September 22, 2000

Vice Pres Al Gore says that White House should release a modest amount of oil from government stockpiles to try to stabilize oil prices, move that Gov George W Bush denounces as political ploy that could endanger national security; if Clinton acts on Gore's proposal to release at least five million barrels of oil--about what United States consumes every six to nine hours--it would be first time reserve had been tapped since Persian Gulf war; energy analysts say that it will take weeks and maybe months for any savings to flow to consumers (L)

Firestone Tire begins unusually explicit attack on safety of Ford Explorers in testimony before House subcommittee as two companies criticize each other's products and executives from both companies try to explain internal documents that committee members found incriminating; Firestone says operating Ford Explorer with its tires inflated to pressure recommended by automaker, 26 pounds per square inch, provides smaller 'margin of safety' than exists for competing sport utility vehicles; Ford says that Firestone tires on 1996 Explorers were involved in fatal rollover accidents at rate 15 times of Goodyear tires on same vehicle; Ford vice president Helen O Petrauskas tells Repr Billy Tauzin, who is presiding at hearing, that 26 pounds per square inch her company recommends is not only optimum level for handling, ride comfort and tire endurance, but is also well within guidelines of Tire and Rim Association; Bridgestone/Firestone Inc executive vice president John Lampe says '26 is the minimum for a speed-rate tire'; photo (M)

International Olympic Committee says that it has started investigation into accusations that tickets distributed to national olympic committees of various countries have been illegally sold to network of professional scalpers; photo (M)

Andreea Raducan (Romania) wins gold medal in women's individual all-around Gymnastics competition at Sydney Olympics; Simona Amanar (Romania) wins silver medal and Maria Olaru (Romania) wins bronze; controversy surrounding error made in measurement of vault apparatus discussed; photo (M)

Port Authority, saying that delays have increased to 'unacceptable level,' tells airlines that they cannot add more flights during airport's busiest and most popular flying times, in morning and evening; ban is intended to prevent what airport managers see as gridlock that could result from as many as 600 more takeoffs and landings a day; Port Authority foresees such an increase under federal law passed last year to expand service between New York and smaller cities by creating more slots for smaller regional jets that hold up to 71 pasengers (M)