The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 36

SPORTS The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 7 D3 Monday, June 21, 1999 NASCAR WOMEN'S SOCCER Flat win for Bobby Labonte Champ Norway opens with win If 1 Time of race: 4 hours, 12 minutes, 19 seconds. Margin of victory: seconds. Average speed: 1 18.898 mph. Lead changes: 22 among 1 3 drivers. Caution laps: II for 46 laps.

Lap leaders: Bobby Labonte I-1 1, Rick Mast 12-18, Dale Jarrett 19-38, Labonte 39, Tony Stewart 40, Sterling Marlin 4 1 -42, Mike Skinner 43-45. Chad Little 46, Jarrett 47-77, Mark Martin 78-79, Ward Burton 80-92, John Andretti 93, Martin 94-105, Jeff Gordon 1 06-1 09, Jarrett 1 1 0-1 2 1,.., Gordon 1 22, jarrett 123-130, Martin 131-148, I Jeremy Mayfield 149-166, Gordon 1 67-1 7 1, Jimmy; Spencer 1 72-1 85, Labonte 186-200. Point leaders: Dale -Jarrett 2344, Bobby Labonte 2255, Jeff Burton 2 1 58, Mark Martin 2 1 53. Jeff Gordon 1 995, Tony Stewart 1993, Dale Earnhardt 1 869, Ward Burton 1819, Jeremy Mayfield 1 784, Terry Labonte 1758. Pot He.

Driwr Car Lapstitm Mom; 1. (3) Bobfay Ubonto Pontiac 200 $161,110 2. (17) Jeff Gordon Chevy 200 $111,220 3. (2) Dale Jarrett Ford 200 $86,670 4. (1) Sterling Marlin Chevy 200 $85,245 5.

(10) Hart Martin Ford 200 $78,290 6. (12) Tony Stewart Pontiac 200 $53,255 7. (25) Oate Earnhardt Chevy 200 $57,190 g. (34) Ernie Irvan Pontiac 200 $54,415 9. (23) Jeremy Mayfiekl Ford 200 $53,215 10.

(11) Bobby Hamilton Chevy 200 $64,005 11. (15) Ted Musgrave Ford 200 $44,015 12. (5) Rick Mast Ford 200 $40,565 13. (18) Steve Parti Chevy 200 $44,515 14. (40) Jimmy Spencer Ford 200 $48,615 15.

(16) Ricky Rudd Ford 200 $46,355 16. (33) Terry Labonte Chevy 200 $48,015 17. (31) Kevin Lepage Ford 200 $43,615 18. (29) Kenny Irwin Ford 200 $43,215 19. (39) Kyle Petty Pontiac 199 $35,465 20.

(42) Elliott Sadler Ford 199 WM 21. (26) Jelf Green Chevy 199 "SOfi 22. (24) Mike Skinner Chevy 199 $41,615 23. (30) Jerry Nadeau Ford 199 $34,890 24. (36) RichBickle Pontiac 198 $34,040 25.

(21) Kenny Wallace Chevy 198 $33,765 26. (35) Brett Bodino Ford 198 $41,115 27. (6) Ken Schrader Chevy 196 $40,365 28. (20) John Andretti Pontiac 196 $45,215 29. (7) Ward Burton Pontiac 193, crash $39,540 30.

(38) Johnny Benson Ford 192, crash $37,115 31. (4) Bill Elliott Ford 185, engine failure $36,740 32. (37) Chad Little Ford 180 $36,590 33. (41) Geoffrey Bodino Chevy 167, rear end $29,390 34. (28) Darrell Wattrip Ford 165, crash $29,215 35.

(43) Robert Presstey Ford 164 $29,040 36. (8) Jeff Burton Ford 154 $45,440 37. (13) Michael Wattrip Chevy 152, crash $35,675 38. (22) David Green Chevy 145, engine failure $28,550 39. (9) WaltyDallenbach Chevy 139, engine failure $35,425 40.

