THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 28, 1994 TAG: 9407280639
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
As the last NASCAR stock cars pulled off the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday to end the final test session for the Brickyard 400, drivers using Hoosier tires appeared to have edge, at least psychologically, going into the historic race.
Rick Mast, driving a Hoosier-equipped Ford, was quickest on both days of the Ford-sponsored test. And on Wednesday, he ripped off what appeared to be the fastest unofficial lap in pre-400 testing.
In full qualifying trim, but in the heat of the afternoon at 2 p.m., Mast circled the track in 52.25 seconds, or 172.248 mph, a source at the test said.
Ernie Irvan, a Goodyear driver, had the previous best unofficial test lap at 52.28 seconds, or 172.149 mph.
Mast's best speed Tuesday was 171.429 mph.
Hoosier's apparent edge reportedly prompted at least one Goodyear regular to bolt on a set of Hoosiers and try them during the test Wednesday.
And veteran A.J. Foyt, coming out of retirement to race in the 400, reportedly was four-tenths of the second quicker per lap when he switched from Goodyear to Hoosier.
Both Bill Elliott, a Goodyear driver, and Greg Sacks, a Hoosier driver, had laps of 168.811 mph in their Fords Wednesday, but Elliott was said to be in qualifying trim while Sacks wasn't.
The fact that Mast did his fastest practice lap at midafternoon is prompting speculation that the pole winner for the Aug. 6 race will exceed 173 mph., less than 52 seconds per lap.
The Hoosiers have been quick in previous tests, too, and at Talladega last weekend, one Hoosier crew chief said, referring to Hoosier president Bob Newton: ``He's going to kick butt up there.''
But Goodyear still has all the top drivers except Geoff Bodine and has won 17 of 18 races this year.
``My experience has been that on a first-shot basis, Goodyear always seems to come out on top,'' said Darrell Waltrip, who has used both brands this year but currently is with Goodyear.
TV TALK: ABC, which televises the Indy 500, won the right to telecast the first Brickyard 400. But it may sound more like an ESPN telecast, as veteran ESPN motorsports commentators Bob Jenkins and Benny Parsons will be the men behind the mikes.
Jenkins, who anchors the Indy 500 radio broadcast, will provide the play-by-play coverage of the 400 while Parsons will be on hand as an analyst.
Paul Page, the anchor of ABC's Indy 500 telecast, will serve as host of the 400 telecast.
Mike Joy, who anchors TNN's Winston Cup telecasts, will handle the play-by-play on the 400-station Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network broadcast, with Ned Jarrett serving as analyst.
POWERFUL PROTEST: When KTVK, the ABC affiliate in Phoenix, which hosts a Winston Cup race each fall, decided recently not to broadcast the Brickyard 400, racing fans bombarded the station with calls of protest.
On Monday night the station relented, literally waving checkered flags of surrender on its evening sportscast as it announced that it would air the race. by CNB