Background on Al Unser III: Al Unser III is in his fourth season in Firestone Indy Lights, driving for Playa Del Racing.
· Age: 25 (Birthday is Oct. 23, 1982)
· Career Starts/2008: 20 / 4
· Career Victories/2008: 0
· Career Top-Five Finishes/2008: 8 / 0
· Career Top-10 Finishes/2008: 15 / 2
· Career Poles/2008: 1 / 0
· Career Highlights: Earned Skip Barber Western Racing Series rookie of the year honors in 2002. Competed in Firestone Indy Lights and Champ Car Atlantic 2004-08.
· 2008 Highlights: Finished sixth at St. Petersburg 2 and 10th at Kansas Speedway.
· Off the Track: Son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. and grandson of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser.
Question: Let’s talk a little about Indianapolis. Obviously a very special place for your family. How much would it mean to you to win the Freedom 100?
AL UNSER III: Huge. I was there ‑‑ I just flew back to Henderson (Nev.) last night, and I’ve been hanging out in Indy watching the rookies going around and so forth. I was there; the Speedway was honoring my family for what they have done there. It means so much to be able to win at that track.
I was listening to Mario and some of the things he was saying about Indy, and he’s right; it’s a really fun place to race and it’s very challenging. It’s unlike any other place that I’ve been to, and to win there with what my family has done would be huge.
Question: Kind of in the same vein beyond winning the Freedom, how important is it to you to some day maybe get the chance to run in the 500?
AL UNSER III: Big. Watching those rookies going around, going, man, I can do this, it just made me itch to get in the car.
And then yesterday watching Marco (Andretti) set his fast lap, you know, he got a big tow off of Graham (Rahal), and I’m watching both of them run out there going, man, I should be right there with those guys.
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