MOTOR RACING : Berger Places First in the German Grand Prix

Gerhard Berger gave Ferrari its first Formula One victory in nearly four years, winning a German Grand Prix marred Sunday in Hockenheim, Germany, by a pit fire and starting-line crashes that knocked out 11 cars.

International Automobile Federation stewards placed the blame for the chain-reaction crashes during the first lap on McLaren Peugeot driver Mika Hakkinen of Finland. He was suspended for one race.

Nobody was seriously hurt in the crashes or the fire, which occurred in the Benetton pit of Dutchman Jos Verstappen after the 15th lap.

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Darrell Waltrip won his second American Speed Assn. race in three years with a 2.4-second victory over Scott Lagasse in the Mello Yellow 300 at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan.

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Scott Kalitta became the first top-fuel driver in NHRA history to win four consecutive events, at the NHRA Autolite Nationals in Sonoma, Calif. John Force won his third consecutive race in funny car and Darrell Alderman won his second in a row in pro stock at Sears Point Raceway.

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Dennis Setzer became the first rookie in NASCAR Busch Grand National history to win two races in the same year when he won the Pantry 300 at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway.