Racing Legend Arrested for Driving While Intoxicated
Retired two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. was arrested early Monday in central Indiana and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Unser, 57, was stopped in Avon, just west of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Star reported from police records.
He was jailed about 3:20 a.m. in Hendricks County on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Update on Al Unser, Jr.arrested on OWI charge: Unser fell down an embankment and refused sobriety test, Avon police say https://t.co/UM2J75gaLa
— IndyStar (@indystar) May 20, 2019
Unser’s attorney declined to comment Monday.
Unser is a consultant with the Harding Steinbrenner Racing team.
“The entire Harding Steinbrenner Racing organization is saddened to learn of Al Unser Jr’s arrest on an OWI charge,” the team tweeted Monday. “Alcoholism is a disease and a continuing battle for those struggling with it. At this time, we do support Al in any way that he needs.”
Statement from Harding Steinbrenner Racing on Al Unser Jr. pic.twitter.com/zhg8RDMBy6
— Harding Steinbrenner Racing (@FollowHSRacing) May 20, 2019
IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway also released a statement, saying, “Al Jr. is loved by the racing community. Everyone at INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway is with him and his family and stand ready to provide the support he needs.”
Unser is the son of Indy 500 racing legend Al Unser and the nephew of three-time Indy winner Bobby Unser.
Unser Jr. competed in the Indianapolis 500 19 times, winning the race in 1994 and 1992. He also won two CART points titles and two IROC championships.
He was arrested in New Mexico in 2011 on drunken and reckless driving charges. Authorities in Albuquerque said Unser was driving more than 100 mph while drag racing against the driver of another vehicle.
Unser pleaded no contest to a driving under the influence charge stemming from a January 2007 crash on a Nevada freeway. Nevada authorities said Unser’s blood-alcohol content was three times the legal limit and he failed field sobriety tests.
As part of the plea deal, Unser lost his driver’s license for 90 days, was fined $1,000 and had to attend a drunken driving school, a victim-impact panel and undergo alcohol abuse evaluation.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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