Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: IRL takes no immediate action against Unser

Wednesday, July 10, 2002 | 10:04 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Al Unser Jr.'s arrest early Tuesday on preliminary domestic battery and domestic violence charges apparently will not affect his immediate future in the Indy Racing League, according to team owner Tom Kelley.

Kelley released a statement expressing support for Unser, who allegedly hit his girlfriend in the face before leaving her on the side of an Indianapolis highway.

"We are looking forward to Al competing at the (July 20) Nashville event and the remainder of the 2002 season," Kelley said in the prepared statement. "He is focused on racing and the job he has to do for Kelley Racing and their sponsors."

Unser, who maintains a part-time residence in Henderson, was released from Marion County jail after posting a $30,000 bond. A hearing is scheduled for July 19, the day he is scheduled to qualify for the following night's IRL Firestone Indy 200 at Nashville Superspeedway.

Ron Green, an IRL spokesman, said "somebody (from the league) has talked to Al," after his arrest, but added that no disciplinary action by the series was imminent.

"It's too early to determine whether this situation will require the league to take any action regarding (Unser's) status as a driver," Green said. "The league does have some language in its rulebook that addresses violation of laws (by drivers), but even talking about that is very premature right now."

Unser, a native of Albuquerque, purchased a home in Henderson in May 2000, less than a month after he earned his first IRL victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In April of this year, Unser added Jena Lee Soto -- the woman he is accused of striking -- to the title as co-owner of the house.

Soto reportedly told police she was Unser's girlfriend of four years.

Unser has retained attorney James H. Voyles to represent him, according to Kelley's statement, and Unser will have no comment on his arrest "on the advice of counsel."

Andretti said he has been in discussions with Newman-Haas Racing to add a third car to the team, for which Andretti would be responsible. Newman-Haas fields cars for drivers Cristiano da Matta and Christian Fittipaldi.

"We think it would serve CART best if we would add another car, rather than me just joining the team," Andretti said. "We would run three cars."

Andretti won the 1984 CART championship for Newman-Haas.

Bell made contact with Bruno Junqueira while trying to complete a pass on lap 93, knocking Junqueira out of the race. Bell subsequently was excluded from the race by chief steward Wally Dallenbach.

"I made a mistake," Bell said. "I thought I could get through successfully, (but) obviously I could not. Wally is the chief steward, he is the man in charge, and I will abide by his decision."

Bell had previously been on probation for an incident in the season-opening Grand Prix of Monterrey, but had been taken off of probation by Dallenbach after showing progress on the racetrack, CART said in a release. Dallenbach also warned that this is Bell's "second strike" and another incident could result in a suspension.

In conjunction with CART broadcast partner Speed Channel, Friday and Saturday's qualifying sessions will be broadcast on Speed Channel's all high-definition network, available on DirectTV channel 199. Friday's session will be shown on tape-delay at 7 p.m. local time and Saturday's final qualifying will air live at 10:30 a.m.