INDIANAPOLIS — Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. was arrested early Monday morning on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Avon.
The Hendricks County Sheriff's Office says Unser was arrested around 3:20 a.m.
Unser, now retired from racing, won the Indianapolis 500 in 1992 and 1994.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed Monday in Hendricks Superior Court, an Avon police officer observed Unser's vehicle traveling 59 mph in a 45 mph zone in the 500 block of South Ronald Reagan Parkway around 1:12 a.m. Monday. The officer turned around and began to follow the vehicle and observed the vehicle drift out of its lane of travel and then back into its lane.
After the vehicle pulled over, the officer noticed the driver, identified as Unser, to have red, glossy eyes, slurred speech and detected an odor of alcoholic beverages. When the officer asked Unser to exit the vehicle, Unser allegedly staggered while walking to the back of the vehicle, walked onto the embankment, lost his balance, fell down and rolled down the embankment.
Unser reportedly refused to participate in field sobriety tests. Police sought and were granted a warrant for a blood draw, which was completed at Hendricks Regional Hospital.
Unser is a member of the Harding Steinbrenner racing organization.
They released the following statement Monday morning about his arrest:
"The entire Harding Steinbrenner Racing organization is saddened to lear of Al Unser Jr's arrest on an OWI charge. Alcoholism is a disease and a continuing battle for those struggling with it. At this time, we do support Al in any way that he needs."
