MOTOR RACING ROUNDUP : Sullivan Breaks Long Drought

Danny Sullivan, taking advantage of Robby Gordon’s blown tire on the last lap, earned his first Indy-car victory in more than a year in the Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday.

Sullivan crossed the finish line in a Lola-Chevrolet 12.21 seconds ahead of the Lola-Ford of Brazilian Raul Boesel, averaging 83.116 m.p.h.

Mario Andretti was third in a Lola-Ford, ahead of Andrea Montermini in a Lola-Chevy.

Only eight of the 28 starters completed the 77-lap race over the 2.1-mile, 14-turn course on Belle Isle.

“Man, it was mayhem out there, especially at the end,” Andretti said.

Sullivan took the lead on lap 48 while Bobby Rahal made a pit stop and Paul Tracy took a stop-and-go penalty for exceeding the 80-m.p.h. speed limit in the pits.

Gordon moved around Scott Goodyear on lap 60, then roared up behind Sullivan and the race was on. Gordon tried several times to get around the leader, but was blocked by Sullivan’s skill and the narrow track.

“All three of us guys started back in the pack--ninth, 10th and 11th--right together,” Sullivan said. “We all had the same strategy. We had a battle for several laps.

“Things worked out for me today. I’m pleased to be here. I didn’t think I had a chance.”

Pole-sitter Nigel Mansell, who won the pole position with a speed of 106.627 m.p.h., spun and hit the wall on the ninth turn of lap 69.

In a companion event, Steve Robertson grabbed the lead from teammate Bryan Herta on the first turn and led the rest of the way in an Indy Lights race. Robertson averaged 84.996 m.p.h. in the 33-lap race, finishing 1.852 seconds ahead of Herta.

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Alain Prost, who smashed the track qualifying record in winning his seventh consecutive pole, lost the lead to Williams-Renault teammate Damon Hill at the start and didn’t regain it until the lap 6.

The Frenchman, in his 48th Formula One victory, led the rest of the 69-lap race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve at Montreal, winning his first Canadian Grand Prix.

Prost averaged 117.853 m.p.h. over the 2.753-mile track and regained the series point lead from Ayrton Senna of Brazil, who came into the race with a five-point advantage. Prost won by 14.527 seconds over Michael Schumacher’s Benneton-Ford. Hill was third.

Prost, 38, has four victories in seven starts.

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Juan Manuel Fangio II won the Nissan Grand Prix of Ohio IMSA Camel GT race at Lexington, Ohio. It was his fifth consecutive victory of the year.

Fangio and Toyota Eagle teammate P.J. Jones traded the lead several times at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. But Fangio kept the lead once Jones’ engine began misfiring. He averaged 108.59 m.p.h. for 97 laps during the two-hour race and finished 30.132 seconds ahead of Jones.

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Doug Herbert defeated Kenny Bernstein to win the first National Hot Rod Assn. top-fuel title of his career, covering the quarter-mile in 4.933 seconds at 295.56 m.p.h. in finals in the Oldsmobile Springnationals at Kirkersville, Ohio.

Gordie Bonin of Diamond Bar returned to victory lane for the first time since 1981, winning the funny-car finals when Gordon Mineo couldn’t get to the line after colliding with Eddie Hill’s tow vehicle on the return road to the pits after Mineo’s semifinal victory.

A familiar face showed up as the pro-stock champion. Warren Johnson was the winner, beating his son, Kurt, for the third time this season in the finals.