(27) Dick Trickle Chevy 109, engine failure $28,300 41. (32) DaveMarcis Chevy 87, crash $28,675 42. (19) JoeNemechek Chevy 17, engine failure $35,300 43. (14) Rusty Wallace Ford 7, crash $44,025 STEVEN SENNE Associated Press Norway's Goril Kringen (left) cringes after heading the ball as she collides with Russia's Olga Letuchov in Foxboro, Mass. Two victories, 3 weeks: Texan second in points after win on Pocono oval.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Long Pond, Pa. Bobby Labonte's program has gone flat, and that's a good thing for him. With a victory Sunday at Pocono International Raceway the flatest of all NASCAR ovals Labonte firmly established himself as a Winston Cup championship contender. After struggling for years on surfaces banked at 18 degrees or less, Labonte posted his fifth top-five finish in six races this year on the flats while winning the Pocono 500. The 35-year-old Texan' won for the second time in three weeks and ninth time in his career.

He drove his Joe Gibbs Racing Pon-tiac to a six-car-length victory over the Chevrolet of three-time Pocono winner and reigning series champion Jeff Gordon. "I couldn't believe it," Labonte said. "Jeff was awful quick, and I thought he was going to catch us at the end. "I could catch the guys, but once I got to them it was hard to pass." Gordon, who finished in the top two for the seventh time in the last eight races at Pocono, figured he could get to the front. But getting there and staying there were two different things.

"It was simple; we just couldn't lead," Gordon said. "I knew I was in trouble when we were out in front." The win, coupled with Jeff Bur- ton's accident on just the second of 200 laps, moved Labonte to second in the series standings. After his 11th top-five finish overall, Labonte trails Dale Jarrett by 89 points after 15 of 34 races. "Bobby said he was coming back to his favorite track," crew chief Jimmy Makar said. "He was being facetious." He won't have to be any longer.

He won in his 13th try on the 2Vi-mile triangle. He only previous top-five at Pocono was a fourth last July in the Pennsylvania 500. "We had a really, really fast race car, but at the end when we got way back there on the restart, I thought there was no way we would get back," Labonte said of a late four-tire stop that cost them several positions. Labonte led three times for 27 Wednesday At Landover, Md. Norway vs.

Canada, 6 p.m. Australia vs. Sweden, 8:30 p.m. At Portland, Ore. Japan vs.

Russia, 9 p.m. China vs. Ghana, 1 1 :30 p.m. ASSOCIATED PRESS Norway doesn't want to look ahead to a possible Women's World Cup championship meeting with the United States. maybe just a little.

Marianne Pettersen, who had a goal and an assist as Norway opened defense of its title with a 2-1 win over Russia on Sunday, knows the Americans are favored. 'That's OK. They have the pressure, so we like ourselves in that position," she said. The Norwegians lost to the Americans in the first World Cup title game in 1991 and beat them in the 1995 semifinals. Norway also finished third in the 1996 Olympics, losing in the semis to the Americans.

tTheir only possible meeting this year is in the final on July 10. has two more first-round games, against Canada on Wednesday and Japan on Saturday. The top two teams in each of. the four groups reach that round, and Norway should have little trouble advancing. "In every top sport, you must think of who you will meet next," Norway coach Per-Mathias Hogmo said, "and Canada is who we are thinking of, because that's who's next." Until Sunday, his focus had been on Russia, a heavy underdog in its first World Cup game.

Brit Sandaune scored in the 28th minute, Pettersen made it 2-0 in tlje 68th and Galina Komarova connected for Russia in the 78th. But Norway's domination was far greater than the final score. 'It outshot Russia 28-6 and Norwegian goalkeeper Bente Nordby made just one save. 'But Russian coach Yurii Bystritzkii thinks Norway, the only team with a winning record against the Americans (11-10-1), has to get better. American style of play is more flexible," he said.

