Actor Paul Newman, taking advantage of the...

Actor Paul Newman, taking advantage of the mechanical problems that sidelined his chief competition, outlasted Elliott Forbes-Robinson to win the Lime Rock Bendix Trans Am auto race at Lakeville, Conn.

Newman, 62, driving a Nissan 300 ZX, averaged 91.049 m.p.h. for the 66 laps. He finished .328 of a second ahead of Forbes-Robinson, who surrendered the lead to Newman on Lap 46 but dogged him the rest of the way.

Newman, who started seventh, and Forbes-Robinson were at the front midway through the race after pole-sitter Pete Halsmer lost his brakes and No. 2 qualifier Wally Dallenbach Jr. was sidelined by a blown clutch.