It’s Somewhat of a Thriller for Jackie Jackson : Oldest Member of Singing Group Wrecks Car, Hurts Leg in Pro/Celebrity Race

The next time somebody tells singer Jackie Jackson to “break a leg,” maybe he’ll take them less seriously. Or stay out of race cars.

The oldest member of the Jacksons, the slowest qualifier for the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race at Long Beach Saturday, wrecked his second car in two days. He was taken to St. Mary Medical Center with a possible fractured right leg, but X-rays were negative and he was released.

Jackson was accompanied by his brother Randy. The best-known Jackson, Michael, was not present.

Jackson’s publicist, Debbie Baum, said the injured singer was “laughing and giggling when they pulled him off the stretcher. He had so much fun you’ll have trouble keeping the other brothers out (of the event) next year.”

It was the same leg on which Jackson had knee surgery before the group’s recent Victory Tour.

The event in race-prepped Toyota Celicas was won by Al Unser Jr., one of three professional-class drivers who started 30 seconds behind the amateur celebrities and motor sports journalists. The 10-lap race was conducted around the 1.67-mile street course on which the Grand Prix will be run today.

Unser, who also will drive in the Grand Prix, was followed by former drivers Parnelli Jones and Dan Gurney and by Motor Trend editor Tony Swan.

The top celebrity was actor Lorenzo Lamas of “Falcon Crest,” who was eighth overall.

Defensive end Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets struggled to 11th place after losing first and second gears.

Actor Tony Danza of “Taxi,” the fastest celebrity qualifier, crashed entering the Seaside Way straightaway and had a minor ankle injury.

“My only serious injury is a bruised ego,” Danza said. “I was trying to catch Lorenzo and was driving over my head.”

He slid into the left-side wall, then swerved across the track and hit the right side head-on, totaling his car.

Raechel Donahue of radio station KIIS was driving near Jackson when he crashed.

“He braked late or didn’t downshift,” she said. “He slammed into it broadside on the driver’s side--hit it real hard--and popped the other door open.”

Jackson also hit a wall in practice Friday and had to switch cars for Saturday’s race. He had no previous race-driving experience but took a two-day course at Riverside Raceway last week. Instructor Mark Wolocatiuk said: “He must have had about 75 laps with no real problems.”

Family Fueled: Back home in Nazareth, Pa., Dee Ann Andretti doesn’t worry about who’s looking after her younger son, who went racing this year.

Jeff, 21, qualified 14th and drove his first Super Vee race Saturday at Long Beach, watched over by father Mario, 45, and brother Michael, 22, who will be in the Grand Prix today.

The Bosch Super Vee series will closely parallel the CART Indy-car schedule this year, running the same tracks on the same weekends about 80% of the time.

“We’ll stay together and communicate,” Jeff said. “If they find some quicker way to get around the track, they’ll tell me.

“I usually talk to my dad about driving technique, but for setting up the car I’ll refer more to my brother. He knows these (Super Vee) cars inside and out.”

And what did his dad tell Jeff about Long Beach, where he has won twice?

“You have to be very precise here,” Jeff said, “run as close as you can to the walls without bumping ‘em.”

Jeff went out on the third lap Saturday. He tangled with Doug Clark of Cherry Hill, N.J., while trying to get into the pits with ignition problems.

The winner was Davy Jones, 20, of McGraw, N.Y., the second-fastest qualifier who was driving in only his second Super Vee race after two seasons on the European Formula Three circuit.

Tunnel Vision: Many of the drivers comment that racing at Long Beach is like driving in a tunnel because their heads are lower than the concrete walls.

It’s worse for the Bridgestone go-kart drivers, who lie on their backs.

“It’s like going through a maze,” said Lynn Haddock of Chattanooga, Tenn., who has dominated the sport and qualified fastest to defend his ’84 Long Beach title in today’s preliminary event.

“At most tracks you have landmarks, like trees or the crest of a hill,” Haddock said. “Here you can easily lose track of where you are. It’s particularly hard to tell your braking points. You have to be careful not to daydream.”

It Pays To Advertise: Most of the race cars carry more advertising than the late-night movies, but some still have to hustle sponsors.

On the side of the Super Vee owned by Giupponi Franca of Hollywood is a sign: “THIS SPACE FOR RENT.”

Dept. of What Are You Doing Here?: Cleveland Browns’ linebacker Tom Cousineau follows the Indy-car circuit as a driver for the PPG pace car team.

Last year he worked on Scott Brayton’s pit crew. His position: “Left rear.”

Lotsa Luck: Randy Lanier, the 23rd fastest qualifier for today’s Grand Prix, is a construction-company owner from Davie, Fla.

He was the ’84 IMSA GT champion but just passed his CART rookie test at Willow Springs last Tuesday.

“I sat in an Indy car for the first time this week,” Lanier said, “and it’s definitely different. I’m not used to driving a turbocharged car.”