Unser's return to Indy unfulfilling

By MIKE HARRIS

AP Motorsports Writer

The return of Al Unser Jr. to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was enjoyable, though not as satisfying as he and his fans might have hoped.

Unser, a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, was at the historic track to take part in the first International Race of Champions event at Indy, representing the CART FedEx Championship Series in the all-star event.

He had not driven on the 2 1/2 -mile oval since failing to make the Indy 500 in May 1995. Up to that point, missing Indy as the defending champion was the biggest disappointment of his life.

A more crushing blow came when the Indy Racing League, the brainchild of IMS president Tony George, was born that same year. CART chose to stay away from Indy after it became an IRL event in 1996.

It has been a difficult separation for many. But it has been agony for the Unsers, whose history at the speedway includes nine wins (four for Al Sr., three for Junior's Uncle Bobby and two for Al Jr.), as well as the death of Uncle Jerry in a crash during practice in 1959.

Junior made his first trip back to Indy in May, visiting cousins Robby and Johnny Unser, both of whom raced in the 500-miler. As he strolled down the pit lane during a practice day, a wide grin plastered on his face, Little Al was greeted by drivers, mechanics and officials like a long-lost friend.

Fans in the Tower Terrace, the grandstand behind the pit lane, screamed in recognition and yelled out their welcomes. As George, a longtime friend of the Unser family, walked up to say hello, there were shouts of "Bring him back! Bring him back!"

Despite racing and finishing second in the IROC event, however, Unser is still not really back.

"I had no aspirations to be on this track in anything but an open-wheel, single-seat race car," Unser said. "I'm not a stock car driver. When I drive the stock car, I'm out of my realm."

Unser, whose first time on the track following his long absence came in practice on July 27, couldn't help smiling when asked how it felt being back out on the smooth asphalt oval.

"I had the same kind of butterflies I had when I went out on the track as a rookie," he said. "But the (IROC) car reacts differently and feels different.

"It's still the billiard table that it's always been in the past. There's no other track like that. I had a lot of anticipation, but I didn't get any tears in my eyes or anything like that. But it was nice being out there."

He did notice one change, however.

"My next thoughts after I went out in the car were how long it was taking me to get down the straightaway," he added with a laugh, alluding to the difference in speeds between his 230-mph Indy car and the 160-mph IROC cars. "It took me eight to 10 laps to start running some competitive laps. After that, I didn't think about it anymore."

Unser openly admits he misses being here each May, trying to add to the family legend at the Brickyard. But he also says he believes in what CART is trying to accomplish.

"Our series is growing worldwide," Unser said. "There may be some confusion with our series and the other one (the IRL) in America, but worldwide I guarantee you there's no confusion. Our series is the best in the world."

But, Unser is a driver, not a politician.

"I hope someday that we can get back here," he added wistfully.

Unser, now 36, was asked how much longer he can wait?

"I hope I've got a good 10 years left, but I'd like to get back here while I'm still able to race up front," he said.

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