Letters.(Letter to the editor)

Indy rejuvenated

Thanks for an insightful piece on Sam Hornish Jr., his family and his ride to victory at the Indy 500 (Cover Story, June 5). As a CART fan who lost a lot of interest in the 500 after the IRL split, I was pulling for an Andretti win at Indy. I didn't know much about Hornish and his struggles to make his dreams a reality. Your article told me the sacrifices he and his family made to secure his place in history. Thanks, Hornish, for a great race.

Bill Gillis, Boston

Dutch, when I read your June 5 "Leader of the Pack'' story on driving an Indy pace car, it brought back my memories. I remember being in the pits with my cousin Fred Treadway and introducing him to my son. Later that day in '97 we met Arie Luyendyk in the garage, and as the track closed we ran into Scott Goodyear with news of the birth of his first child. He took time for a picture with my son. Thanks for the memories.

Chuck Whelan, Valparaiso, Ind.

I saw my first 500 in 1964, from a 20-foot- tall backstraight scaffold. Dutch Mandel's story brought back that memory because I also saw the towering black gasoline smoke from the Sachs/MacDonald tragedy. I was there in '67 when Parnelli almost won with the turbine "Whooshmobile,'' and I saw Mario win in '69 from my first seat in the grandstands. I hope the next 500 features a reunited open-wheel community and that I'm driving the pace car.

Bob Jamieson, Douglasville, Ga.