INDY CHAMPION COULD BECOME THREAT IN A STOCK CAR

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 7, 1993                   TAG: 9302070032
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
INDY CHAMPION COULD BECOME THREAT IN A STOCK CAR
With his entry into the 35th annual Daytona 500, Al Unser Jr. pumps new life into a nearly dead tradition in which Indy Car champions regularly made the trek to Daytona in February to battle on the high banks with the stock-car boys.
The Daytona 500s of the 1960s always were sprinkled with a few Indy Car drivers, including Unser's dad, Al Sr., who finished fourth in 1968, and his uncle, Bobby, who crashed in 1969. Mario Andretti won in 1967. Johnny Rutherford, Jim Hurtubise and Gordon Johncock were regular competitors.
Since the early 1980s, however, only A.J. Foyt has continued to make the trek south. The 1972 winner, now 58 years old, will be back this year for the 29th time (second only to Richard Petty's 32 starts).
Unser's first attempt comes in an age of specialization that has reduced the crossover between the major racing divisions. Competition is tougher in each division, prompting drivers to devote full attention to their series. Schedules are tighter, outside demands greater.
However, when Unser saw his schedule would permit Daytona, and Winston Cup car czar Rick Hendrick offered him a car and Waddell Wilson as crew chief, he jumped at the opportunity.
"I've always dreamed about running the Daytona 500," the 1992 Indy 500 winner said. "We're not racing Indy cars at this time and we won't start testing until after Feb. 14, so I had the time to do it. I like race cars. And so long as it's a race car, I'd love to drive it.
"The Daytona 500 is one of the greatest races in America. It has a lot of tradition." And when the Daytona 500 comes on television, Unser, like millions of others, is "glued to the set."
The 30-year-old Albuquerque, N.M., driver said he thinks he could be a threat to win next Sunday.
His victories on ovals in the International Race of Champions series prove he can compete in stock cars. And if you listen to crew chief Wilson, there is no reason Unser shouldn't win.
"I tell you, after that first hour of practice at Daytona with him, you'd think I was working with Cale Yarborough," Wilson said. "We worked so well together you'd think we'd been together four or five years. I was totally amazed."
Wilson is not speaking simply of good-natured rapport. He is talking about the detailed technical communication between a stock-car driver and crew chief - stuff like how the springs and shocks affect handling and how the car reacts as the track changes.
"That was the amazing part of it," Wilson said. "Our lingo, as far as things we talked about - his terminology and mine - is basically the same. Little Al adapted as good or better than anyone I've ever seen. It was remarkable. I wasn't ready for it.
"He was as much help to me as I was to him."
Unser, a winner in midgets, sprints, super Vees, IROC cars and Indy cars, has had no problem adapting to the big, bulky Winston Cup cars.
"Right before I got into an Indy car for the first time, my dad saw I was a little bit nervous. And he said, `You know, a race car is a race car.' That's nothing but a race car there.
"And that's the way I will approach Winston Cup. That's just a race car. And if there's a hole, we're going to go in it. We're there to win the Daytona 500 and to race in the Daytona 500.
"I've had offers to drive in the Daytona 500 before, but I didn't feel it was a race-winning combination. Now I feel I can get out there and race with the leaders and get up there with the front-runners in NASCAR.
"Running in the IROC series helped me tremendously in my initial running of the Winston Cup car," Unser added. "It's a lot the same. We were running about four or five miles per hour quicker in the Winston Cup car, but generally they're the same.
"It's a big heavy car compared to what I'm used to. The Winston Cup car does roll a little more in the corners and it has a little bit more of a softer ride. An Indy car is very rigid and doesn't roll very much.
"But they're both race cars and they'll both bite you if do anything wrong."
In January's two practice sessions, Unser was mistake-free while quickly climbing to the upper reaches of the speed chart. His lap of 189.833 mph was the fastest of the day on Jan. 22 and ninth-fastest overall for the winter tests.
He never has run with a carburetor restrictor plate on the engine, but that actually may be to his advantage. As Unser pointed out: `I've never run a Winston Cup car without a restrictor plate, so I don't know about that, either."
So, does he have concerns?
"That my Indy car owner doesn't get mad at me. That's about it."
Keywords:
AUTO RACING

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB