European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 24, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes mechanics swarm the san her Mercedes car that led be mans for More than 15 hours before succumbing to mechanical trouble sunday. Mazda blows through As Mercedes blows up be mans France a a Mazda became the first japanese car to win the la mans 24 hours race overtaking a Mercedes in the Iasi three hours sunday. Bertrand Gachot of Belgium Johnny Herbert of Britain and voter we idler of Germany were the winning Drivers of the rotary powered Mazda. Jaguars were second third and fourth with Mazda sixth and eighth. A a a a a no japanese ear had previously won the be mans race although  Cap tured smaller class divisions six Quot times Mazda s Best previous Overall finish was seventh in 1987 and 1989.jaeky Lex a belgian who won  six times served As Mazda a consultant Teani manager for the last two years and credited his driving Trio for the Victory. A the key of All Success today was the three Drivers we chose for that car a Lex said. A a Bertrand Johnny and Volf car did a really Beautiful Job. They understood immediately what was the goal in. Endurance racing and fuel  a Gachot and Herbert Are More accustomed 10 the More intense driving of formula one races hut know  to conserve fuel. A 24 hours of be mans More racing news on Page 25 a the More fuel you want to save the harder you need to drive a Gachot said. Quot you have to keep the Speed up through the Corners and Brake very  a Mercedes driven by Jean Louis Sehe scr and Akiri Ferte of France and Germany Sjoeren mass was first from the sixth until the 21st hour. But a water pump Belt broke and affected the alternator keeping the car in the pits for More than a half hour. It then tried a Lap hut went out for Good. The Mazda then erased the four Dap 15-Minule margin that. Mercedes had Over the Mazda for most of eight hour Mercedes had dominated the race through the first 21 hours. It had its three cars near the top for the first half of the race he pre problems struck. The first Mercedes went out shortly alter running Over some debris. Another Agassi Connell tops first Day London Dpi world no l and defending menus Champion Stefan lid Herg begins Center court play his afternoon on live opening Day of the $ >.5 million Wimbledon championships but the first Day headlines could he stolen by Little known Canadian Grant Connell. Id erg starts against world no. 34 Marc Rosset of Switzerland with the swede fresh from an impressive Victory in the traditional grass court Lead up tour a Ament at nearby Queens club. Kit Connellis first round opponent is it Andre Agassi who has sparked a Media blizzard in returning for Only his second Wimbledon appearance since a first round thrashing from Frenchman Henri Leconte in 1987. Connell the world no. 07,.upset, Ivan Wimbledon Lendl in the second round at Queens club last week and his natural serve and Volley style is Well suited to grass a surface that Agassi has found unfriendly in the past. ,. Quot i m expecting to go there to Wimbledon nervous and excited Quot said Agassi. A a but Wimbledon has been going on for years before me and it la be going on years after me a he added when questioned whether the Type surrounding his appear Ance was overshadowing the event itself. Yugoslavia a Goran. Ivanisevic Drew enormous Confidence from his win in the Manchester open on saturday and he opens against Britain Sandrew Castle. Ivanisevic downed .  ports june 24,1991 b. Page 28 one driven by Germany a Michael Schumacher and Fritz Kreutz Pointer and Austria a Karl wind linger did Well until about Dawn when a rebuilt gear Box dropped it from second to eighth. It climbed Back to  were just 17 finishers from a starting Field of 38.,. The winning Mazda completed 362 laps 3,058.9 Miles at an average of 127 Mph. A the distance was better than the winning jaguars distance of 3,034 Miles in 1990, the first year on the new 8.45-mile circuit with two chicanes or Small curves Schumacher 21, ran the fastest Lap of the race shortly after dark. He went around the circuit at 3 35564 better than 14j Mph last years Best Lap was More than 3 40 by a Nissan. The japanese firm did not enter this year. A a. The race returned to the world championship sport scar schedule for the first time since 1988 after a dispute with the International automobile federation Over television rights and safety. That was resolved with the installation of the two chicanes in the. Mul Sanne Straightaway 011 Pete Sampras 6-4, 6-4 in the final at Manchester England a if 1 play like this my serve will be difficult to break and i will have a Chance to go very far a he said. A a a the withdrawal of top seed Monica Seles from the women a draw has. Increased the chances for Martina Navratilova to collect a record 10th title. A Quot. Navratilova As superstitious As Ever believes her Victory saturday in the Pil Kington Glass tournament at Eastbourne England has Given her a better Chance of gaining a a Lith Wimbledon title. Quot in be now won Eastbourne 10 times so Why not the same at Wimbledon Quot she. Said after beating Sapinos Arantha san Chez Vicario 6-4, 6-4 in the final. Allison triumphs a Brooklyn Mich. A there was no controversy this time As Davey Allison walked All Over the Field on the Way to a record setting Lascar Victory in sundays Miller genuine draft 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Allison was awarded his second win of the year two weeks ago on the Road course at Sonoma Calil when Ricky Rudd was penalized for bumping him aside two laps from the end. This time though he left no doubt in anybody a mind by leading for 104 of the 200 laps on the 2-mile, High banked ova. It Rook the second go cration Winston cup Star Little time to show the muscle in his Ford thunderbird dashing from fourth in the 41-car Field to first after 15 laps. He battled defending race Champion Dale Earnhardt and hut Stricklin another member of the Alabama gang and the Driver for his father Bobby Allison in the Early going. The facing got intense at times As Allison and the other Drivers bumped and banged some until Allison asserted his dominance. A a the 30-year-old from Huey town ala., was in virtual control before the Halfway Point in the 400-mile event. By the time c made his final scheduled pit Stop on Lap 171, Allison was Able to take on two tires and Gas and get Back on the track Quick enough to retake the Lead for Good As soon As Stricklin pitted on Lap 176. After that with Only one Early caution Flag for a total of four laps the Field Strung out quickly and Allison Only lost the Lead during each round of Green Flag pit stops.-. V Quot a v Allison a Speed of 160.91 Mph smashed the track record of 157,704 for a 400-mile race set in August 1989 by Rusty Wallace a a by Stricklin who is married to the daughter of Davey a Uncle Donnie Allison managed to hold off Mark Martin to finish second with Earnhardt padding his Winston cup Point Lead with a fourth place finish just ahead of Ernie Irvan. A Jison crossed the finish line 11.7 seconds ahead of Stricklin s Buick regal. It was Allison a 11th career Victory and his second at mis. Inside sports North stars shop til they drop Page 22 Fittipaldi earns pole in Portland a Page 25 dodgers sink bucs Dosoo Stopa s Page 26 gunshots directed at la Umpire a Page 27