Splitting a list @list by space delimiter so i can access it by using $list[0 ..1..2]

EDIT : This is for perl
@data2 = grep(/$data[1]/, @list_now);

This gives me @data2 as
Printing data2 11 testzone1 running /zones/testzone1 ***-*****-****-*****-***** native shared

But I really cant access data2 by its individual elements.
$data2[0] is the entire list, while $data[1],2,3... are null

How can I split @data2 by the space delimiter to get it into another array ?

My basic goal is to access 3rd field of data2 , "running " and store it in a variable.

-Shrikant

---------- Post updated at 12:58 PM ---------- Previous update was at 11:21 AM ----------

ok.. I had to store the @list in a scalar $variable and then split it by / / delimiter ..
Is this the only way out ?

Splitting on spaces(s) appears to be the correct thing to do based on what little information you have provided.