The Indianapolis News from Indianapolis, Indiana • 18

B-4 Saturday, May 11, 1991 THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS to. join Andretti se Another the first to place four members ot a family in the starting lineup. Also, it will enable Mario to complete his dream of competing with both sons in the 500. Jeff came to the speedway as a "Last year was my first time ever in Indy and I had no idea what to expect," Andretti said. "This year I knew what to expect and am playing it to my advantage." Andretti qualified for his first Indy car race at Milwaukee the week after the 500, then drove one other race, a formula 3 event, in Mexico City, the rest of the season.

Things certainly didn't look bright for 1991. But then Bruce Leven's Bay-side Racing and its Texaco. Havoline sponsor decided to drop Dominic Dob-son as their driver. Andretti won the seat over a number of applicants. In three races leading up to the 500, Andretti has finished seventh, ninth and 10th.

He is tied for 10th in the point standings with 13, one less than his brother. "There is less pressure," he said. "Last year took off that edge. I feel confident four Andrettis will make history." Andretti, 27, got a later start in the big time than Michael. He did well in lesser competitions, but, despite the fame of his name, had difficulty climbing that final step up the racing ladder.

He never lost faith in himself, though. "I always feel that if you stay patient, keep plugging along, talk to people, contact sponsors, finally it comes around," he said. "This is a sport where you never give up. It's paying off." Last May, Mario and Michael would hover around Jeff's car, offering advice, encouraging, consoling. This year there is more of a separation.

"They're letting me do my own program," Andretti said. "They were A meaning well. I was trying to step up in an area for which I was not ready. "They're letting me come to them instead of them coming to me. It's working." The rivalry for Andretti is not with his own family.

Rather, it's with fellow rookie Mike Groff. who also failed to make the field last May. They've been running against each other for several years in super vees and American Racing Series cars. "I've got to beat Groff," Andretti said. "We've fought tooth and nail in super vees and ARS we are again.

It's a healthy rivalry. "This time we're bidding for the same rookie of the year award. He's definitely strong and we've got to be stronger." By DICK MITTMAN The Indianapolis News Jeff Andretti, the youngest of the legendary racing clan from Nazareth, must feel he is a reincarnated man. At home, he is residing in the very room where he was taught science in junior high school. At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he is once again experiencing all the emotions of being a rookie race driver.

There are two major differences. In the science room the school now converted to a condo he no longer must concern himself with learning about grasshoppers, granite and gravity. At the speedway he now has the horsepower, chassis, team and confidence to put himself in the 500-Mile Race field along with his father, Mario; brother, Michael; and cousin, John. If he succeeds, the Andrettis will be driver for the first time last May. Under tremendous pressure, he passed his rookie test and then survived a practice crash to qualify at 210.268 mph.

But 17 minutes before closing time on the final qualifying Sunday, he was bumped from the field by Salt Walther. He wound up second alternate as the 35th fastest qualifier. I- Jeff Andretti Speedway: Mears makes some history driving for Indianapolis car owner Dave Mann and began racing midgets at the Speedrome and Indianapolis Raceway Park. Last year he competed in Formula Atlantic and won eight of 10 races and drove for Dan Gurney in the 24-hour race at Daytona. Meanwhile.

Dismore continually pestered Dennis McCor-mick, Arcerio's crew chief, until he got some Indianapolis sponsorship and finally the ride. Asked what it would mean to qualify for the race this May, he said: "I can't put it into words. Everything, because racing is such a part of my life. It would be one of the most fulfilling things to happen to me. "Just to come and be a part, put the thing in the show, I don't know.

I can't find the words." Dismore said that his father, whose karting business now is Continued from B-3 The tub of Dismore's car came to rest in the pits upside down.4 Help was there instantly and he was removed within minutes. He was conscious and talking. In an interview Thursday, Dismore said that first race in '65 left a deep impression on him. "It beat Disney World," he said. Dismore's father, whose name ironically is Emerson, had started a go-kart business in his garage in 1958 and had his son on an electric kart when he was 5 and racing at 10.

In 1987, Dismore entered four karting class races at Daytona and won all four. He made his Indy car debut at Mid-Ohio a couple of years ago Jerry NolanThe Indianapolis News Rick Mears' car catches fire after crashing Friday afternoon at the speedway. As a result, he was taken to Methodist Hospital. Dismore and wife Donna have been married for 11 years and have two children, son Mark Emerson, 10, and daughter Es-teina, 9. JMears, who sought a record sixth pole today, had special padding added to his shoe by Trammell.

located on U.S. 40 on the west-side of Greenfield, was both happy and nervous about his son being at the Speedway. "We talked. I think he wants me to be here, for it to happen. He knows the tragedy this place can bestow on someone so he's scared, too." falling off a horse, you ride it immediately." Mears said it was a lot easier' getting into the backup car and returning to speed knowing the problem had been found.

"The Penske chassis took one hell of a shot," he said. "First thing Roger (Penske) told the team was get the cars back to the garage," Fittipaldi said about his crash, "He would never let us go until the problem was solved. That's good. "I think that is fantastic." he added about Mears' return. "From previous experience of Luyendyk: 1990 was not a fluke Nalon recalls a different era By DICK MITTMAN The Indianapolis News America was trying to work its way out of the Great Depression, Hitler was preparing to launch World War II.

