Report: Al Unser Jr. considering retirement

Posted 5:25AM on Wednesday 30th June 2004 ( 20 years ago )

INDIANAPOLIS - Al Unser Jr. appears ready to end his racing career. The two-time Indy 500 winner could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but Al Unser Sr. said his son was considering retirement after more than 21 seasons driving Indy cars. "I know he was unhappy with the race car when I talked to him Monday night," Unser Sr. told The Associated Press. "I'm just not sure what he is going to do." The Indianapolis Motor Speedway had a news conference planned for Wednesday, but did not give details other than to say it would involve a "superstar." Unser's ex-wife, Shelley Unser, said their 21-year-old son, Al, also would be participating in a conference call. The Indianapolis Star reported Tuesday on its Web site that Unser told the newspaper he would retire from Indy-car racing. Spokesman Kevin Diamond of Patrick Racing, Unser's team, said Unser denied telling that to the newspaper. The Star said it was standing by its story. Unser won CART championships in 1990 and 1994. If the 42-year-old does quit, the IRL would have lost two of its best-known drivers since May 2003. Michael Andretti retired at age 40 after last year's Indianapolis 500 to focus his attention on ownership in the Andretti-Green team. Unser grew up in a racing family, much like Andretti, whose father, Mario, won the 1969 Indianapolis 500 and 1978 Formula One title. The two were once considered the future stars of open-wheel racing. "I've always had a ton of respect for him. He's a great guy," Michael Andretti said in a written statement. "I'm proud to have raced against him for as many years as I did. He's had an unbelievable career and I hope he enjoys looking back at all his accomplishments." The Unser legacy is well-established, especially at Indianapolis. Unser's father had a record four Indy 500 wins, and his uncle Bobby won three times, giving the family nine wins at the Brickyard. The only other drivers with four Indy titles are Rick Mears and A.J. Foyt. Now it appears another generation may be starting as the youngest Unser is trying to find a ride on the IRL's developmental Infiniti Series. Shelley Unser said that may be included in Wednesday's announcement. The youngest Unser completed his rookie test at Kentucky for Sam Schmidt Motorsports earlier this year and tested with Keith Duesenberg's team in Milwaukee and Nashville. "We've been scrambling to keep him in a race car, and he will drive anything," Shelley Unser said. "We were all taken aback that it's happening this quick." Unser Jr.'s recent seasons have been frustrating. He struggled to find a ride after breaking his pelvis last October when he was thrown from an all-terrain vehicle. After months of rehabilitation, Unser signed with Patrick Racing in March but missed the first three races of the IRL season. He finished 17th, 11th and 22nd in his three IRL starts for U.E. "Pat" Patrick, who jumped from the CART series to the IRL this season, and last won in June 2003 at Texas. Unser won the closest Indy 500, defeating Scott Goodyear by 0.043 seconds in 1992. His other Indy victory came in 1994 when he won from the pole and beat Jacques Villeneuve by 8.6 seconds. Unser won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1986 and 1987 and the International Race of Champions in 1986 and 1988. "I know he's not been happy," the eldest Al Unser said. "If he's not happy, he should get out."

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