Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Sober Unser contends for IRL title after Texas win

Wednesday, June 11, 2003 | 9:48 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.

When Al Unser Jr. won his first Indy Racing League event, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2000, he dedicated the victory to his daughter, Cody, who had been stricken a year earlier with a paralyzing disease.

A year later, Unser dedicated his second IRL victory to his youngest son, Joseph.

"The next (win) was dedicated to me -- and, really, that was the way that I felt," Unser said of his victory Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway.

"It had been a long time and after everything that I had been through, that was the race that I truly wanted for myself and I'm just so happy that it came at Texas, I'm so happy that it came this early in the season and now what we've got to do is take the Corteco-Bryant Special and go win the IRL championship."

Now second in the series points standings and a legitimate contender for his first championship since he captured the CART title in 1994, Unser said he once again is enjoying life after seeking treatment last summer for alcoholism.

The part-time Henderson resident said that being clean and sober for the past 11 months has played a key role in his renewed success on the racetrack.

"It has definitely helped," Unser said Tuesday. "When I show up to the track, I feel so much better and then when I'm away from the track, I feel a lot better. When I'm away from the racetrack is really the most time it has helped me. My life is extremely good and I'm enjoying it.

"My performance on the track really hasn't changed all that much because I never had alcohol around me at the racetrack but away from the racetrack, my life is so much better. That has kind of been a snowball effect as far as when I get to the racetrack, my mind is so much clearer and then when I get out of the racecar, I physically feel better and I'm mentally stronger at the end of the race."

Unser was forced to confront his personal demons last July following his arrest in Indianapolis for domestic battery. Although charges never were filed, Unser checked himself into a rehabilitation center for treatment for alcohol abuse.

While he sat out two races last season while in rehab, Unser said he never considered quitting racing.

"I never considered giving up driving racecars," Unser said. "I love doing what I'm doing and I really feel very fortunate and lucky to be able to do for a living what I truly love doing, which is driving cars."

Unser, 41, trails series leader Tony Kanaan by 26 points going into Sunday's race at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Although he is the oldest driver in the IRL IndyCar Series, Unser said he likes his chances to win the championship if he can get through the next two races (Pikes Peak and Richmond International Raceway).

"I feel good about it," Unser said. "Looking at the next two races, which are on the small ovals, if we can come away with a podium finish, then we're going to be really, really strong for winning this championship."

Unser, who won two championships while driving in CART, knows first-hand that his age is not necessarily an obstacle in his pursuit of the IRL title; his father, Al Sr., won his first CART championship in 1983 at the age of 44 and won his second title two years later at the age of 46.

"It truly can be done and the reason why is because I'm enjoying what I'm doing," Unser said. "I love driving these cars and long as I enjoy it and I'm competitive, then we're going to keep doing it."