The Indianapolis News from Indianapolis, Indiana • 26

Th D-4 THE IN DIANAPOUS NEWS Difficu day for champs Struggles to 10th-place 5r Tinisn Danny Sullivan MBJU Along with the 1986 championship, Rahal was second in 1990. fifth in 1988 and seventh In 1984. He was 20th in 1983. 27th in 1985 and 26th in 1989. For Sullivan, the lOth-place finish was nearly miraculous.

He almost didn't turn a lap after a problem with a fuel pump cable put him back in the pits when the field left the starting line. The 1985 winner, making his first Indy run for Patrick Racing after several years with Penske, missed the start while in the pits. But Sullivan compensated quickly because he rejoined the field while the yellow light was on after the first-lap crash. Later, he would have electrical and turbocharger problems. Still.

Sullivan managed to run in the top 10 through most of the race's second half. He was seventh. 10 laps down to leader Michael Andretti, when the engine died on his 173rd lap. "I was very pleased. The car handled well.

We just couldn't pass people in a straight line." Sullivan said. "If I didn't pass them coming off the corners or in the short chute, I didn't pass them." Luyendyk, the defending champion, also started slowly. He came into the pits twice on the first yellow, but still managed to run in the top 10 for the first 20 laps. He fell out of the top 10 after that for a brief time, then steadily climbed from there. Luyendyk ran third behind Mears and Michael Andretti for the final 50 miles, finishing one lap behind the leaders.

Mechanical gremlins eliminate Emmo, Rahal By JIM RUSSELL Th Indianapolis Nw While Rick Mears was winning Indy title No. 4. one-time winners Arte Luyendyk. Emerson Ffttlpaldi. Bobby Rahal, Danny Sullivan and Mario An-dretti were thwarted in their bids to become multiple winners.

All had their moments of frustration, with Andretti. Flttl-paldi and Rahal all leading the 75th 500-Mile Race at some point before yielding to mechanical problems. Ndne could have been more frustrated than Fittipaldl. For the second consecutive year, the 1989 winner was leading in the final third of the race when the mechanical gremlins hit. Already nursing a balky clutch, Fittipaldl made what probably would have been his final pit stop while leading at Lap 169.

Four new tires were put on the car and a full load of fuel added. Pushed by three crewmen, Fittipaldl' car made a loud noise as it left the pits. Apparently, the gearbox was stripped. He returned to the track and regained speed, but only briefly. He rolled back Into the pits and was credited with 171 laps, good for 11th place.

"We're really not sure what It was," said Rick Rinaman. Fltti-paldi's crew chief. "We're not sure if something came off the gearbox or something got loose. It's too bad for Emmo because he ran a good, steady race." Starting from the 15th posi- tion. Fittipaldl was running seventh by the 20th lap.

He was fifth at Lap 50 and took his first lead on Lap 108. He went on to lead 46 laps. Rinaman said Fittipaldl was outrunning Mears. his Penske teammate, when the gearbox went sour. "We had been running 220s all day and we felt we were running better than Rick.

We were in a good position." Fittipaldl agreed. "We had the best car all day. It was beautiful." he said. Similarly. Rahal was pleased with the way his car handled.

Finding enough power was another case. "We were slow down the straightaways all day," said the 1986 champ. "It handled very well but we couldn't get enough in the straight. Obviously, I pushed it a little too hard." Rahal was running third on the 129th lap when the engine let loose. He finished 19th, continuing his pattern of poor finishes In odd years and high finishes in even years.

'10 Rich MillerThe Indianapolis News Bobby Rahal (above) sits on the pit wall after dropping out of the Race while running in third place. He started in fourth place but finished in nineteenth. At right, Emerson Fittipaldi's crew performs a fast pit stop. He ran 171 laps before going out due to a faulty gearbox. 2 John GentryThe Indianapolis News Last year's winner Arie Luyendyk Andretti upholds his name Japanese rookie is 16th Hlro Matsushita A A tl Leads rookies with finish By TOM RIITMANN Th Indlanapoll Nw Sure, Jeff Andretti has a heap of family tradition to uphold.

But that's only one reason behind his burning desire to be named top rookie of the 1991 500-Mile Race. "It's Just nice to have that on your resume," said the 27-year-old Andretti, whose father (Mario) won rookie honors In 1965 and whose brother (Michael) won In 1984. But don't send that resume to the printer Just yet. There was another man who also had designs on the rookle-of-the-year prize, which will be announced tonight. His name: Hlro Matsushita.

Matsushita, the race's first driver from Japan, finished Sunday's event In 16th place, one spot behind Andretti. Matsushita started 24th and was still running at the end, even though he completed one lap fewer than Andretti, who blew an engine on the 150th circuit. Matsushita battled misfiring problems the entire race, and his Lola-Bulck stalled In the pits on Lap 133. Ills crew struggled for nearly 20 minutes before restarting the car, and by then the leaders had only 14 laps remaining. Still.

Matsushita rejoined the fray. Matsushita's crew chief. Mike Al-brecht, had placed a four-leaf clover beneath the engine panel on his Panasonic-sponsored car, Albrecht presented the good-luck charm to his driver after the race. "I trust my crew. I knew they would fix It," Matsushita said In a big day.

It's a shame for the entire crew. "I'm a rookie and I was trying to be conservative. I was feeling real comfortable coming into Turn 1." Rlbbs, the race's first black driver, finished one position ahead of Lazier after completing six laps. Like Matsushita. Rlbbs fought a misfiring problem, but his was too severe to overcome.

Croff. the fastest rookie qualifier In race history, finished 24th after retiring on the 68th lap. First, his clutch wouldn't grab as he tried to leave the pits. Then, a broken water pipe and overheated engine did him In. Groff.

29, had placed his car In the 18th qualifying position with a speed of 219.015. "Qualifying there was good, but we had our eyes set on finishing the race." said Groff, "It was a tough day for us." For Andretti, everything went smoothly until 50 laps remained. When his engine Inexplicably gave out. he was running In the top eight with his father and brother as well as his cousin. John Andretti.

"It was nice having four Andrettls start the race, but I was hoping to have four Andrettls finish the race," said Jeff, who Indicated his first-time experience at the speedway did nothing to rattle him. Asked If living up to the Andretti name had been added pressure this month, Jeff shook his head. "You still have to do your Job on the race track," he said. "The name can't do It for you. That's what I did.

I gave 100 percent. "If I were to do anything differently. It would be In the setup of the car a few more fine-tuning adjustments. -0 cr it broken English. "Finishing Is most Important thing for us." Matsushita Is the grandson of the founder of the Matsushita Electric Industrial which owns Panasonic, and he's the son of the current chairman of the board.

Matsushita's grandfather wanted him to work for the company, and his father wanted him to become a pro golfer. Instead, Matsushita showed Sunday he Is nothing short of splendid In his chosen field. Now, docs he believe he can win the rookie award? "Maybe." he said, smiling. "I hope." Hope was something three other rookies Buddy Lazier, Willy T. Rlbbs and Mike Croff exhausted quickly Sunday.

Lazier finished 33rd and last, leaving the race when he clobbered the first-turn wall on the first lap. Gary Hrttenhausen spun In front of Lazier, who lost control when he attempted to veer right. "It a real big disappointment." said Lazier, whose father, Hob. drove In the 1981 rae "I was prepared for Tim HalcombThe Indianapolis News Jeff Andretti, the rookie with the most laps, comes out of a smoking car. 5.