MOTOR RACING NOTES : Different Faces Visiting Winner’s Circles

Competition continues to be the name of the game in America’s two most important auto racing series--CART Indy-cars and NASCAR stock cars.

Bobby Rahal’s victory last Sunday at the New Jersey Meadowlands not only broke a personal 31-race winless string for the two-time series champion, it made him the seventh different winner in nine PPG Cup races this season. Only Michael Andretti, with three victories, has won more than once.

NASCAR is no different. Bill Elliott’s win two weeks ago at Daytona was also the first of the season for the former Winston Cup champion and gave the stock car series its 10th different winner in 15 races this year. Davey Allison has won three times and Ken Schrader and Dale Earnhardt twice each.

“I guess it’s the fact that there is so much good equipment available now, and so many good teams and drivers,” Rahal said, explaining the ultra-competitive nature of racing these days. “You go out there knowing that everything has to go exactly right even to finish in the top three or top five. And you have to have a little luck to finish up front.”

Elliott said, “The competition to win races is incredible. No matter where you race in NASCAR, anbody who wins can be proud.

The board of directors for Ilmor Engineering, which supplies Chevrolet Indy V8 engines to the Indy-car series, will meet in two weeks to decide which teams will get the dominating power plant in 1992.

Heading into Sunday’s CART race at Toronto, the Chevy engine has powered cars to 27 straight Indy-car victories, 51 in the last 54 starts and 56 of 82 since it was introduced.

Nine teams and 12 drivers are currently part of the Chevy engine program, with expansion planned for next year.

Among the potential recipients for 1992 are the teams operated by Bruce Leven (Jeff Andretti driving), Antonio Ferrari (Mike Groff), Derrick Walker (Willy T. Ribbs), Steve Horne (Scott Pruett) and Bob Tezak (Scott Goodyear).

But the Chevy engine program is expensive. It costs more than $1 million, including engine rebuilds, per car. That could limit the takers even if they are offered the program. And, depending on the availability of sponsorship money, it could effect some of the current Chevy teams.

Bill Elliott has put the kabosh on rumors that he will leave the Dawsonville, Ga.-based family team next season to drive for Junior Johnson.

“I intend on driving for this same team and (owner) Harry Melling next season,” he said after winning at Daytona.

Elliott never has driven for another team but the one started by his father, George. He has started 334 Winston Cup races since 1976 out of the shop in the north Georgia mountains.

“All I know is that I’ve been with Ford and I’ve been with melling all these years,” he said. “That’s what I’m gonna do next year as far as I know right now.”

Speaking of Elliott, he recently lost both his grandmother, Audie Reece, and his mother, Mildred, within the span of a few days.

The outpouring of sympathy from friends, competitors and fans was so huge that Elliott was having a hard time dealing with it. So, instead of trying to thank everyone individually, the popular driver has sent an open letter of thanks to several well-read racing publications.

In part, he said, “I wish there were a way to thank each of you individually, but that isn’t possible. But, I want to assure you that every message meant a great deal and truly helped more than you may realize. I will always treasure the memories of Mother and Granny Reece, as well as all the friends who showed how much they cared.”

This was the year that the Jaguars and Chevrolets were going to show those nasty old Nissans up in the IMSA Camel GT Prototype sports car series.

So, with just four races remaining and the teams in Monterey, Calif., this weekend, guess who’s at the front of the pack. Of course, Nissan.

The Nissans lead the manufactures’ standings by 31 points over Chevy and 35 over Jaguar.

Geoff Brabham, the three-time defending series champion, and teammate Chip Robinson, also a former IMSA champ, are tied for the points lead with 132 apiece. Jaguar’s Davey Jones is third with 106.

“The key is to be consistent and reliable, and the Nissans have been just that,” Brabham said. “We’re there at the end. A lot of times, the other guys haven’t been there.”

The two Nissan drivers have combined for 12 top-three finishes this season.

Robinson, who would love to beat out his teammate for a change, isn’t taking anything for granted.

“Geoff and I certainly aren’t about to walk away with the points race,” he said. “I may have one eye on Geoff, but I’ve got the other on Davy.”

Roger Penske’s experiment in signing young Canadian driver Paul Tracy to a testing contract is apparently paying off for everyone.

Penske has announced that the former American Racing Series champion will drive a third Penske Racing entry, joining regulars Rick Mears and Emerson Fittipaldi, in the May 4 Marlboro 500 at Michigan International Speedway.

Tracy was signed the first week of June to work with Penske’s testing team and already has run team cars at Mid-Ohio, Michigan and Nazareth, Pa.

The original announcement said that Tracy would be given a ride by Penske in the 1992 Indianapolis 500 and at least two other events next season. But, last weekend, Penske said, “Good progress in our development program has enable us to move forward the debut of this car with Paul as it’s driver. We think it’s essential for him to compete in a 500-mile race prior to the 1992 Indianapolis 500.

“This experience (at MIS, which is a Penske-owned track) will enable him to run in traffic and go through the pit stop sequence required in a 500-mile race, both important from the safety standpoint.”

In a recent test session on Michigan’s high-banked 2-mile oval, under the watchful eye of both Penske and Mears, Tracy did a 35-lap “fuel load run” averaging more than 215 mph.