Only Second Best, Johnson Has Another Explanation : Track: This time, he says narrow lanes inhibited his start. Cason sets meet record in finishing first.

It’s not time to panic, not just yet. But real soon, if Ben Johnson doesn’t win a race, there are going to be questions that won’t be so easily answered and explanations that won’t so easily leap to mind.

In his second race since serving a two-year drug suspension, the former world record-holder again finished second--this time losing to Andre Cason in the 50 meters before a crowd of 12,438 Friday night at the Sunkist Indoor Invitational.

And, for the second time, Johnson had a ready reason to explain the loss.

Last week in Hamilton, Canada, Johnson said he confused the finish lines on the track and mistakenly decelerated too soon. Friday night, Johnson said the narrow indoor lanes did not provide enough room for him to set his arms wide enough at the start. Nevertheless, Johnson’s time was an improvement on last week. Cason’s winning time was 5.69 seconds, a meet record, and Johnson’s was 5.74, which betters the Canadian record of 5.75 held by Desai Williams.

Johnson, 29, was apparently not thrilled with the record, but neither was he upset by his performance.

“I’m not disappointed with my race tonight,” Johnson said, blinking into a glare of television lights in a packed press room at the Sports Arena. “I’m not going to rush things. The most important thing for me is to run as many races as possible and get as much competition as I can.”

Johnson went on to explain his trouble with the narrow lane. He said he noticed it while warming up, that the close quarters forced him to bring his arms closer to his side than he’s used to.

Johnson’s starting style is characteristic in the width that he places his arms. No doubt a narrow lane--36 inches--was inhibiting. But, like his trouble with the finish line last week, it’s a wonder why an athlete of Johnson’s international experience is unable to adjust to indoor track’s varying conditions.

The race itself was the centerpiece of the meet, and it was positioned during the event’s prime time. An expectant crowd politely applauded the other runners as they were introduced, but Johnson’s introduction drew a roar, with a sprinkling of boos.

As he did a week ago, Cason got out to a brilliant start. However, through the race, there were two stark differences.

Last week, Johnson overcame his late start with a powerful acceleration, and by 45 meters had pulled to within a hairbreadth of first place. He displayed no such power Friday night.

Cason had an opposite problem in Hamilton; he started well but failed to sustain his acceleration through the finish. Friday night, Cason’s style was sleek, running through the tape with such inertia that he was carried well into the tunnel that leads under the Sports Arena’s stands.

“This time I concentrated on accelerating and running through the tape, instead of to the tape, like I did last week,” said Cason, 21, who was the world junior champion at 100 meters.

When Cason re-emerged from the tunnel, he was ebullient. He then embarked on an impromptu victory lap, soaking in the crowd’s warm applause.

While Cason jogged through his victory lap, he pulled his racing singlet to draw attention to a patch on his left side. It was a small American flag. Cason, who has friends and relatives serving in the Persian Gulf, said he dedicated his victory to them, and all U.S. servicemen and women.

Cason, who lives in Tampa, Fla., said he’s looking forward to going to the Super Bowl, if he can get in.

Cason’s time is a personal best, but he has only run the distance twice. Also running a respectable time was Frank Fredericks of Namibia, who was third in 5.75. Henry Neal was fourth, Devlon Dunn was fifth and Jeff Williams was sixth.

Johnson’s start, always the focus of his race and the key to his dominance of world sprinting from 1985 to 1988, is not the same. His coach, Loren Seagrave, says nothing has changed and that the trouble is simply a matter of timing.

Speaking before the race, Seagrave said his analysis of last week’s start revealed inefficiency: “There was a lot of explosion, but no direction.”

Friday night, Seagrave used video cameras positioned at 15 and 35 meters to record the race, and will analyze it and break it down with Johnson.

There is no sign of panic in the Johnson camp, which Friday night included Seagrave, Kameel Azan, Johnson’s adviser, and Johnson’s mother, Gloria. Indeed, only minutes after the race Johnson was smiling and signing autographs and betrayed no particular concern when discussing his race with the media.

They emphasize that Johnson will only get better the more he races.

“When I get my confidence, I’m going to be very hard to beat,” Johnson said. “You’ll see the real Ben Johnson very soon.”

Seagrave, Johnson’s coach since last July 1, has cautioned against expecting too much this early. “It’s one step up a mountain,” Seagrave likes to say.