UNSER JR., FOYT TO TEAM UP FOR FIRST TIME THIS MONTH AT INDY
INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, May 2, 2007 – Al Unser Jr. will tote six Indianapolis
500 driving victories and a lot more history when the No. 50 ABC Supply Co.
entry makes its qualifications attempt for the 91st Indianapolis 500.
Unser, a two-time winner of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” is joining
forces with A.J. Foyt Racing and its full-time IndyCar Series driver, Darren
Manning, for the Month of May. Their Honda-powered Dallaras will take the track
for the fi rst time May 8. The run for the AAMCO Transmissions Pole Award is May
12.
The No. 50 car is in recognition of Foyt’s 50th anniversary in Indy car racing.
The 91st Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 27, will be Foyt’s 50th in
a row as a participant. He won in 1961, 1964, 1967 and 1977 as a driver and in
1999 as a team owner.
Unser will be the 50th driver – and second Unser -- to run for Foyt since he
began owning race cars in 1965.
Al Unser made his 500-Mile Race debut in a Foyt car in ’65, qualifying 32nd on
Bump Day and finishing ninth. The last of his four victories came in 1987, tying
Foyt’s record.
“It’s a real honor to be driving for A.J., especially during his 50th
anniversary season and especially at Indy,” said Al Unser Jr., who turned 45 on
April 19. “A.J. has so much history at the Speedway, and the Unsers are a part
of that history. A.J. played a big role in g etting my dad started at Indy in
’65, so when A.J. called me to drive for him, I felt honored and very proud.”
Unser will seek to make his 19th Indy 500 start. Unser has recorded seven
top-five finishes since his rookie year in 1983, including victories in 1992
with Galles Racing and 1994 with Team Penske.
His first victory came by just .0043 of a second over Scott Goodyear in the
closest finish in Indianapolis 500 history. He also became part of Indy lore
when he finished second in 1989. Unser and eventual winner Emerson Fittipaldi
banged wheels while dueling for the lead with less than two laps remaining,
sending Unser into the outside wall in Turn 3.
“Al Jr. is a really talented driver whose experience will bring a lot of good
things to our team this month,” said Foyt, who won as a team owner in 1999 with
Kenny Brack. “I’m looking forward to working with him at Indy.
“We’ve steppe d up our IndyCar Series program overall this year in a lot of
ways.
Hiring a veteran like Al Jr., who has won at the Speedway and knows it so well,
will help our regular driver, Darren, because it’s been a couple years since
he’s run there. I think this is our best chance at Indy since we won it in ‘99.”
Unser is the third driver named to an Indianapolis 500 seat this week. Playa Del
Racing announced veteran Jaques Lazier and rookie Phil Giebler as its drivers
May 1.
***
2007 Indianapolis 500 tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 91st Indianapolis
500, scheduled for Sunday, May 27.
Tickets can be purchased at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Web site,
www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by phone or at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway Ticket Office. The IMS Ticket Office can be contacted at (800) 822-INDY
outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally. Ticket Office hours are
< BR>8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.