AUTO RACING ROUNDUP : Michael Andretti Stays Alert, Wins

Michael Andretti was so far ahead late in Sunday’s Marlboro Grand Prix that he had to keep reminding himself to concentrate.

“It’s the same as always when you have a big lead,” Andretti said. “You’re always listening and hearing noises. I was thinking maybe the gearbox is getting a little sticky.

“But the major thing you have to do in that situation is concentrate and not make a mistake.”

Andretti led 105 of the 150 laps on the 1.25-mile, six-turn modified oval at the New Jersey Meadowlands at East Rutherford.

His Chevrolet-Lola, which started from the pole, led the final 56 laps. He earned his third victory of the season--all in the last four races--in beating CART-PPG series leader Rick Mears by 38.18 seconds.

In his 12th career victory, Andretti averaged 97.290 m.p.h. in the race slowed by two caution flags. He earned $80,781.

Three-time world champion Alain Prost gave Ferrari its first victory in the British Grand Prix since 1978 and boosted his chances for a fourth drivers’ title.

A few minutes after the race at Silverstone, England, teammate Nigel Mansell, 35, said he will retire at season’s end after winning 15 Grand Prix races, but none since last summer. He is in his second season with Ferrari.

Prost won his third consecutive Grand Prix, increasing his record to 43 victories, 16 more than anyone else. The triumph moved him to the top of this season’s standings by two points over Ayrton Senna.

His winning time Sunday was 1 hour 18 minutes 30.999 seconds for the 190-mile race. Thierry Boutsen finished 39 seconds behind Prost in a Williams-Renault, followed by Senna in a McLaren-Honda.

Tommy Kendall of Glendale claimed his second consecutive Trans Am championship race with a victory at the Des Moines Grand Prix.

Kendall averaged 71.24 m.p.h. and finished the race in 1 hour 49.11 seconds--29.64 seconds ahead of his Chevrolet Beretta teammate, Chris Kniefel of Lake Forest, Ill.

Tommy Ellis held off a charging Harry Gant by about three car lengths, ending a year of frustration by winning the inaugural Grand National Budweiser 300 at the one-mile New Hampshire International Speedway at Loudon.

Ellis, driving a Buick, averaged 85.797 m.p.h. for the caution-marred race, slowed 17 times by yellow flags and halted for nearly 15 minutes by a red flag.

Canada’s Paul Tracy led every lap for an easy victory in the New Jersey Meadowlands round of the American Racing Series.

Tracy, from Scarborough, Ontario, averaged 94.730 m.p.h. in the 63-lap race for Buick-powered Wildcats. He beat Ted Prappas by 7.05 seconds.