Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 24, 1995 TAG: 9508240070
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Like many motorists, IndyCar star Paul Tracy is familiar with the single-finger salute. But few pay as dearly as did Tracy for using it.
Midway through last Sunday's New England 200 at Loudon, N.H., Tracy's Lola-Ford Cosworth was black-flagged for leaking oil. Tracy ignored the flag, going two more laps before bringing the still-competitive car to the pits.
When IndyCar official Billy Kamphausen approached him to discuss the problem, Tracy - apparently for emphasis - reached up and grabbed Kamphausen. Then Tracy made the obscene gesture at another IndyCar official.
For each offense, Tracy has been fined $5,000. With another $1,000 for each lap he ignored the black flag, Tracy was fined a total of $12,000.
Tracy said he was angry because officials forbade his Newman-Haas team from repairing the car for further racing.
GOLF Quarterfinals set for Virginia seniors
Defending champion Moss Beecroft of Newport News and medalist Bob Moyers of New Market earned morning and afternoon victories to join six others advancing to the quarterfinals of the Virginia Seniors golf championship in Hot Springs.
Beecroft had a 7-and-6 triumph over Perry Stone of Williamsburg in the morning over The Homestead's Cascades course. In the afternoon, he was forced to the 19th hole before defeating Sam Wallace of Williamsburg.
Moyers produced a 6-and-5 victory over Bob Nunnally of Roanoke in the morning and defeated Ken Nowlin of Nokesville 5 and 4 in the afternoon.
Joining Beecroft in the upper bracket with victories were Claude Williamson of Waynesboro, Don Foster of Salem and Roanoke's Ned Baber. In the bottom half of the pairings are Moyers, Henry Kerfoot of McLean, Jim Kite of Wolftown and Hubert Botts of Fairfax.
Williamson had a 7-and-5 victory over Virginia Tech baseball coach Chuck Hartman and eliminated Gib Wingfield of Roanoke 5 and 4. Foster beat Milton Palmer of Richmond 6 and 4 and Wayne Jackson of Gloucester 2 and 1. Baber edged Dan Keffer of Roanoke 4 and 3 and triumphed 1-up over Bill McDonald of Annandale.
The quarterfinalists will play morning and afternoon matches today with the two survivors meeting Friday for the championship match.
ETC. Navratilova to resign from WTA post
Calling herself too much of an activist to be a banner politician, Martina Navratilova announced that she will not seek another term as president of the WTA Tour Players Association and is also resigning her spot on the tour's board of directors.
``I gave the job more time than I thought I would and not as much as it deserves,'' she said. Elected a year ago, Navratilova had two main goals on her agenda: the return of Monica Seles and the acquisition of a title sponsor for the women's game.
``I accomplished getting a lot of people mad at me, but I feel great about helping to get Monica back, and I absolutely feel we went about it the right way in giving her back the No.1 ranking,'' said Navratilova from her home in Aspen, Colo., ``and I think we're at a really good place for finding a new sponsor. We may have one by the end of the U.S. Open.''
The 38-year-old Navratilova said she intends to devote 1996 to putting her personal life ahead of her profession: ``Basically, I'm taking a year off.''
Keywords:
AUTO RACING TENNIS
by CNB