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INDY 500: Al Unser Jr. entered in 84th Indianapolis 500 with Galles ECR Racing

1 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

INDIANAPOLIS- Its official: Indys favorite son is coming back to chase the legends and a piece of family history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Galles ECR Racing LLC filed an entry Feb. 29 for two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. for the 84th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Unser, from Albuquerque, N.M., will drive the #3 Galles ECR Racing Tickets.com Starz Encore Superpak G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone. The team also has entered an identical backup car. Darren Russell is the chief mechanic and team manager.

"Every day were thinking about getting back to the Speedway," Unser said. "Thats the way its been for years. As we get closer, things are getting more exciting."

With a victory, Unser would become only the ninth driver to win the Indianapolis 500 at least three times. Two other members of that club are in his family - his father, four-time winner Al Unser; and his uncle, three-time winner Bobby Unser.

A victory by Unser also would increase his familys victory total at Indianapolis to 10.

"If you win any Indy, youre in elite company," Unser said. "Even if you win it once. Indy just has so much history and tradition. Its the most important race in the world, and were looking forward to being a part of it again come Memorial Day weekend."

This will be Unsers first attempt to qualify at Indy since 1995. He missed the last four races while competing in CART but moved to Galles ECR Racing for the start of the 2000 Northern Light Indy Racing Series season. He finished 24th in his debut at the Delphi Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway, dropping out after 64 laps due to engine failure.

Despite the initial disappointment at the season opener, Unser has no doubts about the mechanical package that he and the Galles ECR team will bring to Indy in May.

"Were definitely confident with what weve got," Unser said. "Franz Weiss is our engine builder, and he is the best engine builder in the business. We just had a hiccup in Orlando. Thats all it was."

Unser won at Indy in 1992 with Galles Racing by .043 of a second over Scott Goodyear, the closest finish in event history, and won again in 1994 with Team Penske. His victory in 1994 from the pole position was his last start in the race, as he and Penske teammate Emerson Fittipaldi failed to qualify in 1995.

Unser will attempt to make his 13th career start this year at Indianapolis. He has nine top-10 finishes in 12 starts during his career, including seven in the top five.

"It takes a whole team, it takes everything," Unser said about his formula for success at the Speedway. "It takes a good engine, a good chassis and a car that can go 500 miles. It takes Lady Luck on your side, too. It takes everyone working together toward that goal."

Text provided by IMS

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