BOOZE, DRUG ALLEGATIONS ROCK LITTLE AL

The accusation earlier this week that Al Unser Jr. hit his girlfriend as
they argued over who would drive after leaving a strip club was a blow to
the Indy racing star's struggle to climb back into the limelight.

But even as Gina Soto played down the domestic violence issue Thursday,
talk of Unser's alleged drinking and drug use exploded in the national
sports media.

The source of the drug allegations was a former Unser employee, who was
quoted on ESPN.com as saying that Unser used marijuana, cocaine and drank
heavily.

The former employee, Steven Schweissgut, told the Journal on Thursday that
he had also used drugs and had provided drugs to Unser on some occasions in
1998 and 1999. Schweissgut said his motive for going public was to get help
for the two-time Indianapolis 500 champion whose career and personal life
had fallen on hard times in the late 1990s.

"Al used cocaine two or three times weekly," said Schweissgut, who now
lives in Toronto, where he works in a General Motors parts distribution center.

"At times, I did supply it to him. He used more pot than coke. He smoked
pot every day," Schweissgut said.

Unser said that his attorneys would not allow him to talk.

"Due to my current circumstances, I can't say anything," Unser said on his
cell phone. "Once my situation is resolved, I will answer any question
about anything. I'll be happy to answer questions then, but I can't now."

Unser left Indianapolis on Thursday morning to drive to Chicago, where he
is scheduled to drive in an International Race of Champions race on Saturday.

The Indy Racing League is taking a look at whether Unser violated rules
when he was arrested earlier this week for the alleged altercation with
Soto and if any action should be taken against him.

"It is too early to determine if this is a matter that will require the
league to take any action," said Ron Green, director of media relations for
the IRL.

"Al has met with Brian Barnhart," Green confirmed. Barnhart is the IRL's
vice president of operations.

The IRL has rules against assault or battery, alcohol or substance abuse
and improper conduct.

"The violations of laws, whether alcohol/substance abuse or any other laws,
may be grounds for suspension or other penalties," according to the rules.

Unser, 40, hit hard times in recent years, undergoing a messy divorce with
his wife of two decades and going four years before winning in Las Vegas in
spring 2000.

He appeared to be turning things around. He went through a conditioning
period, losing 32 pounds last winter, and signed on with Kelley Racing in
late spring. He is having his best season in years and is ranked sixth in
the IRL point standings.

Then on Tuesday, he was arrested and charged with domestic battery and
domestic violence for allegedly striking his girlfriend after leaving a
strip bar in Indianapolis.

According to police reports, Unser hit Soto and abandoned her along
Interstate 465 near the Indianapolis airport. She accused him of being
heavily intoxicated.

Soto confirmed to the Journal on Thursday that she would not press charges
against Unser. The Marion County Sheriff's Office has said it has a weak
case and might not be able to prosecute without her cooperation.

She said she and Unser were still a couple.

"Everything is fine," she said. "Right now, Al and I are not allowed to
speak, according to his bond."

Unser was released on $30,000 bail.

"I really don't know what I'm allowed to say. This has all been blown out
of proportion. I called the police just to get a ride home because I didn't
know anyone in Indianapolis," Soto said.

But the altercation has started a series of allegations of drug and alcohol
abuse.

Nationally syndicated radio talk show host Jim Rome quoted extensively from
the ESPN.com column that reported Schweissgut's allegations of drug and
alcohol abuse by Unser.

Callers heated up the lines on local talk shows, split between defending
Unser and castigating him.

"It's out now," said Bobby Unser, Unser's uncle. "I hope this is a wakeup
call for him. He is going to have to make an effort to help himself.

"People are going to be disappointed in him. We have supported him for
years," Bobby Unser said in a telephone interview from his Albuquerque home.

"I have tried to talk to him. That doesn't do any good. He's in denial. I
think denial is the key word in all this."

Bobby Unser said he believes that his nephew is not using drugs now.

"From the best I can figure out, he hasn't been doing drugs for quite
awhile," he said. "When I looked into it, I think it has been two years."

Soto said she has never seen Unser use drugs.

"I've been with Al for four years and Bobby has never been around. I'm
disappointed for Bobby because it's all rumors," she said.

Bobby Unser finds it ironic that an event he considers insignificant is
what has triggered everything.

"What Little Al and Gina did that night was the most nothing thing I have
ever heard of," said Bobby, a three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500.
"He didn't use a gun or a knife or a stick. What's the big deal about that?
This girl is a topless dancer. She's been down that road 100 times."

Soto has been described as a Las Vegas stripper in the media.

"What's so bad about that?" she asked. "And I'm from San Diego, not Las Vegas."

Schweissgut told the Journal that he was a personal assistant to Unser.

"When I went to work for him, it was under the guidance of (Al Unser)
Senior to keep him out of trouble. I'm a nobody. I'm not the issue. The
issue is that the guy needs help. I was just with him and I have details of
some of the things he did."

Schweissgut traveled with Unser through most of 1998 and into the spring of
1999. He said he left on amicable terms.

"It's funny. I saw what he did to Gina (last Tuesday). He did the same
thing to me once. We were coming back from Largo (Fla.) when he had a home
in Homestead (Fla.). I was driving and was drunk. He started shifting gears
and hitting me. I pulled over and got out and hitchhiked back home."

Schweissgut said that Unser was high on drugs when he gave away one of his
Indianapolis 500 rings to a woman in Las Vegas, Nev., in the spring of 1999.

"We were staying at the Hard Rock and she ended up with the ring. He was
all messed up. When I tried to talk to him about it, he said he'd just tell
everybody he'd lost it and they'd replace it," Schweissgut said.

"I said, 'Al this is your Indy ring.' Three weeks later, we did go back to
Vegas and she gave him the ring back," he said.