Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 19, 1994 TAG: 9405190021
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
`'I'm hoping they can introduce me at Charlotte as the Indy 500 winner," he said.
The trip from Indy to Charlotte is 366 air miles, and it will take 53 minutes by Lear Jet.
"I'm looking at Indy as a warmup for the 600," he said. "We're also going to have somebody ready to jump in [the No. 14 Chevrolet Lumina]. I'm not going to go out there and do something stupid just to prove a point.
"I'm trying to get in as much sleep as possible, and I'm trying to eat the proper foods. I don't have a strict diet, but we're going into that. I'm going to prepare like a runner for a marathon."
After qualifying last Friday at Sears Point, Andretti jetted to Indy and on Saturday earned the 10th starting spot for the 500, which is the inside spot on the fourth row.
He then flew back to Sears Point and finished 19th in last Sunday's race.
Andretti was back at Indy Monday morning after taking a late flight out of northern California. After practicing at Indy most of the week, he was scheduled to fly to Charlotte tonight for the Winston Select Open on Friday night.
After that race, "I'll be back at Indy and practice on Sunday," he said. "I'll be back at Charlotte Tuesday [May 24] and practice and qualify [for the 600] on Wednesday [May 25]. Then, I'll fly back to Indy for carburetion day on Thursday.
"On Saturday morning [the day before both races], we'll do a trial run and practice at Charlotte, then fly back to Indy and get ready to race. We've made it through all the hurdles so far. Let's just hope they don't get any higher."
\ ROOKIE RATINGS: Ten races into the 1994 Winston Cup season, Jeff Burton has a solid hold on the rookie of the year race. With 99 points, Burton has a comfortable lead over 10 other rookies. But the battle for second is close. Steve Grissom has it at the moment with 79 points, followed by John Andretti with 73 points and Joe Nemechek with 70. Everyone else has fewer than 50 points.
\ THE DNQ LIST: There's a new statistic to follow among the regulars in Winston Cup racing - the list of those who failed to qualify for races.
Rookie Loy Allen leads it, having failed to make six of the 10 races. In his four starts, however, he has two poles and an outside pole, which may be why he still has the ride in the No. 19 Ford Thunderbird.
Ward Burton, also a rookie, is second. He's gone home early four times.
Wally Dallenbach and Jimmy Hensley each have missed three races, and Dave Marcis and rookies Steve Grissom and Joe Nemechek have failed to qualify for two.
Harry Gant, Hut Stricklin, Dick Trickle and rookie John Andretti each have missed one race.
by CNB