foyt "90 Lola-Chevrolet 37 No Driver "90 Peneke-Chevrolet 39 r-0aan HaH TO Lola-Coaworth 10 Al Unaar 90 March-Alfa Romeo 41 John Andratti "90 March-Porache rafl Wood 89 47 No Driver '89 Peneke-Chevrolet "87 Lola-Coaworth '90 Lola-Coaworth '89 Lola-Buick Unlisted-Chevy '89 Loia-Coiwortft '89 March-Porsche 88 Lola-Buick "89 Lola-Judd 48 No Driver 50 r-Mike Grofl 51 No Driver 52 No Driver 56 Rocky Moran 58 no Driver 60 No Driver 66 No Driver 69 Bernard Jourdain 89 Lola-Buick 70 No Driver '89 Penske-Suick 71 No Driver '89 Lola-Judd 77 Salt Walther '87 Penake-Coaworth 81 Billy Vukovich III '88 Lolt-Buick 84 No Driver It March-Chavy 86 Dominic Dobaon "90 Lola-Coaworth 87 No Driver '90 Lola-Coiworth 68 No Driver "90 Lota-Chevrolet 91 r-Buddy Lazier 88 Lola-Judd 92 No Driver 88 Merch-Buick 93 No Driver Unliated-Buick 95 Eddie Cheever '69 Panake-Chev. 96 Stave Chaaaey '87 Lola-Buick 7 Stan Fox '67 Lola-Buick J8 r-Jeff Andrew '89 Lola-Cosworth 99 No Driver '87 Lola-Buick v-1-Rookie fins CHART Sec MPH Sec. MPH 212.77 213.27 213.78 214.29 214.79 215.31 215.83 216.35 216.87 217.32 217.92 218.45 218.98 "219.51 220.05 220.59 221.13 221.67 222.22 222.77 223.22 223.88 224.44 225.00 225.56 226.13 226.70 227.27 227.85 228.43 229.01 229.59 230.18 230.77 :45.7 :45.6 :45.5 45.4 :45.2 196.93 197.36 197.80 198.23 198.67 199.11 199.55 200.00 200.44 200.89 201.34 201.79 202.24 202.70 203.16 203.62 204.08 204.54 205.01 205.47 205.95 206.42 206.89 207.37 207.85 208.33 208.81 209.30 209.79 210.28 210.77 211.27 211.77 212.26 :42.3 :42.2 :42.1 :42.0 :41.9 :41.8 541.7 :41.6 :41.5 :41.4 :41.3 :41.2 :41.1 :41.0 :40.9 :40.8 :40.7 :40.6 :40.5 :40.4 :40.3 :40.2 :40.1 :40.0 :39.9 :39.8 :39.7 :39.6 :39.5 :39.4 :39.3 :39.2 :39.1 :39.0 :44.9 ft "144.7 :44.6 J44.5 :44.4 :44.3 :44.2 :44.1 :44.0 :43.9 ,43.8 543.7 43.6 43.3 T43.2 :43.1 :42.8 :42.7 :42.4 TRACK FACTS DAILY TIMES May 5-11. 14-18, track opens 9 a.m., practice 11 a.m.

until 6 p.m. QUALIFYING May 12: Gates open 7 a.m., practice a.m., qualifying, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. May 13: Gates open 9 a.m., practice qualifying 12-6 p.m. May 19: Gates open 9 a.m., practice, qualifying 11-6 p.m. May 20: Gates -open 9 a.m., practice qualifying 12-6 p.m.

CARBURETION DAY May 24. RACE May 27, gates open 5 a.m., Race at 11. TICKETS Practice $2, qual ifying $5, Race general admis sion 19. QUALIFYING RECORDS Rick Mears, 1989: One lap, 224.254 mph; four laps, 2Z3.BB5. DEFENDING CHAMPION Emerson Fittipaldi.

CAR Chevrolet Ben etta convertible. 500 QUIZ 1. In 1926, the Race was stopped after 400 miles by rain. What happened early in the Race? a. fire in garages brought out red flag; b.

rain caused 70-minute suspension; accident blocked track. "2. Bill Vukovich set a Race record In 1954. Who set a quali fying record? a. Jack McGrath; o.

jimmy Bryan; c. Troy mm-man. 3. How many laps did Emer son Fittipaldi complete in the last two Races? a. 200; b.

297; 399. ANSWERS A-1. 3. a. 1990 500-Mile Race Record Book Please send copy(ies) of The News 500-Mile Race Record Book at $4.20 each (price includes $1.51 for postage and handling and 20 sales tax).

