Commentary

It's Getting TACH-Y

09/05/96

NASCAR's Joe Gibbs' Super Bowl Ring Swiped, F-I Ace Alesi Fined 10 grand, Zanardi Talks way out of Speeding Ticket, NASCAR Truck Teams docked $35,000 for illegal stuff. It's Getting TACH-Y . . . by Redline Muldoon

NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs, Former coach of the Washington Redskins had his Super Bowl XXVI ring stolen out of his Interstate Batteries motor home at the BrickYard 400. During practice for the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, third placer Jean Alesi was fined $10,000 for ignoring the checker flag TWICE at the end of a practice session. Those F-1 stewards think big. In the NASCAR Craftsman truck series the fines also flew, as Mike Skinner's crew chief Richie Burgess got hit up for 20 grand and Mike Bliss's team 10 big ones for technical violations; Ernie Irvan's truck team ram rod Jay Smith had $5,000 levied against him for an illegal traction control device. After winning the pole for the PPG Indy Car race at Mid-Ohio Alex Zanardi was pulled over for speeding. When he explained who he was the officer settled for an autograph. Mark Martin might buy bankrupt Winchester Speedway. Kyle Petty's '97 NASCAR team will have Coca Cola and Kentucky Fried Chicken as sponsors . . . probably have some neat joint promotions. Kranefus-Haas is dumping John Andretti and it looks as if Jeremy Mayfield will get the Ford Winston Cup ride. And while on the subject of stock cars, Richard Petty, candidate for North Carolina Secretary of State was seen signing autographs in New Jersey. He said he is after absentee ballots, but pondered what would happen in a state of 6 million voters if he got 12 million votes. The Rick Galles IRL team has purchased two G-Force chassis for next season. There are a zillion aspiring F-1 drivers walking around with helmet in one hand and sparkling club racing resume in the other, but if your name is Schumacher . . . as in F-1 Champ Schumacher . . . you go to the head of the class. Michael's younger brother Ralf has been testing with Formula One teams and is looking at a possible contract with Marlboro McLaren for next year. Now that Lee Iacocca is finished licking the wounds that resulted from his role as an aid to Zillionaire Kirk Kerkorian in Kerkorian's abortive takeover of Chrysler Corp, he is settling down in the margarine business. He has a new product called Olivio and will market it nationally. Jackie Stewart has been traversing the world seeking big bucks sponsors for his F-1 Ford team, and it appears he's landed the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank to pay the bills starting next year. F-1 Czar Bernie Ecclestone still thinks he will get a $50 million check from the casino honchos in Vegas to allow them to stage a couple of U.S. G.P.s in the states. Street rods are in! Entries at the recent Colombus, OH Street Rod Nationals topped 12,000. Walter Payton, one of the greatest running backs in the history of the NFL and co-owner of the Payton/Coyne Indy Car racing team, was just inducted into the College Football Hall Of Fame. His nickname is "sweetness" and he's a helluva nice gent. Frank Arciero Sr., co-owner of the Arciero Wells Indy Car team underwent successful heart surgery last week at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, CA. A couple of motorsports media types have been speculating recently about the popularity of the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400. With THE Indy declining in stature with no-name drivers, maybe the Brickyard race will take over as the premier event at the fabled speedway. TACH's Parker Johnstone was philosophical about his crash with Al Unser Jr at Mid-Ohio towards the end of the race where little Al was fighting for championship points. Parker said," Roger Penske doesn't pay Al to hold back and I don't get paid to let him by." Don't forget . . . keep the TACH in the red . . . and stay ahead.

Redline Muldoon -- The Auto Channel