Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 31, 1993 TAG: 9305310061
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: INDIANAPOLIS LENGTH: Medium
Drama.
Close calls.
Close finish.
And a winner named Emmo, whose patience paid off.
Emerson Fittipaldi was the last of 12 drivers to lead Sunday's race, outfoxing Formula One champion Nigel Mansell and runner-up Arie Luyendyk in a drag race to the first turn 16 laps from the finish.
"It's all a matter of timing and experience is so important, and that's why Mansell didn't do well," Fittipaldi said.
The pass that gave him the lead for good came on a restart after the seventh of eight caution periods on a track that was narrower than ever.
"On the restart, I was a little faster coming out of turn 4," Fittipaldi, from Brazil, said. "Luyendyk drafted me. I was concerned about Arie. I had good traction. I knew they were going to try to jump on me. I had to be careful."
Mansell, a racing veteran but an Indy rookie, admitted he still has plenty to learn about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"The team did a fantastic job, and what mistakes were made today were made by me," Mansell said. "I'll have to read all your regulations. It's the first time I've raced on an oval. All the procedures are just so different to me."
With 10 cars on the lead lap at the end, it still was anybody's race until Fittipaldi took the checkered flag and shook his fist in triumph. Only 9.9 seconds separated the top eight finishers, with the winner 2.8 seconds in front.
"It was very, very difficult. It was very tough to follow the car ahead of you. The turbulence was high; there was only one groove, one line, and it was very difficult to maneuver in traffic," Fittipaldi said.
A physical change to the track eliminated the apron in the turns and narrowed the corners, making nearly everyone nervous about the start and passing. The problems never materialized, with one of the cleanest starts in the 77 years of Indy and plenty of passing.
"I think we had a much safer race than last year," Fittipaldi said. "I think the track achieved what they wanted to achieve with safety."
Twenty-one lead changes and close racing repeatedly drew roars from the crowd of more than 450,000, who basked in sunshine despite a forecast of rain. Twenty-four of the 33 starters were running at the end, just shy of the record 26 set in the inaugural race in 1911, when 40 cars started.
There were crashes but no serious injuries.
Fittipaldi, 46, a two-time Formula One champion and the 1989 Indy winner, gave team owner Roger Penske a silver anniversary present with a record-setting ninth Indy win.
"To have that ninth win is just amazing," said Penske, who first came to Indianapolis as a car owner in 1969. "I never realized that you could do that. It's just good people, good drivers. We just have a fantastic team."
When he got to Victory Lane, Fittipaldi passed up the traditional drink of milk in favor of orange juice, smilingly saying he likes it better. He also happens to own a few orange groves.
Mansell came into the race leading the IndyCar season points.
The closest call for Fittipaldi came on a restart on lap 174 when Mansell drove past leader Mario Andretti, Fittipaldi and Luyendyk.
"I was side-by-side with Mario in turn 2," Fittipaldi said. "I was on the inside of Mario. Actually, I got Mario's front wheel between my two front wheels. That was the worst moment I had in the race."
Andretti, another former Formula One champion, seemed on the verge of breaking the jinx that has stalked him at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since he won at Indy in 1969.
"You had to have the car like a razor's edge," said Andretti, 53, whose car had balance problems at the end. "I was quite loose a couple of times. I almost spun it a couple of times."
Mansell held on for third, followed by Raul Boesel of Brazil, Andretti, Scott Brayton, Scott Goodyear of Canada and 1992 Indy winner Al Unser Jr. Teo Fabi of Italy and John Andretti, driving for newly retired four-time Indy winner A.J. Foyt also were on the lead lap at the end.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB