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Sneva Helps Fittipaldi Win the Michigan 500

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<i> From Times Wire Services </i>

Emerson Fittipaldi got some last-lap assistance from Tom Sneva Sunday in holding off Al Unser Sr. to win the Michigan 500 at Brooklyn, Mich.

It was the first Indy-car victory for the 37-year-old Brazilian, a two-time Formula One world champion, in only his second season in the United States.

“I have to be honest. I have to give 6% of my prize money to Sneva,” joked Fittipaldi. “Maybe I should give him 30%.”

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Sneva said he did not know whether he was racing for second place or not when he got between Unser and Fittipaldi on the final restart of the crash-filled race. Race officials also had trouble keeping up, initially saying Sneva finished two laps back but later correcting the deficit to one lap.

That last green flag came out with just one lap remaining after safety crews hastily cleaned the debris from Turn 4, where defending Michigan 500 champion Mario Andretti crashed into the concrete barrier.

Andretti was taken to a hospital in nearby Jackson, where it was reported he had suffered a fractured right collarbone. He was released from the hospital and was flying to his home in Pennsylvania. It wasn’t known how the injury would affect his racing schedule.

Meanwhile, Unser was unable to get past Sneva, finishing several car lengths behind Fittipaldi.

“In our profession, he (Sneva) should have known where he was at,” said the irate Unser, who shook his fist at Sneva as the two crossed the finish line. “I’m pretty sure he did. We’re in a profession where he shouldn’t do things like that.”

Asked whether he could have beaten Fittipaldi without Sneva’s interference, Unser said: “I don’t know whether I could have passed him, but I would have kept him honest.”

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For Fittipaldi, it was his first racing victory of any kind since the British Grand Prix in 1975.

Cale Yarborough survived a wild, rain-delayed race and roared away from Neil Bonnett and Ron Bouchard down the stretch to win the NASCAR Talladega 500 at Talladega, Ala.

Yarborough, a two-time winner of the Winston 500 on the 2.66-mile Alabama International Motor Speedway, outlasted 41 other drivers and seven caution flags to take his first Talladega 500. It was his first victory on the NASCAR circuit this season.

Yarborough, of Sardis, S.C., seized his chance when Bill Elliott sputtered coming out of the final pit stop.

He led for the final 20 laps and pulled away on the back stretch when Bonnett and Bouchard bumped each other during a battle for second place.

Paul Newman broke a track record in driving a Bob Sharp Nissan 300ZX Turbo to his second GT1 victory in the Pocono Sports Car Grand Prix at Pocono International Raceway at Long Pond, Pa.

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The two victories allowed Newman, who broke three records during the weekend, to move from 18th place to fourth in the Sports Car Club of America’s standings for the northeastern division.

Newman covered his fasted lap on the 2.8-mile trioval in 1 minute, 32.95 seconds for an average speed of 108.445 m.p.h.

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