And Dennis "Duke" Nalon, an aggressive young driver from Chica go, was making his debut in the big time as a rookie. He attempted to qualify for the 25th anniver Granatelli said Luyendyk's desire to win is a strong as anyone's he has seen in racing. "Arie is relatively calm and collected on the outside but when he gets Into a race car, he has this burning inside to win." said Granatelli. "I think he expressed himself very well after, the win at Phoenix. He said, 'Now maybe this ought to put-things to rest about my desire and my feelings to "He has a certain competitive level I've been very Impressed with this first week here.

He's' very comfortable and very confl-' dent and I think that comes with winning this race before. He knows how to do It." sary 500-Mile Race in 1937 in a two-man car and then made it the fol lowing year. Nalon never won the i fx? i race, but became famous as driver of one of the powerful Novis following thta iifQi 1mif 7Q Vta'e a whoopie bike race at the starting line the day before the race. He fell off the bike and broke his wrist. He didn't tell anybody and won the race." Nalon admired Roberts for his commitment to his beliefs.

At that time a tobacco company offered the winner SI, 000. a princely sum in 1938, to pose for a photograph. "They asked him to hold a cigarette," Nalon related. "He said that if his grandmother saw that she would disown him and wouldn't do it." Nalon drove a 151 cubic inch Miller owned by Capt. Henry Kohlert.

a Ford dealer in St. Charles, 111. Kohlert picked Nalon because of his midget driving skills displayed around the Chicago area. The track in those days was extremely rough. The cars used castor oil and it sprayed onto the bricks making the surface slippery.

Qualifying was different. The cars were allowed to compete until 7 p.m. and the drivers had to make 10 laps on their qualifying run. "A lot didn't make it. so they shortened It to four." Nalon said.

"Ronnie Householder holds the record for 10 laps (125.769 set in '38). "I was sweating out getting bumped. It is a. pretty tense feeling until the gun goes off. If you made the race you were guaranteed S500." Nalon drove to 11th place and earned $1,300 "those were big dollars" compared to 8100.000 a 33rd place finisher receives today.

In those days, a driver competed under a temporary license fdr six races. A report then was filed on him and if It was bad then he had to wait for another six races to get a full license. Times were much simpler in depression days. The only restaurant in Speedway was a Greek one at 15th and Main. Nalon said the drivers bought hamburgers from Tom Beal, a concessionaire at the edge of Gasoline Alley.

"He had competition because you could get White Castles for five cents," Nalon said. "But there were none close by." Nalon recalled a well in the infield where a thirsty driver or mechanic could pump himself a drink of water. There was a ball diamond laid out In the infield and drivers like Shorty Cant-Ion. Bill Cummings and Al Gordon played during the lunch break. Nalon said media coverage was good, but the drivers p.r.

man Steve Hannl-gan would "balloon the attendance." Also, churches did not favor running the race on Memorial Day. Nalon's best finish was third in 1948. He won the pole in 1949 in the Novl. but then crashed In flames on the north chute. He finished 1 1th In his final race in 1953.

"I had plans to win." he said. "In the racing business, you didn't brag about what you would do. You achieved what you could. I had plans for Peter DePaolo to be my business manager and sell me. "It's amazing to me to see what the track was.

how it had deteriorated during World War II and what It is today. The most fortunate thing for racing and Indianapolis was that Tony Hulman bought the track." Continued from B-3 about it for Americans, that is Luyendyk received a record winner's share of $1,090,940 last year with a record average of 185.981 mph. Before the victory he had competed in five previous 500-Mile Races, finishing in the Top 10 twice. His triumph was considered somewhat of a surprise to many, and Luyendyk still bristles with anger when someone suggests it was a fluke. Going the rest of the season without a victory didn't help matters.

He finished in the Top 10 seven times with a best finish of fourth at the Meadowlands. He finished eighth in the PPG Indy Car points standings. "Last year we sat on the front row the race had the highest speed average I had the fastest lap in the race I won the race." said Luyendyk. "I don't think you can call it a fluke." Luyendyk finally ended his drought last month In Phoenix by winning the Phoenix 200. "That victory made that (the 500 victory) more solid In a lot of people's minds.

And to be honest with you. my own mind, too," said Luyendyk. "It kind of backed it that we did It then and that we can do It again. "Up until that point It was frustrating not to win." 569 QUIZ Denms Nalon, 1950stlU a f)gure around the Speedway in May. An hour spent with him enables a listener to relive the days before ground effects, electronic fueling systems and 225-miles per hour laps were In vogue.

In fact. Duke squeezed his way into 33rd place for the 1938 race with a qualifying average of 113.828 mph. Joining him on the back row were Cliff Bergere In the middle and Henry Banks on the inside. "Being my first year, I was excited," Nalon recalled. Duke was rooming with driver Floyd Roberts, a Casey.

