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CHAMPIONSHIP RACING SEPTEMBER7999 marlboro team penske #2 Al Unser Jr. 94.Marlboro Mercedes Lola Mercedes-Benz E3/Lola B99/00 - Goodyear #3Alex Barron 99 Marlboro Mercedes Penske Mercedes-Benz E3/Penske PC27B - Goodyear Things seem to be looking up for Unser Jr. Granted, he needs to improve in qualifying, but the two-time PPG Cup champion has shown that he's still got it on race day if the three events in July were any indication. At Road America, a fire in Saturday's qualifying session was part of the reason for a 19th place qualifying performance, but he came back for a ninth place finish in the race. He qualified on the second-to-last row in Toronto, yet worked his way toward the front once again for another ninth place showing. For Michigan, the team opted to run the Penske PC27B instead of the Lola that it had run at Road America and Toronto, as the Lola was not the best car for the high-banked oval. Qualifying was still a problem, as Unser Jr. put the car 17th on the starting grid, but qualifying isn't nearly as important with the Handford Device and a 500-mile race distance. From the start of the U.S. 500. Unser's lap times were righ there with the leaders. if not faster. He made his way con6dentl_inside the Top 10 early in the running. He worked his way up a, high as fourth by the halfway point, but lost a lap changing th, wicker bill on the rear wing with 100 laps remaining. Like Kanaan. Unser also benefited from the race's final cautior period to get back on the lead lap, and it seemed that all system> were go for one last charge. Unfortunately, his Mercedes enginc lost power 44 laps shy of the finish and his day was over. Nevertheless, it was good to see a little of the old "Little Al'-- again. After an impressive test session at Michigan, Mgrthnrn 'rean Penske fielded a car for Barron in the U.S. 500 as well. Alex qualified and finished 18th, but he mounted a similar charge tc Unser's in the early going, only to have engine trouble of his own.