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Gushville, IN Greenshurg, IN Gepuhlioan Nevn tpureday o 3.921 inuredar o a,eco AUG 12, 1999 AUG 12, 1999 I 1111111111 111111111 IS 11111111111111111111111111 ~t~,~~~ N2594 Q~©© N2518 ••••°®®rxsss t crrn.rnn rxeee turrr,.on Little Al not done AP Sports Writer With his new-look shaved head and that familiar pudgy face, Al Unser Jr. looks a bit like an aging mil- itary recruit. And maybe that's appro- priate, because the driver known as Little Al is going back to the basics once the CART season ends. He's in need of a job. Unser, who hasn't won since 1995, is not returning in 2000 to the team of Roger Penske, for whom he has dri- ven for the past six seasons. The parting was amicable, both men said, Still, there was undoubtedly some pain. "Roger and Marlhorn Team Penske and I have had great success over the past few years;" Unset said.. "What can I say? He gave me my second Indy 500 win and my second CART series championship." But the 37-year-old Unser is winless in 11 races this season and his last 64 over- all. His top 1999 finish so far was fifth in Cleveland. That's quite a slide for the driver who won the series title in 1990 and 1994. But things have been downhill since 1994, his first season with Penske - when he won a record-tying eight times to match Michael Andretti's 1991 run. "The last three years, we just haven't been able to achieve success and main- tain it," Unser said. He finished second in the points in 1995, when he had four of his 31 career victo- ries. But he makes no apolu- gies for the drought. raci ng yet GDN file phure AI Unser Jr. will be looking for a new ride next year,as he will not be driving for Roger Penske in the next CART series. "Basically, if racing was easy, everybody would be doing is," he said. Unser is part of racing royalty His father, Al, is a two-time series champion und Ibur-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Iliv uncle, Bobby, is a threc-time Indy winner. Tlruse weru the glury days. Unscr wanted to revive his career it, CART this season, but hupes nf'that werc all but dashed on the tii5t (ap of the first race of 1999. He crashed in Homestead, Fla., broke a leg, and missed the next two races. He's 17th in the standings after a 15th-place finish last Sunday in the Tenneco Automotive Grand Prix of Detroit. But be tries to remain optimistic. "As long as we keep trying our best, everything will turn out for the best," Unser said. "We're not lante ducks, by any means. Tm going to try like the devil to get Roger his 100th victory." Racing and looking for a job are only part of Unseds troubles. He also has per- sonal problems. His 12-year-old daughter, Cady, has been diagnosed with a rare spinal condition that has paralyzed her from the chest down. i,:, ~ Unser also is in the final few months of his marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Shelley. After four children and a stormy relationship, the Unsers separated and began divorce proceedings last winter. "My divorce wilt be final in October," Unser said as his new girlfriend, Gina, lis- tened in the background at The Raceway on Belle Isle. "I'll be able to talk a lot more about my future after that. "Right now, I've been advised by my lawyers not to say much." Because the Penske oper- ation has been in decline, Unser knew the final year of his contract might end the relationship. So, he began talking to other teams. Because of his personal problems, nothing has developed, but Unser has not reached a dead end. "I have a strong feeling I know where I'm headed," he said. He insists remaining in CART is his first choice, but doesn't discourage talk that he could move to the rival Indy Racing League. That would put him back in the Indianapolis 500 - an IRL race since 1996 - no small detail if your name is Unser.