Guerrero in Precarious Seat : Indianapolis 500: Qualifying speed of 232.482 m.p.h. has him on the pole and sets a record, but others can change that today.

Early-morning showers delayed pole qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 for five hours Sunday, but once the time trials began, they produced a series of track records and 18 starters for the May 24 race.

But they did not produce a pole winner.

Roberto Guerrero, from San Juan Capistrano, blistered the cool Indianapolis Motor Speedway track under a cloudy sky for a series of laps over 232 m.p.h. in his green Buick-powered Lola, setting a one-lap mark of 232.618 m.p.h. for his third time around the 2 1/2-mile rectangular oval and a four-lap average of 232.482.

However, three challengers with outstanding speed credentials--Jim Crawford, Michael Andretti and Eddie Cheever--were in line when the track closed at 6 p.m., and they will get their shot at Guerrero’s records when the pole qualifying trials resume today at noon.

“I hope tomorrow is hot and greasy and the sun is shining down on the track,” Guerrero said. “I had a beautiful run today, but I won’t count on being on the pole until it’s over, and that means after Crawford runs.”

Crawford, Guerrero’s teammate on Kenny Bernstein’s team, has the month’s fastest practice lap of more than 233 m.p.h.

Bernstein earlier in the year became the first drag racer to better 300 m.p.h. with a run of 301.70 at Gainesville, Fla.

“I’d have to say this is just about as exciting as my own record, but we can’t celebrate yet,” Bernstein said.

Guerrero’s speeds obliterated the records Emerson Fittipaldi set two years ago of 225.575 for one lap and 225.301 for the 10 miles.

It was quite a performance for a driver who has been all but unemployed for two years and has no ride promised beyond the Indy 500.

“Even if my speed holds for today, and even if we win the race, when May 25 comes, I’m back on the unemployment line,” he said.

This is because Bernstein does not plan to race the Buicks in other Indy car races because the restrictions on the Buick stock block engine prevent it from being competitive.

“It’s not fun going racing when you know you haven’t a chance,” Bernstein said. “The USAC (United State Auto Club) rules we run with here are fine, but they are not equitable in other races.”

Before Guerrero made what amounted to a serious bid for the $100,000 PPG Pole Award prize only a half hour before the track closed, 1990 winner Arie Luyendyk and veteran Gary Bettenhausen had broken Fittipaldi’s records.

Luyendyk, in a Ford Cosworth-powered Lola, was the first driver out when the trials finally began at 4 p.m., and he brought the crowd of about 200,000 to its feet with an opening lap of 228.967. He followed it with one at 229.305 and a four-lap average of 229.127.

Bettenhausen, who was the fastest qualifier last year, took the one-lap record from Luyendyk when he ran 229.317 on his third lap. Bettenhausen qualified for his 20th Indy 500 with an overall speed of 228.932 that put him on the inside of the second row.

“We didn’t feel we had a real shot at the pole, but we worked to make the first two or three rows and I think we did it,” Bettenhausen said. “It’s sort of a bittersweet feeling after what happened to Nelson (Piquet). He had become a very good friend of mine.”

Piquet, the three-time world Formula One champion from Brazil, suffered devastating injuries to his lower legs and feet in a head-on crash Thursday.

A morning accident during practice eliminated Japan’s Hiro Matsushita from the race. He suffered a broken right leg when his Lola hit the wall in the first turn.

Temporarily, at least, the front row consists of Guerrero, Mario Andretti (229.503) and Luyendyk.

Rick Mears, last year’s 500 winner, came back from his spectacular accident Wednesday to put his Penske-Chevy on the second row with a steady 224.594 performance.

“I’m happy,” Mears said. “The guys (on the crew) busted their tails this week, and I’m really proud of them. I felt great once I got in the car, and now that we’re in the race, we’ll start concentrating totally on our race setup.”

A.J. Foyt, seeking a spot in his 35th consecutive 500, was the final driver on the track and appeared to be on his way to the fastest qualifying effort in his life when his car slowed to a stop on the fourth lap. Foyt, whose fastest practice lap was 223.430, was averaging over 226 at the time.

“I guess it broke a connecting rod,” Foyt said. “I just hate like hell that we didn’t get qualified today.”

Among the 18 qualifiers are three rookies: Eric Bachelart of Belgium (221.549), Philippe Gache of France (221.496) and Paul Tracy of Canada (219.751).

Lyn St. James’ attempt to become the second woman to qualify for the 500 was called off by team manager Dick Simon after she was able to coax only 216 m.p.h. laps out of the two-year-old Lola with a three-year-old Cosworth engine.

“We got the car dialed in,” St. James said enthusiastically, despite her disappointment. “We just have to keep our fingers crossed the weather holds out for tomorrow. We didn’t want to take anything under 220.”

Once the remainder of the field completes the pole round of qualifying, any non-qualifier may make a second or third attempt. Several drivers not originally entered, notably former 500 winners Al Unser and Tom Sneva, are expected to climb into backup cars today.