Heavy family legacy

INDIANAPOLIS – Al Unser III has heard all the family stories.

There’s the one about his father’s memorable finish in 1992, the closest Indianapolis 500. There’s grandpa’s back-to-back wins in 1970 and 1971. There’s great uncle Bobby’s 1981 win, which made him the oldest winner (47) until Big Al broke the record six years later. There’s even one about second cousin Johnny, who started Indy in 1997 when race organizers expanded the field of 33 to 35.

The youngest Unser is still working on his story.

He hasn’t won a race since 2002, something he hopes to change Friday when he competes in the Freedom 100, an Indy Pro Series race on the same historic Brickyard track. Last year, he finished fourth.

“I’ve never not been an Unser, so I wouldn’t know what it would be like not to have the pressure,” the 25-year-old said.

The family’s nine wins account for 10 percent of all Indy 500 victories. On Sunday, his father will give the Unser family its 73rd start on the 2.5-mile oval.

“With me, I’ve learned most everything I know from my father, but you know, my uncle Bobby has jumped in there, too,” Junior said. “To have that amount of knowledge at your disposal is a gift from God.”

Back at Indy, alongside dad and granddad, Unser III knows well his name doesn’t guarantee wins. It’s not exactly been like father, like son for Mini Al, as he was introduced at Tuesday’s rookie luncheon.

He didn’t get fully involved in the family business until 2002, when he dominated the Skip Barber Western Racing Series and was named rookie of the year.

From there, he jumped to the Dodge Series, and in 2004, after dad announced he was retiring, to the developmental Indy Pro Series. He competed in eight of 12 races in 2004, finishing third five times, while making four other starts in the Champ Car Atlantic Series.

In 2005, his best finish in four Indy Pro races was fourth, and he had four top-five finishes in Atlantics. Again, he didn’t win.

This year, he has run three Atlantics races without a victory, and Friday’s race will mark the first time he has competed on the Indy Pro circuit since June 2005.

But Unser III, his father and grandfather expect that to change.

“He uses his head very good, and he’s very smooth,” Unser Jr. said. “He’s got a great shot at winning this thing (Friday).”

What everyone really wants to know, though, is when will he finally start an Indy 500?

For the Freedom 100, Unser III has hooked up with Playa Del Racing, a small-budget operation that has put two cars in the Indy 500 the past two years. It’s considering giving Unser III a ride for next year’s race.

For Junior, who has come out of retirement to race at Indy the past two years, it would be motivation enough for the 45-year-old to return again next year.

At the least, it would make for another fun family story.

“That would be the biggest thrill of my life,” Junior said. “I’ve raced against my father, and, unfortunately, he’s reached the end of his career. It was disappointing when we were out there on our own, so to race against my son would just be a dream come true for me.”