Enclosed is checkmoney order for Name 1 a-a Address Oty State In an attempt to reduce speeds in for a design change in the rear of of the ground enacts occur. In order to upgrade a 1989 car specifications, deflector waa added. the rules do not prevent smoothing out the area where the diffuser is attached so the air continues on its normal path. "It takes more than bolting It continues So does this evoke a yawn? Not from Crosslin. "It isn't a state championship." Crosslin said.

"But It's something. We're 6-2. Our game with Center Grove is probably the key game." Ben Davis has four seniors, five juniors. 12 sophomores and two freshmen. One freshman.

Trinity Hines, was a kicker for the undefeated Fulton Junior football team last fall. Fullback Dave Riegel is another good player. Crosslin believes the solution Is fall soccer. "I think that would be best for all. but small schools who use players in two or three sports would be hurt," he said.

"I think it will take at least two more years to resolve it The soccer people don't want to give in." Nor will the IHSAA. which has 389 schools with boys and girls sports teams competing in two seasons. Recognizing the deep-rooted, international evolution of club soccer, Carmel coach Pete Kap-salls said. "There are some egos involved." Kapsalls believes most schools with good fall programs could still play soccer In the fall. Carmel's boys won the state title In 1985 and 1987.

"The fall might be the best time." said Kapsalis. "The IHSAA doesn't care, as long as the schools help decide which Is best. It's a process of education." Soccer, Kapsalls said. Is not a major financial burden. He said a player can be outfitted for little more than $100.

JIMMIE ANGELOPOLOUS Summer Squall position for Summer Squall might be a problem. But not trainer Nell Howard. He was worried at first, but he was consoled by fellow trainer Wayne Lukas. "The dangerous horses are down Inside of me." said Howard, "where the Jock can keep track of them." Lukas probably was the most quoted trainer at Churchill. He's a former high school basketball coach (and a friend of Indiana University's Bob Knight).

Lukas compared this Derby field to a "pressing" basketball team. "There are a lot of nifty, clever horses In this race who can stop and start well and cover a lot of ground." The threat of an off track was a real threat to Lukas' own three-horse entry, Land Rush, Real Cash and Power Lunch. The Indianapolis News P.O. Box 145 Indianapolis, IN 46206-0145 Please make check or money order payable to: The Indianapolia News Zp Ha at aa This handy nocket-size ru i rPTRrence cavers everv w.w.w important statistic and record-breaking fact about each Indianapolis race since 1911. stalemate 'The Indianapolis Newt Soccer enthusiasts might call it soccer's spring blahs that Interlude between the non-sanctioned fall and spring high school soccer seasons.

Ben Davis High School soccer coach Rick Crosslin calls it the "alternate season." Whatever its name, the fragmented boys' spring soccer season might bring a yawn. Why? Because no one has been able to end the soccer stalemate Involving various soccer groups, Indiana's schools and the Indiana High School Athletic Association. Ben Davis Is among 11 schools playing In the Indiana-polls Area Soccer League. Because of an IHSAA ruling, Ben Davis and other IASL teams can't play next fall In the Indiana High School Soccer Association state tournament. That tournament Included 73 boys teams and 21 girls' teams In 1989 when Evansville Memorial won both titles.

The IHSAA doesn't allow dual-season participation in any sport. IASL Tournament play begins Thursday with Perry Meridian at Decatur Central. Greenfield at New Palestine and Mount Vernon at Roncalll. Speedway plays the Mount Vernon-Roncalll winner on May 15. The other two winners meet the same day, along with Center Grove at Ben Davis and Southport at Sceclna.

The semifinals will be played at the William Kuntz Soccer Stadium on May 17. The final Is May 22. Fuson: Day on Continued from A-12 backers bet strictly on jockeys. Hunch bettors, they're called. But there was a more logical reason for picking Summer Squall.

Pat Day was up on the favored 3-year-old today. His victory on Foyt's horse was his 928th since he first came here in 1980. He won 929 In the next race and 930 on the next. That's four straight and he's hotter than the proverbial firecracker. Don Brumfleld won 925 races during 33 years at Churchill.

Day had never won a Derby. A year ago he won the first five races, but his Derby mount, the favored Easy Goer, lost out to Sunday Silence. There were some detractors. Some thought the 14th starting It's the only record book of its kind! ALL THIS RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Leading Money Winners Drivers' Histories Indianapolis Fact Sheet Pace Cars and much more! Rookie of the Year Award Winners 1989 USAC and CART Winners Lap Speed Records Fastest Qualifiers The News 500 Public Service handy coupon $1.51 postage Mile Race Record Book is on sale at our Counter for $2.49 (plus tax). Or use the to order by mail for only $4.20 (includes and handling and 20 sales tax.).