30 Jun 2004, 04:58
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#1
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Racer
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 358
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Al Unser Jr.
http://www.indystar.com/articles/2/158647-7122-092.html
Let's see. 2 Indy 500 wins. 3 IRL wins and 31 Cart wins. Very impressive career. Good luck to him !
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__________________
Money is the fuel of any race team
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30 Jun 2004, 06:53
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#2
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Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 12,056
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Oh wow , this is news.
Im kinda sad in a way Little Al no matter what anyone says about him has been a fantastic driver over the years and I for one will miss him.
his 2004 season hasnt been that great as we all know and I hope whatever he decides to do he does it well and enjoys is.
I guess he has his sons career to concentrate on now and what better coach could you want than Al.
All the best Al and thanks for all the memories 
Now I wonder who will replace him at Patrick ????
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In Loving memory of Peter Brock
I hate it when im driving in a straight line & Seb Vettel runs into me
GO THE MIGHTY HAWKS !!!!
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30 Jun 2004, 07:37
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#3
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,845
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I'm not surprised he decided to retire, although I would have thought it would have come at the end of the year.
He most certainly hasn't got anything left to prove, so I think he should be happy with what he has accomplished. Not to mention he won a race last year, so he's going out while still being good (unlike some other drivers that cling on way, WAY too long - like Darrell Waltrip), even though the results this year don't reflect that.
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30 Jun 2004, 07:43
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#4
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Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,490
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Maybe he should have chosen Indy500 as a place to retire, like Michael Andretti did last year, anyways his time to call it a day has clear arrived.
I'm happy about his only unfulfilled dream, the one he privately confessed to Alex Zanardi, that of dieing in a crash at Indy.
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__________________
You got to learn how to fall, before you learn to fly
P.Simon
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30 Jun 2004, 08:10
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#5
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Subscriber
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,799
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He's had one awesome carrer, so much to be proud of. Thanks for all the memories, Little Al
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I can't drive 55.
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30 Jun 2004, 08:12
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#6
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Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 8,094
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Al Unser Jr. has always been, and always will be, one of my all-time favourite drivers. I'll miss the King of Long Beach, and wish him well. Having had the opportunity to meet him several times, he was always extremely pleasant and obliging to me, the average fan.
Editted in a vain attempt to hide my own stupidity.
Last edited by macdaddy; 30 Jun 2004 at 09:20.
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__________________
Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus!
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30 Jun 2004, 08:48
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#7
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Rookie
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 15
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Apparently it is going to be Jeff Simmons....
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30 Jun 2004, 09:36
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#8
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Registered User
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,661
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I remember Al's great days in 1994.
Sadly, since then he's been in decline and his reputation, for various reasons, has taken a hammering.
He'll always be a legend though - I just wish he'd made this decision a few years ago.
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30 Jun 2004, 09:48
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#9
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Registered User
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,661
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Jeff Simmons is the confirmed replacement.
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30 Jun 2004, 10:10
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#10
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Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 12,978
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Great to see Jeff get a ride which should prove reasonably competitive. He showed extrememly well at Indy.
As for Al, is it posisble that he hasn't 100% recovered from his off-season injuries, ro that he was low on motivation afte rthe 500, given that he hasn't got a chance of challenging for the title? He did very well at Kelley last year, even beating the identically-engined Scheckter, so maybe the speed is still there.
In any case, I hope retirement treats him well, he deserves better personal circumstances.
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30 Jun 2004, 10:38
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#11
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,845
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On a personal level I think helping 'just Al' with his career will do Al Jr. good. That way he will still be around the world of racing that he no doubt still loves but without the strain that comes with being a driver in a high-profile championship.
Then again, watching your son race would, I reckon, be a different sort of strain altogether 
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30 Jun 2004, 14:16
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#12
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 Race Official Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,215
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I wish him well....he was always a great racer, and really fun to watch....
I plan to watch the local newscasts here at 11 a.m. and noon...and where will the 11 a.m. news conference to announce his retirement be held...where else??
Indianapolis Motor Speedway....a place that means more to him than any other racing venue on Earth....
There is not doubt that the emotions of the moment will overcome him, and my heart will go out to him...
Thanks, "Little Al," for many great years of watching you race...
We will miss you....
Last edited by Tim Northcutt; 30 Jun 2004 at 14:18.
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__________________
Finally...
One American Open Wheel Series!
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30 Jun 2004, 20:55
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#13
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 576
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A great career for little Al. It would of also been nice to see him in F1 in the late 80's or early 90's. Hopefully we shall see his son in indy cars someday.
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30 Jun 2004, 21:54
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#14
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Veteran
Join Date: May 2002
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Vilafranca del Penedés, CATALONIA |
Posts: 5,276
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A great career for Al, but I'm sure he'd like to have had better years ever since 1999. It seemed that ever since his Elkhart Lake 1996 blowup all his luck went!
To be honest, I've only seen CART since 1997 and I know that the Al I saw is not the same that dominated racing in 1994. 2 titles, 2 Indy 500, 31 wins and loads of them in IROC as well, good history.
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"Many people depend on motor racing for their livelihood, to them it is a business. To me, it is a sport."
-Jim Clark
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30 Jun 2004, 23:38
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#15
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Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 8,094
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Not to knock Al - I'd NEVER do that - but Nigel Bennett handed the 94 championship to Penske on a silver platter. In fact, that can't be seen as a knock at all - as he beat both Emmo and PT to that title. Not bad company.
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__________________
Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus!
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