IRL/IROC: Unser to replace injured Goodyear in True Value IROC round
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
June 5, 2001
INDIANAPOLIS - Al Unser Jr., a full-time driver in the Indy Racing Northern Light Series and two-time True Value International Race of Champions (IROC) series champion, will substitute for the injured Scott Goodyear in the True Value IROC race June 9 at Michigan International Speedway.
Goodyear suffered a lower back fracture in an accident on Lap 8 of the 85th Indianapolis 500 on May 27 and will spend the next few weeks recuperating.
"We'll miss not having Scott with us at Michigan," said Jay Signore, president of IROC. "He's been a joy to work with, a great competitor and representative of the Indy Racing Northern Light Series. He needs to take care of himself, listen to Dr. Terry Trammell, and hopefully, we'll see him back for the finale at Indy.
"Unser has a great track record in our series, and we're confident he'll do a great job. We're grateful to have Al back and thank him for jumping in for Scott."
Unser has competed 13 times in the True Value IROC series and won the championship in 1986, his rookie year in IROC. He repeated as champion in 1988. Four of his 11 wins have come at Michigan International Speedway.
Unser drives full time in the Northern Light Series for Galles Racing in the No. 3 Starz SuperPak G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone. The IROC race is scheduled to get underway at noon (EDT) on June 9, and once that race is completed, Unser will fly to Texas Motor Speedway to compete in the Northern Light Series' Casino Magic 500, which will be run under the lights at 8 p.m. (EDT). Eddie Cheever Jr., Mark Dismore and Buddy Lazier also will complete the IROC-Indy Racing daily double June 9.
"The most important thing to me right now is that Scott Goodyear has a speedy recovery," said Unser, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner. "As always, it is a great honor to be invited to race in IROC, and I am looking forward to a very competitive race in Michigan."
The IROC race at Michigan is the third of the four-race 2001 series schedule, and will be broadcast at 5 p.m. (EDT) June 9 on ESPN. The final race of the season will take place Aug. 4 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The IROC series matches drivers from various forms of auto racing in equally prepared Pontiac Firebird Trans Ams.
The total purse for the series is $1,025,000, with $250,000 to the season champion.
Text provided by Paul Kelly
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