SPORTS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2014 Andretti relives Monza memories

MONZA: Even at the age of 74, car for the first time at Monza and in 1978 Andretti, even if his life was precarious at the prevent him racing after he had taken part in is still living new experiences and setting firsts won the championship there for Lotus in a time. “That’s when the mould was cast, I qualifying yesterday. “Because of my commit- at Monza. The great American, still the only race marred by the death of popular team think,” he said. “ was my idol ments, I had to go back and race in a dirt race man to win the title, mate and friend . His stun- and watching him fight with Fangio and at Indianapolis and then come back here,” Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500, marked ning for at Monza in Moss. Just seeing that was something that said Andretti, as if such a schedule was literal- his return to the Italian track by walking a lap 1982, as a late stand-in for the seriously stays with you. It was such a stimulant for me. ly all in a day’s work. “They (race officials) had of it for the first time on Thursday. If the 1978 injured French driver Didier Pironi, remains “I was still in a refugee camp then, in Lucca. I promised me they would waive the (24 hour) world champion was surprised not to have the last by an American F1 driver. had no idea what the future would hold. A rule (which prohibited two races in a 24 hour done it before, he at least had a good excuse. “Coming back here, Monza...this was a cat- year later we emigrated to the States.” period). But we got protested by Ferrari. “I “I never really took the time to walk (as a rac- alyst for my career, for putting me in that It was also in that period of his life that the don’t know why but when I tested here, the er) because I was always sort of busy. I was direction,” mused Andretti, who was also young Andretti saw a film that would prove a first time ever in a Formula One car, I was keeping the candle lit at both ends,” he told busy handing out black stetson hats to drivers major influence. Starring Clark Gable and quicker than (Ferrari’s New Zealander Chris) Reuters in an interview ahead of tomorrow’s to promote next month’s U.S. Grand Prix in Barbara Stanwyck, it was a tale of dirt-track Amon at testing two weeks before and I was Italian Grand Prix. Monza, the venerable Austin. “So do I love this place? Yes. How midget racing and had been entitled ‘To quicker than they were when I left on Friday.” cathedral of Italian motorsport and temple to meaningful is it? Very, in every way. Because I Please a Lady’ for American audiences. But in There were no protests when Andretti, all things Ferrari, holds special significance to had success here and unfortunately with the Italy, it was simply ‘Indianapolis’. returned in 1982 for the penultimate grand the Italian-born driver as the place where he Ronnie situation...,” Andretti paused. “It “‘Indianapolis?,’ I said.’What is that, Naples?’. I prix of his career. He was on the pace immedi- was first bitten by the motor racing bug. should have been the happiest day of my life, didn’t know what that was, but I saw the film. ately, even if there was still no time to be While the walk with NBC television triggered of my career. But I couldn’t celebrate.” It was a different type of racing but still single wasted on walking the track like modern memories, they were ones that needed little Peterson, the ‘SuperSwede’ who won 10 seaters. Not as exciting as F1 but racing,” Formula One drivers are wont to do. “I had prompting. Monza, like Indianapolis, is part of grands prix and was posthumously runner-up recalled the 1969 Indy 500 winner. “When we got familiar with the car a week earlier in who he is. in the 1978 championship, had been involved went to America we didn’t know what to Fiorano and that was important because I had It was here that as a 14-year-old refugee, in a pile-up at the start and suffered severe expect but we found out quick enough that never driven a turbo-charged Formula One from what is now Croatia but was Italian Istria leg injuries. He died in hospital overnight there was racing there and we started work- car up to that point,” he said. “At Fiorano we when he was born there during World War from an embolism. ing on that.” had set a track record so I felt comfortable. Two, Andretti first saw Formula One cars in In 1968, Andretti had been set to make his And Monza I knew the track, so when I arrived action when he attended the 1954 Italian Ascari idol debut with Lotus at Monza but was stymied here I felt like I was OK. And it worked out. I Grand Prix. In 1968 he drove a Formula One The memories of 1954 are far happier for by Ferrari who invoked a clause in the rules to didn’t leave much on the table.” —Reuters

