Fittipaldi Wins When Others Are Penalized

Two disputed calls by IndyCar officials helped Emerson Fittipaldi run away with the Marlboro Challenge all-star race Saturday at Pennsylvania International Speedway at Nazareth.

Bobby Rahal and Michael Andretti were assessed critical stop-and-go penalties for passing the pace car during the only caution period of the 100-lap event.

Fittipaldi, who has won three of the last four IndyCar races, won $300,000. He averaged 156.127 m.p.h. Andretti won $200,000 for finishing second.

“Bobby took off,” Andretti said. “He just accelerated and blew by the pace car. And I was pointing to say he’s doing it. Then they nailed me for it, too.”

All the drivers in Saturday’s race are entered in today’s Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix at Nazareth, with Al Unser Jr., Rahal, Andretti and Fittipaldi all involved in the series championship battle--separated by only 18 points with two races remaining.