American cars fail against Europeans

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32568, 30 March 1971, Page 28

American cars fail against Europeans

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) ONTARIO (California). M. Andretti drove a Ferrari to victory in both heats of the Questor Grand Prix at the Ontario motor speedway yesterday as American cars failed miserably against European vehicles.

Andretti, driving a 12cylinder, Formula I car, beat Scotland’s J. Stewart by five car lengths in the first 100-mile heat and came home a more comfortable 13 seconds in front of the Scot in the second heat. His over-all victory carried a winner’s purse of $U5288,900, including prize, lap and accessory money. Stewart’s second over-all placing in a Tyrell-Ford, brought him SUSIS,OOO. He also won lap money. The third over-all placing went to New Zealand’s D. Huhne, the 1967 world driving champion, and was worth $U512,500. The New Zealander C. Amon, driving a Matra-Simca was fourth, and the Australian, T. Schenken, was fifth in a Brabham-Ford. 102-mile races

Both races were of 32 laps or 102.2 miles, over the 3.2mile course which winds 20 turns through the infield at the new SUS2S.Sm motor sports facility. Andretti, passing Stewart on the front straight with two laps to go in his first win, recorded an average speed of 109 m.p.h. in the initial race. His average speed in the second heat was 109.9 m.p.h. He won the first heat from well back in the starting field, had an easier time of it in the second heat Andretti let Stewart and the Belgian, J. Ickx, set the early pace but roared into the lead after six laps and steadily out-distanced the rest of the field. U.S.-European match The event had been advertised as a match between the European grand prix cars, using small but powerful eight and 12-cylinder engines, and the American formula A cars, which use Detroitbuilt stock block engines for power. The best over-all formula A result in the two races was

that of R. Grable, of the United States, driving a LolaChevrolet, who was seventh. The first race was marred by an accident that resulted in the American driver, S. Savage, being admitted to

hospital with serious head injuries. Savage’s Eagle-Ply-mouth ran off the course and hit a retaining fence early in the race. He was unconscious when taken from the car.