111., native, at Mother O'Dell's boarding house. 1307 N. Meridian St. Nalon tells an Interesting story about his roommate. "Back In those days we had a thing called a whoople bike." he said.

"We had 1. Aria Luyendyk averaged. 185.981 mph to win last year's, race. -That speed would have placed him, where in the 1974 starting lineup? a. first; b.

third; c. sixth. 2. What happened to seven drivers in the 1936 race? a. crashed in the fourth turn; b.

ran out of gas; c. -had to be relieved because of blii-, tered hands. 3. Cyrus Patschke drove relief for -which drivers in the 1911 race? a. Ray Harroun and Joe Dawson; b.

Ralph Mulford and Jack Tower; c. Spencer Wishart and Harry Cobe. ANSWERS A. 1. 2.

a. Ko arrival bolsters Bears Dye Cup garnered in playoff Bill Schumaker and Jerry Nelson won the Pete Dye Cup National Pro-Am on Friday, beating Denny Heplcr and Doc O'Neal on the second playoff hole at Crooked Stick Golf Club. Heplcr and O'Neal lost when O'Neal missed a 3-foot putt on the 512-yard, par-five 1 1th hole. Schumaker and Nelson totaled a scven-under-par 281. They had a seven-undcr 65 in the alternating-shot format on Thursday.

Schumaker followed with a 72 on Friday while Nelson had a 76. A better-ball score of 68 was factored Into the aggregate. Schumaker. a pro from Columbia City, won 83.325 from the $24,200 purse. Ilrplcr.

a teaching pro at Slonehenge Golf Club If) Warsaw, earned $2,200 and made another 8450 for lying Jim Gallagher Jr. for low-pro honors. Paul (Kemps, head pVo at Club of Prcsfwlck in Plalnflrld. and helped make Lawrence Central Marlon County's top-rated team. The Bears hoped to solidify their prestige by winning the county tourney crown today at South Grove, and regaining their No.

19 rating. But Starkey says, "Ben Davis has good players, and you never know about golf." Starkey knows about Ko, his wiry, 152-pound golf perfection-tst, arid his Bears, who were undefeated In eight dual meets. "Ko's averaging 39 strokes, he hits (drives) about 280 yards, his short game Is good because he gets It close, and he's Just so dedicated. In the summer, he plays golf all over the country." A three-handlcapper who recently signed with Ball State. Ko finished sixth in last year's state finals and seventh In 1989 as a sophomore.

A first-round, bogey-laced 81 ruined his chances In 1 990 despite a second-day 73 as Ko finished at 154 at the Club of Prestwlck. "He has such a great attitude," reminds Starkey. "He doesn't let a bad shot upset him. He has great flexibility, he stretches so much." In late April, three bad holes By JIMMII ANGEIOPOIOUS The Indianapolis News Lawrence Central coach Norm Starkey says his golfing Bears are like a closely knit family that plays together and stays together. When Starkey says his Bears, "are very close." he beams when he mentions Soon Ho Ko.

Starkey knows Ko knows. And Starkey couldn't ask for a better glue to keep his Bears family playing together than Yun Sam's Korean-American family. When Sam moved his family from Columbus to Indianapolis last year, Sam's son, Ko. packed his golf bags with a heavy heart. He left behind boyhood memories with Columbus North's crack teams, but hopefully shed last year's state finals frustration when Columbus North finished fourth.

"Ko's parents had such a thriving business In Indianapolis while they lived In Columbus." explains Starkey, "they moved up here." Sam's family settled In Columbus after it left South Korea when Ko was no taller than a putter. But Ko's decade of, dedicated golf In Columbus has all three-putts on spacious greens didn't bother Ko. He still shot a low medal 76 in the Lafayette Jefferson Invitational where Lawrence Central trailed top-ranked Seymour. Starkey's other senior, veteran Grant Skelton. wants to go to college, and better his 77 In last year's sectional when Lawrence Central placed sixth.

Skelton Is averaging 41. Juniors, Aaron Starr, who averages 43, and Mike Zlegele. who hits 44, shows promise, and fifth-man. senior Bill Hayes, follows closely. "Starr has Improved a lot," says Starkey.

"He's a lot stronger. Out kids work very hard at It. We dropped out of 19th when we lost the conference to Greenfield (309). Brownsburg had 310 and we had 311. "But last Monday, we beat Greenfield by five strokes, and maybe we ll get back In the ratings again." This depends on today's county tourney outcome.

And more hard work dally on the testing Fort Harrison course where the Bears sharpen their scoring claws fc1f the sectional May 31 at South Grove. Tim HalcombThe Indianapolis News Bill Schumaker (left) and Jerry Nelson sport a winning smile after finishing play at Crooked Stick on Friday. former Indiana University basketball star Ted Kllchel won third place. Kemps shot 70 and Kitchel 75 with a better-ball of 66 to finish a stroke back. There was a three-way tie for fourth at 283.

Ed Knych. pro at Hlllcrest Country Club, and memberpartner Jack Ebbcirr both shot 74 with a better-ball of 67. Rick Whitfield and James Taylor shot 72-72-69. Gallagher and Joe Moses recorded 68-78-67..