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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Al Unser Jr. ‘Done’
Al Unser Jr. walked around the St. Petersburg paddock two weeks ago signing autographs for fans who wanted to know when he'd be racing again...
Al Unser Jr. during practice for the Indycar Series 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 11, 2007 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo: Darrell Ingham/Getty Images)
As lean and fit as he ever looked during a heralded IndyCar career, Al Unser Jr. walked around the St. Petersburg IndyCar Series paddock two weeks ago posing for snapshots and signing autographs for fans, who wanted to know when he'd be racing again.
The answer is this week in Long Beach, Calif. -- the picturesque downtown street course where Unser won six Indy car races in an eight-year period, including four straight from 1988-1991, in one of the most dominating performances at one venue in series history.
Only the 46-year-old Unser won't be racing in Sunday's IndyCar Series grand prix, he'll be driving a tricked-out Toyota in Saturday's 33rd edition of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.
"We're done with that level of competition,'' Unser told FanHouse last week. "We had a good time and now it's time to pass the torch.'"
Never again? I pressed.
"No,'' he said very deliberately. "As far as the IRL or the Indy 500 -- at that level -- I'm done.
Read more from Holly Cain on Fanhouse.com!
"God has blessed me with being able to work and help other drivers right now and I wouldn't trade it for anything.''
And so, one of the most talented drivers of his generation has decided to move on, enjoying life as the ultimate tutor. He is working for the IndyCar Series as a driver coach -- joining a "teaching" lineup of greats like his dad, four-time Indy winner Al Unser and three-time 500 winner Johnny Rutherford.
Unser said he is still open to competing in the Rolex 24 at Daytona or the historic 12 Hours of Sebring sports car races, but only if he had the opportunity to co-drive with his son, Al Unser III.
More pressing for him are the accolades of the weekend. He'll be inducted into the Long Beach race's Motorsports Walk of Fame, and serve as the grand marshal for Sunday's IndyCar race. When Unser speaks of life these days, he sounds content, humbled and genuinely excited. And that's no small thing.
Because for all his great triumphs behind the wheel of an IndyCar -- 31 wins, the two Indy 500 crowns and two championships -- Unser has also had well-documented problems off-track, including a DUI arrest three years ago.
Ten years ago, his daughter Cody was stricken with a rare spinal cord condition called Transverse Myelitis, which left her paralyzed from the waist down. Now 22, Cody is graduating from college next month with plans to attend law school.
Getting healthy and happy has been a long and public process for Unser -- more endurance than sprint and complete with speed bumps.
The answer is this week in Long Beach, Calif. -- the picturesque downtown street course where Unser won six Indy car races in an eight-year period, including four straight from 1988-1991, in one of the most dominating performances at one venue in series history.
Only the 46-year-old Unser won't be racing in Sunday's IndyCar Series grand prix, he'll be driving a tricked-out Toyota in Saturday's 33rd edition of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.
"We're done with that level of competition,'' Unser told FanHouse last week. "We had a good time and now it's time to pass the torch.'"
Never again? I pressed.
"No,'' he said very deliberately. "As far as the IRL or the Indy 500 -- at that level -- I'm done.
Read more from Holly Cain on Fanhouse.com!
"God has blessed me with being able to work and help other drivers right now and I wouldn't trade it for anything.''
And so, one of the most talented drivers of his generation has decided to move on, enjoying life as the ultimate tutor. He is working for the IndyCar Series as a driver coach -- joining a "teaching" lineup of greats like his dad, four-time Indy winner Al Unser and three-time 500 winner Johnny Rutherford.
Unser said he is still open to competing in the Rolex 24 at Daytona or the historic 12 Hours of Sebring sports car races, but only if he had the opportunity to co-drive with his son, Al Unser III.
More pressing for him are the accolades of the weekend. He'll be inducted into the Long Beach race's Motorsports Walk of Fame, and serve as the grand marshal for Sunday's IndyCar race. When Unser speaks of life these days, he sounds content, humbled and genuinely excited. And that's no small thing.
Because for all his great triumphs behind the wheel of an IndyCar -- 31 wins, the two Indy 500 crowns and two championships -- Unser has also had well-documented problems off-track, including a DUI arrest three years ago.
Ten years ago, his daughter Cody was stricken with a rare spinal cord condition called Transverse Myelitis, which left her paralyzed from the waist down. Now 22, Cody is graduating from college next month with plans to attend law school.
Getting healthy and happy has been a long and public process for Unser -- more endurance than sprint and complete with speed bumps.
INDYCAR BRAZIL
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