McIlroy shares lead at BMW Championship

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE: Rory McIlroy fired a 67 to seize a share of the lead with Jordan Spieth and Gary Woodland after the opening round of the BMW Championship which was postponed Thursday because of darkness. Four-time major winner McIlroy rolled in four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn at the $8 million PGA Tour event at the Cherry Hills Country Club course. “It’s tricky. We’ve had a couple of days to adjust to the altitude, so that’s fine, but these greens have gotten so much firmer over the last 24 to 48 hours,” McIlroy said. US Open champion Martin Kaymer is one of nine players tied at two under. He stands alongside Spain’s Sergio Garcia, Canada’s Graham DeLaet, Matt Every, Billy Horschel, Kevin Chappell, Russell Henley and Chesson Hadley. Sweden’s Henrik Stenson is also two-under par and was on the 18th hole when play was suspended. He and the others will finish their rounds early Friday. Stenson was one of nine players still on the course when the horn sounded. World number one McIlroy is aiming for his fourth win of 2014 which includes major titles at the Open Championship MONZA: British driver Lewis Hamilton (foreground) is followed by teammate German driver Nico Rosberg as they steer and the PGA Championship. McIlroy started on the back nine their Mercedes during the first free practice session at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy yesterday. The race will be and after a pair of pars, he dropped his tee shot inside five feet held tomorrow. — AP at the par-three 12th and drained that for birdie. He two- putted for birdie at the par-five 17th and parred number 18 as he made the turn at three under. McIlroy surged to the top of Hamilton fastest amid the leaderboard on the front nine. He got up and down for birdie on the par-four first and followed with a 14-foot birdie putt on the second. He made it three in a row with a four-foot- Mercedes warnings er for birdie on number three. He made bogey on two of his final three holes to finish at three-under. He admitted he is not happy with the ending. MONZA: Lewis Hamilton sped ahead in yesterday’s free practice for how hard he can race to beat Rosberg following their clash at the the Italian Grand Prix as his Mercedes team warned it was ready to two weeks ago. The Briton said the decision of the ‘Worked out pretty good’ drop Hamilton or Nico Rosberg if they do not restrain their rivalry. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) not to punish Rosberg had “I am a little frustrated coming off the course because I feel battle between the Mercedes drivers, particularly after Rosberg left him uncertain as to how hard they, and other drivers, can race like it should have been better than what I finished,” McIlroy, admitted he was to blame for a crash between the two, has dominat- against each other. Rosberg’s admission and apology prompted of Northern Ireland, said. “I just try to play a little bit more of ed the Formula One world championship. “We have made it very some observers to suggest that the FIA should have taken action. But feel and it seemed to work out pretty good.” The 21-year-old clear this is an unacceptable scenario for us, actually for both of the ruling insisted it would not act retrospectively unless there was Spieth rolled in a 22-foot birdie on number six and followed them,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told BBC radio. new evidence. “I think the FIA have a really tough job and particularly with a short birdie putt at the seventh to gain a share of the “We don’t want this to happen ever again and the consequences over the last couple of years they have done an exceptional job on a lead. Spieth parred the last two holes to post three-under. “I are very easy. “If we are not able to manage the two of them follow- majority of the calls,” Hamilton told an at times tense news confer- really like the golf course. ing the Mercedes Benz racing spirit then we need to admit that and ence on where he and Rosberg flanked Ferrari’s . It’s nice to be back and to see the golf course and under- take decisions and take consequences of having a different line-up “Their problem is that the scenario is always different so the same stand that this is one of the very few events where I may have probably,” Wolff added. Hamilton, who is 29 points adrift of Rosberg rule doesn’t always apply exactly - sometimes it is difficult to say in the title race, was six-tenths of a second clear of McLaren’s Jenson which rules apply to what situation. It is a good question to be hon- more experience than a lot of guys,” said Spieth, who played Button in the opening free practice, in a clear demonstration of his est. How do we move forward from that? “Does that mean we can the Cherry Hills course as an amateur. Justin Rose, who won intent to make up lost ground. now all say we can race a lot closer and if the guy in front comes off this event two years ago, shot a one-under 69. He was joined Rosberg was third fastest ahead of two time champion Spaniard and is out of the race nothing will happen, so they will be more there by Erik Compton, South Korea’s KJ Choi, Charles Howell, Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, Dane Kevin Magnussen in the second relaxed about it? Or does it mean if it happens again there will be a Ryan Palmer, Chris Stroud, and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan. McLaren and defending champion in the leading penalty? “We are always asking to be able to race. It is hard out there Jerry Kelly and 2008 champion Camilo Villegas are also one- Red Bull. Vettel’s teammate Australian Daniel Ricciardo, winner of to maneuver a car at high speeds without sometimes having contact, under par, but have two holes and one hole remaining in their three of the last six races, only completed 12 laps before retiring with but there is a fine line....I don’t have the full answer to it,” Hamilton opening round. — AFP an engine problem. Hamilton said Thursday he was uncertain about said. — AFP