THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 16, 1994 TAG: 9407160464
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LONG POND, PA. LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
The undermanned Hoosier contingent, led by Geoff Bodine, served notice Friday at Pocono International Raceway that they're ready for another scrap in the Tire War of '94.
Hoosier-shod cars took the first four starting positions for Sunday's Miller 400, with Bodine winning the pole at a speed of 163.869 mph in his Ford Thunderbird.
Rookie Ward Burton, who has failed to qualify for four races this year, won the outside pole with a speed of 163.286 mph in a Chevrolet Lumina. The second row was taken by a pair of Ford drivers both on Hoosiers: Greg Sacks at 162.825 mph and rookie Jeff Burton at 162.478.
Ernie Irvan was the fastest Goodyear driver, taking the fifth starting spot in his Ford at 162.470 mph.
Also in the top 10 were Ricky Rudd in a Ford at 162.338 mph, Jeff Gordon in a Chevy at 162.256, rookie Loy Allen Jr. in a Hoosier-equipped Ford at 162.124, Ken Schrader in a Chevy at 162.118 and Rusty Wallace, who won at this track last month, in a Ford at 162.107.
Bodine said his Hoosier tires ``worked well right from the first time on the track'' Friday.
``I knew we had something good, something that was going to let us be competitive this weekend instead of looking like rookies,'' he said.
As it became clear that Hoosier-shod cars were going to dominate this qualifying session, grumbling spread through the Goodyear camp. The primary allegation was that the Hoosier tire was soft enough to run a fast lap or two but wouldn't be strong enough to hold up during the long runs on this 2.5-mile trioval.
But even before the question could be asked, Bodine answered it.
``This is not a gumball trick-qualifying tire,'' he said. ``I've already heard it.
`` This tire will go the distance. I'm telling you, the tire really is not a gumball trick tire.
``This is a compound we know is going to last. Actually, it gets better (during a run). Our fastest lap (in practice) today was on tires that had six laps on them.
``We believe the Hoosier tire is the tire you need to be on this weekend. The guys who have tried (both Goodyear and Hoosier) back-to-back say there's four-tenths (of a second) difference.''
Added Hoosier President Bob Newton: ``We're ready. Let's see if we can do something in the race.''
Just about everyone shares that sentiment, because although Hoosier cars have won five poles this year (Bodine has two and Allen three), they have only one race - Bodine's victory in the non-points Winston Select all-star race.
``We've had some good days, and we've had some bad ones, too, this year,'' Bodine said. ``This tire is what we needed at Bristol, Darlington, Martinsville, (North) Wilkesboro, even here at Pocono for the first race.''
Ward Burton, however, didn't sound as thoroughly convinced about the reliability of the Hoosiers.
``I hope they haven't gone overboard,'' he said. ``I hope they'll be there Sunday, too.''
Meanwhile, Jimmy Spencer crashed his Ford hard into the outer and inner walls in turn three during his qualifying run. He was unhurt but will have to try to qualify a backup car in today's second round of time trials, which begin at 10:30 a.m.
``All I know is I went in the corner and just lost it,'' Spencer said. It's nobody's problem but mine. I had a good lap going.''
By running 21st-fastest in qualifying, Wally Dallenbach went a long way toward stemming the current crisis on the No. 43 Pontiac team owned by Richard Petty, which had missed three races in a row.
``I guess I'm real happy with that,'' Dallenbach said. He said he went too hard into turn one, so ``I thought it would be a lot slower.''
And in a seat-hop showdown, veteran Derrike Cope outdueled rookie Jeremy Mayfield. Cope was 25th-fastest in Mayfield's old ride, T.W. Taylor's Ford, while Mayfield was 40th-fastest in Cope's old ride, the No. 98 Ford owned by Cale Yarborough.
After Mayfield, those at the bottom of the lineup, from 41st down, were Dick Trickle, Mike Wallace, Jimmy Hensley and Phil Parsons. by CNB