Ghana Australia Down one goal and one player, Ghana rallied to tie and enhance its reputation as the surprise team Rounding out the top 10 were rookie leader Tony Stewart seven-time Winston Cup cham- pion Dale Earnhardt, Ernie Irvari1, defending race champion Jeremy Mayfield and Bobby offense that finally provided a goal in the 61st minute. Germany fell behind in the first half, then barely missed on several good scoring opportunities early in the second, including a shot by Maren Meinert that hit the crossbar. But Italian defender Roberta Stefanelli tackled Birgit Prinz hard in the box, missing the ball. Referee Elizabeth Abidoye of Nigeria whistled Stefanelli for the foul. Wiegmann beat goalkeeper Gioriga Brenzan by curling her penalty kick inside the right post.

Nigeria 2, North Korea Mercy Akide, whose flashy style proved a crowd-pleaser at the Rose Bowl, scored once and assisted on the go-ahead goal for Nigeria, The victory gave added credibility to the Nigerians as a contender in Group which includes the United States. The Americans face Nigeria on Thursday in Chicago. Akide, who put Nigeria ahead in the 50th minute, fed Rita Nwadike for a goal to snap a 1-1 tie in the 79th minute. Taking a pass on the right wing, Akide dribbled toward the right post near the spot she scored from earlier and passed the ball across the mouth of the goal. Nwadike had only to slam the ball into the net.

HEROKEE RUN Summer Senior Special Monday Thursday laps, including the final IS. Jarrett, coming off a rout of the field a week earlier at Michigan Speedway, was third in a Ford. He led the most laps, 71, but felt changing track conditions hurt him. "When the sun was out, my car was a little bit better," he said. "The car was awful good at the beginning, and I probably ran it too hard." Mark Martin was fourth in a Ford, followed by the Chevy of pole-sitter Sterling Marlin.

Burton wound up 36th, dropping to third in the points. He collided with Wally Dallenbach after the cars exited the sharp tunnel turn, costing him second place in the points race. Burton apologized for his part in the crash The race turned into a 4-hour, 12-minute marathon because of 11 cautions that slowed the field for 46 laps. The yellow flags limited Labonte's average speed to 118.908 mph. There were 22 lead changes among 13 drivers.

Labonte earned $151,110 from a $2.4 million purse. of the tournament. A longshot even to qualify for the field, Ghana came away with a tie when substitute Nana Gyamfua scored in the 76th minute after Julie Murray connected for Australia in the 74th minute. Australia's showing in the tournament will have repercussions on the field for the 2000 Olympics. As host country, Australia gets one of the eight automatic berths.

But if it is not among the eight World Cup quarterfinalists, one of those teams will not get an Olympic spot. Italy Germany Bettina Wiegmann, one of Germany's best players throughout the 1990s, scored on a penalty kick as the favored Germans salvaged a tie. Playing before a relatively quiet Pasadena, crowd of 18,000 about one-fifth the capacity of the cavernous Rose Bowl Germany used a tactical Before 10AM For Tee Times-Call (770) 7857904 Offer exp. 8-31-99 90000 Centennial Olympic Pkwy. 30013 CART BRIEFLY 'try .11 i) nr.

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Kostitchenko's first attempt to run away ended when she was caught by stadium helpers at a nearby canal. She was then pulled into the control room, where two Belarus coaches tried to bribe the German doctor ready to test her. One of her aides then yanked Kostitchenko from the German officials and they ran out of the stadium. She faces a two-year suspension. BOXING Not enough for Grant Michael Grant knocked down Lou Savarese twice in the 10th round at Madison Square Garden in New York for a one-sided, 10-round decision.

But it was not the spectacular performance Grant needed to make a potential bout between Lennox Lewis and Grant a big-money pay-per-view match should a rematch between Evander Hotyfield and Lewis not happen in November. "I hope Lewis and Holyfield can be made," said Seth Abraham, president of Time Warner Sports, operator of HBO and its pay-per-view TVKO. "After this fight, the public won't crave a Lewis-Grant fight. It just renews our efforts to make Lewis-Holyfield." HOCKEY Palfly dealt to Kings The New York Islanders traded star right wing Ziggy Palffy, center Bryan Smolinski, goaltender Marcel Cousineau and a draft pick to Los Angeles for center Olll Jokinen, left wing Josh Green, defenseman Mathieu Blron and the Kings' first pick (eighth overall) in the upcoming entry draft The Dallas Stars traded backup goaltender Roman Turek to the St. Louis Blues for a third-round pick in the entry draft.

everyone else. "So, after I came out of that pit stop with the lead, Derrick said, 'Let's go for a But I wasn't concentrating on going for a gap, I was concentrating on going fast." With a SO mph speed limit on pit lane figured into the equation, Walker determined de Ferran would need to build a lead of more than 20 seconds in order to make the stop and get back onto the track in front of Montoya. He did just that, pulling away between 1 and 2 seconds a lap and holding a lead of just over 29 seconds when he pitted at the end of lap 90. The actual stop took just S.4 seconds and de Ferran made it back onto the track 8.020 seconds ahead of Montoya. "They played their strategy and they pulled it off," said Montoya, who continues to lead the season standings.

Asked if he was frustrated to have to hold back, Montoya, who already has three victories in eight CART races, said, "Sure, it was frustrating. Every time I was going by the pits, they were saying, 'You must save more fuel, more It seemed like that's all I heard today." Dario Franchitti, who trails Montoya by five points in the standings, finished third. FROM NEWS SERVICES Nepalese fans surged onto the field and fought with Malaysian players during an Olympic qualifier in Hong Kong, leaving several players injured and one hospitalized. Officials who tried to stop the violence were also attacked by fans, and the game was called off wjth two minutes left. The violence flared when Nepalese fans swarmed the field after a game-tying goal.

One of the fans grabbed the ball and refused to give it to the Malaysian players. Dozens of other Nepalese fans then jumped onto the field, triggering wild scenes as they fought with the Malaysian players. The match was an Asian Group soccer qualifier for next year's Olympics. MORE SOCCER Henderson has 4 assists Chris Brown scored two goals and Chris Henderson tied a Major League Soccer record with four assists as the Kansas City Wizards routed the New YorkNew Jersey MetroStars 6-0 in Kansas City, Mo. TRACK AND FIELD Athlete runs from test Natatva Kostitchenko, a Belarus triple Jumper, ran away after winning her event in a junior track meet in Mannheim, Germany, rather than submit to doping control.

Kostitchenko won her event in the German Track Field Federation Junior Gala with a jump of 44 feet, 6 inches, tfien fled after being informed she was one of six athletes chosen for i ASSOCIATED PRESS Portland, Ore. It's assumed the point of auto racing is to be fastest. In the Joe's 200, Gil de Ferran was the only driver looking for speed. De Ferran, who hadn't won a CART FedEx Series race in three years, came up with his third career victory Sunday by building a big enough gap over the rest of the field that he was able to pit for a splash of fuel and still stay in front. After the leaders pitted under caution 37 laps from the end of the 98-lap race, it was Derrick Walker, whose team hadn't won a race since 199S, who chose to abandon the fuel, conservation strategy being followed by everyone else.

De Ferran, who took the lead when rookie sensation Juan Montoya had a bad pit stop on lap 60, led the final 39 laps, driving his Reynard-Honda across the finish line 4.393 seconds in front of Montoya. De Ferran, who choked up as he accepted congratulations after emerging from his car with his first win in SO races, said, "Early in the race Derrick kept telling me, 'Save fuel, save But, for some reason, we were not getting particularly good fuel mileage, compared to mUld 7979 Need to answer Bite's big quosUonB? Dial 81 1 te ewy klrrfcifxitflreirayciuormthliActSriiw.tr, crite.ovmprovmKtJl five wtole minutes and we've gX a whole let of Into. 8portflOrtrta 40116 Avillabl In tht Mulro Atlanta calling araa. 24 hra. a day.

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