'Little Al' Reunites with Past Crew Members: Unser Jr. Hopes Changes Will Put Him on Victory Lane in 2003 IRL Season

PLYMOUTH, Mich., April 14 -- Al Unser Jr. is excited about the Kelley Racing Corteco team's prospects for the 2003 Indy Racing League (IRL) season -- he has a new Toyota engine; a stronger, safer Dallara chassis; a new number; and most importantly, Kelley Racing has assembled a "Dream Team" in his quest for a third Indy 500 win.

Three members of the Corteco crew have worked with Unser Jr. in the past. Paul Harcus, who currently serves as team manager of Kelley Racing, was with Unser Jr. when he won his first CART championship in 1990. Unser Jr. has watched him grow from a first time mechanic that changed his left front tire at pit stops to the manager of a team.

Steve Newey, who serves as vice president of racing operations for Kelley Racing, built a relationship with "Little Al" when Newey worked on Danny Sullivan's car in the early 90's -- Unser Jr.'s teammate at the time.

Pat Jordan, who joined Kelley Racing in the 2002 season, serves as fueler for Unser Jr.'s Corteco-sponsored No. 31 car. He worked with Unser Jr. at Galles Racing during the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

"These guys are the best in the business and I am very proud to have them on board with Kelley Racing," said Unser Jr. "The experience they bring is immeasurable -- and combined with the wealth of knowledge and dedication from the other guys on our team -- the 2003 season could be our best yet."

Other crew members include: John Worth, crew chief and right front tire changer; Mark Sampson, lead mechanic and vent/air jack; Donnie Skinner, mechanic and right rear tire changer; Anton Julian, mechanic and left rear tire changer; A.J. Smith, gearbox specialist; Doug Kindig, transportation and left front tire changer; Paul Sheehan, transportation and tire specialist; and Scott Erickson, mechanic.

Corteco and Kelley Racing also hope that its decision to switch to the Toyota engine will help make 2003 a winning season. As a driver for one of the premier Toyota teams, Unser Jr. has immediate access to every improvement made as Toyota continues to develop its IRL IndyCar Series engine. The engine maintains the V-8, double-overhead cam, non-turbocharged configuration, but in a more compact design that reduces the total engine weight by approximately 35 pounds.

"We have a great opportunity with our Dallara/Toyota package for 2003," said Unser Jr. "With new teams entering the IRL, the bar for measuring total team performance continues to be raised. It makes us all better and makes the wins even more satisfying for everyone involved."

Unser Jr., a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner (1992 and 1994), drives the No. 31 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series car for the Kelley Racing Team. This is his 21st year in open-wheel competition. With an impressive record gained in more than 300 career starts, he finished the 2002 IRL championship in seventh place overall.

Now in its second year as Unser Jr.'s primary sponsor, Corteco specializes in automotive aftermarket sealing and vibration control products. Its product lines include Corteco engine gaskets, seals and gasket rebuild kits; MounTec engine, transmission and strut mounts and bushings; and TransTec transmission and power steering rebuild kits. In addition, Corteco produces oil seals, in- vehicle crankshaft seal kits and cabin air filters. Corteco is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., and maintains manufacturing and distribution facilities in Milan, Ohio and Newport, Tenn.

Corteco is the aftermarket business of Plymouth, Mich.-based Freudenberg- NOK, part of the Freudenberg and NOK Group Companies, which have total annual sales of nearly $7 billion. With worldwide automotive sales of approximately $4 billion, the Freudenberg and NOK Group was ranked No. 2 in global balance among top automotive suppliers (according to Automotive News International - Sept. 2001) and No. 22 in global sales among the world's top OEM automotive suppliers (per Automotive News - June 17, 2002).