Rookie Fisher gets sound advice from four-time Indy-winner

Mike Harris

Sunday, May 21, 2000 | 2:56 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS - Sarah Fisher walked into the Indy Racing League office looking worried.

The 19-year-old rookie was trying hard to figure out the best way to negotiate turn one on the narrow 2 1/2-mile oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

This was several days before she became only the third woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500, and Fisher was still searching for speed.

"I was getting through turn one, but I wasn't getting through it good," she said.

As Fisher slumped on a couch in the IRL office, four-time Indy winner Al Unser Sr. strode into the room. He took one look at Sarah and said: "OK, let's figure it out."

Before the start of practice the next morning, Unser drove Fisher around and around the speedway oval in a pace car, pointing out the proper racing line and explaining how she should approach it.

"We talk the same language," Fisher said. "He knows what I mean even when I can't explain it."

Unser, now an IRL driving coach, says the communication goes both ways.

"When you tell her something, she goes out on the track and tries to make it happen," he said. "If she can't do it, she tells you that, too."

Unser' son, Al Jr., will start 18th, just ahead of Fisher, next Sunday. But Big Al has spent far more time with the youngster.

"Al is a two-time winner and 38 years old," the elder Unser said. "He knows what he's doing and doesn't need any help from me."

Fisher is a different case.

The 500-mile race will be only the third IRL start for the young woman who was racing midgets a year ago. Unser Sr. has taken a special interest in her since her Indy-car debut in March in Phoenix.

The relationship has surprised a lot of people who know the taciturn Unser. But he admits that he was taken to the diminutive, wide-eyed Fisher right away.

"Yeah, there's a certain magic there," he said. "She's special."

Dave Fisher, Sarah's father who was also her car-owner as she worked her way through the open-wheel ranks, is thankful that Unser has become his daughter's mentor.

"He talks to her the way I used to," Fisher said. "Al gives her great advice. It's fun to watch them work. And what could be better than to have a four-time winner take your child under his wing and show the way?"

Unser, who has always disliked being in the spotlight, stood far in the background after Fisher qualified Saturday - the first of two days of time trials - with a solid four-lap average of 220.237 mph.

Unser had to be coaxed by team owner Derrick Walker to stand with Sarah and the team during the traditional post-qualifying photo session.

"She's the one in the car doing the laps," Unser said. "She's the one who should get the credit."