Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, August 2, 1993                   TAG: 9308020072
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BROOKLYN, MICH.                                LENGTH: Medium

MANSELL AMAZED AFTER VICTORY IN MARLBORO 500

"This stands alone," said Mansell, who battled a raging headache, the rough Michigan International Speedway oval and the early loss of his on-board telemetry to win in only his second 500-mile race.

"I've never been in a race like this," the exhausted Briton said. "This is one of the greatest victories in my career. It makes me very proud to win on a circuit like this."

The 1992 Formula One champion outdueled teammate Mario Andretti to win for the third time in his sensational rookie season on the IndyCar circuit. He also regained the series points lead, 123-105, over Emerson Fittipaldi, who struggled to a 13th-place finish on the hot, humid afternoon.

Mansell took the lead from pole-winner Andretti on the 28th lap and led all but two of the last 221 laps, including the final 167.

Mansell, third behind Fittipaldi in May in his first Indianapolis 500, had more problems with the rough track and the heat Sunday than he did with any other driver in the 23-car field.

"I've never driven anything like it in my life and it's beaten me," he said. "I'm glad there wasn't another 10 laps because I was hanging in there just at the end and I don't mind telling the world I'm tired.

"I don't know how you train or practice for a 500. I think you've got to do a few before you know how to do it."

Asked about Mansell's showing this season, Andretti, who also was a Formula One champion, said, "It's definitely very impressive. I'm not surprised, though. I knew he had the ability and he's been fast everywhere. He's a fast learner, that's for sure."

It appeared Mansell would coast to victory when he passed Brazil's Raul Boesel on lap 100 to leave the field at least one lap behind. But Andretti, who set the motorsports qualifying record of 234.275 mph Saturday, wasn't about to make it easy on his Newman-Haas Racing teammate.

Andretti, 53, overcame an early mistake - he spun coming out of the pits after a routine stop on lap 82 and dropped to fifth place - and moved back into second place on lap 109.

Mansell was back in his sights, but Andretti, a four-time series champion, couldn't get much closer until some traffic got in the way of Mansell's Ford-Cosworth-powered Lola.

Andretti regained a spot on the lead lap on lap 204, and on lap 206, rookie Marco Greco's blown engine brought out the last caution flag.

Mansell crossed the finish line 9.434 seconds ahead of Andretti. Arie Luyendyk of the Netherlands, the Indy runner-up, finished a lap down in third.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING