THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 2, 1995 TAG: 9509020543
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DARLINGTON, S.C. LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
If John Andretti and his team thought he had a chance to win the Southern 500 pole position Friday at Darlington Raceway, they didn't act like it.
They held back a set of new tires - even though teams only get three sets for practice and qualifying - in case Andretti needed them for second-round qualifying today.
``I wasn't prepared to run good here,'' Andretti said after winning the top starting spot for Sunday's Labor Day classic with a speed of 161.429 miles per hour in his Ford Thunderbird. ``I guess I went out there with no expectations. And here we are.''
Ricky Rudd was second fastest at 167.186 mph in his Ford, followed by Dale Earnhardt in the fastest Chevrolet Monte Carlo at 166.501. Dick Trickle was fourth at 166.377 in a Ford and Jeff Gordon was fifth at 166.366 in a Chevy.
Also in the top 10 were Sterling Marlin in a Chevy (166.073 mph), Lake Speed in a Ford (165.676), Ward Burton in the fastest Pontiac Grand Prix (165.665), Geoff Bodine in a Ford (165.264) and Hut Stricklin in a Ford (165.247).
After making his run, Andretti had to wait for more than 30 other drivers to make theirs. He waited nervously, sometimes literally shaking. He spent most of the time atop his team's transporter because ``I didn't really want to talk to anybody. I don't care if a bicycle had gone out on the track. I was nervous.
``To me, turn four is what got us the pole,'' Andretti said. ``When (others) came through four, it looked like they were all loose. My car was really good there. I just kinda had to breath (the accelerator a hair.''
``It's been the best day, obviously, of my Winston Cup career,'' Andretti said, merrily chatting away and joking during the pole winner's interview. ``I'll wake up tomorrow morning to find out Gordon is on the pole and I'm 15th. It feels like somebody is going to take it away from me for some reason.''
This is Andretti's first pole of any kind in a number of years. He never won a pole in the Indycar series, although he won a race.
Andretti was asked if he planned to call his family with the news. ``Someone told me there were so many Andrettis, they've got to spray for them,'' he said. ``If I was to call home, I'd probably spend all the money I made winning the pole.''
Actually, the Andrettis are in Vancouver this weekend for the Indy-car race, and it wasn't long before their reaction arrived here via fax.
Said cousin Michael: ``I think it's pretty impressive for him to do that for a first-year team.''
And Mario: ``That's a real milestone, especially at a track like Darlington. That's one of the trickiest ovals anywhere.''
Meanwhile, at the other end of the lineup, most of the usual suspects and a couple of bigger names are struggling to make the field.
Those 38th and lower, in order, are Ed Berrier, who's replacing Jimmy Hensley in the No. 32 Chevy, Mike Wallace, Rick Mast, Bill Elliott, Morgan Shepherd, Billy Standridge, Steve Grissom and Bobby Hamilton. Elliott nearly crashed during his run, and Grissom and Hamilton did.
``I probably shouldn't have charged so hard, but I was going for it,'' said Hamilton, who said there was sand on the track.
He and the others will get another try during the second round of time trials at 11:30 a.m. by CNB