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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 18, 1994                   TAG: 9405180034
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

UNSER SR. CALLS IT QUITS AS A DRIVER

The four-time Indianapolis 500 winner will turn 55 on race day, May 29, when his son, Al Jr., will start from the pole position.

"The other day when I was out there on the pit lane and watched my boy qualify and sit on the pole, I finally realized that it was harder for me to get in a race car," he said. "So I decided then that I'd better start thinking about it."

Al Jr. won at Indy in 1992 and was the fast qualifier as the newest member of Team Penske.

"It takes 100 percent . . . I've been very fortunate and been able to do it in the past," The elder Unser said at a news conference. "But you can't just come in and strap one of these cars on and expect to give the answers to the team that they need."

Unser drove at Indianapolis for 27 years. Only A.J. Foyt, who retired in 1993 after a record 35 consecutive starts, and Mario Andretti, whose 29th Indy start in two weeks will be his last, have driven more races at the track.

A three-time Indy-car national champion who in 1983 became the first driver to race against his son at Indianapolis, Unser still holds the Speedway record for finishes among the top three, with three seconds and four thirds to go with his victories in 1970, 1971, 1978 and 1987.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING