Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Unser headed for drug rehab

Friday, July 19, 2002 | 9:57 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., a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and part-time Henderson resident, said Thursday he will immediately enter a rehabilitation center for treatment for alcohol abuse.

The announcement came shortly after a Marion County (Ind.) prosecutor announced Unser would not face criminal charges for allegedly hitting his girlfriend and leaving her on the side of an Indianapolis highway July 9.

"I have a problem with alcohol abuse," Unser said in Indianapolis. "Nearly every poor choice I've made in my life occurred under the influence of alcohol. I don't understand why I have the problem, but I know I have to straighten it out and I now am ready to do so."

Unser, 40, was accompanied at the press conference by Kelley Racing owner Tom Kelley and a representative of Unser's sponsor, Corteco.

"Today's announcement by Al Unser Jr. is the right thing for him to do, and I fully support it," IRL president and CEO Tony George said in a prepared statement. "The League is satisfied with the steps that Al is taking and does not contemplate any action."

Marion County prosecutor Scott Newman said earlier Thursday that there was not enough evidence to convict Unser after his girlfriend, Jena L. Soto, downplayed the incident in an interview with police detectives after Unser's arrest.

"There is not a jury in the world that would treat this as a criminal case," Newman said.

Though Unser avoided prosecution on domestic battery charges, the driver's reputation has taken a severe beating in the past week as published reports surfaced of alleged alcohol and drug abuse and erratic behavior off the track.

"I am embarrassed and sorry for any behavior of mine that has hurt others in the past," Unser said. "I know I have a problem that needs to be addressed and I now have a plan to straighten it out."

Unser, who is expected to miss at least two races while in rehab, will be replaced in the No. 7 Kelley Racing entry by former Las Vegas resident Tony Renna. Renna is a former instructor at the Derek Daly Performance Driving Academy at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Renna was hired this month by Kelley Racing as a test driver for its Indy Racing League and Infiniti Pro Series programs. He also raced NASCAR Late Models this season at The Bullring at LVMS.

Renna will make his IRL debut Saturday night in the Firestone Indy 200 at Nashville Superspeedway.

It will be Luyendyk's first IRL start, other than the Indianapolis 500, since October 1998 when he won the IRL season finale at LVMS.

"Meijer and Coca-Cola contracted with Treadway Racing to sponsor our car at both Indianapolis and Michigan," Luyendyk said. "It was left up to me to decide if I would drive at Michigan and I made up my mind in the last few days that's what I want to do."

Greg Zipadelli, crew chief for Tony Stewart's No. 20 Pontiac, and Steven Lane, crew chief for Kyle Petty's No. 45 Dodge, were fined $500 for using unapproved jacking bolts. Lane also was fined $2,500 for having unapproved fender braces on the car.

Brandon Thomas, crew chief on John Andretti's No. 43 Dodge, and Greg Steadman, crew chief on Steve Grissom's No. 44 Dodge, were fined $2,500 for unapproved fuel filler necks.

Roush also announced plans to run limited Busch Series programs next season for Busch, Biffle and Burton if he can gather sponsorship.