Unser Jr.’s Victory at Miami Gives Him Second in Series

Al Unser Jr. lost a chance to win $185,000 Saturday when he crashed in the Marlboro Challenge at Tamiami Park one lap from the finish.

Sunday, he was feeling better after winning the Nissan Indy Challenge. His fourth Indy-car victory of the season not only earned Unser $64,160, but gave him second place in the CART-PPG Indy-car series, behind series champion Danny Sullivan.

Sullivan won $300,000 for the title, and Unser’s second-place finish was worth $200,000.

“Money is nice, but I love racing,” said Unser, 26, of Albuquerque, N.M. “I try to win every race I run.”

Unser led 82 of the 112 laps in the 199.8-mile event, including the final 70 laps.

Rick Mears, the Indianapolis 500 winner, was second, 53.046 seconds behind Unser’s Chevrolet-powered March.

Didier Theys of Belgium was third, one lap behind, with Kevin Cogan another lap back in fourth. Sullivan and Bernard Jourdain of Mexico were fifth.

Sullivan, who started from the pole for the fifth straight time, appeared ready to turn it into his own runaway in the early going.

But Sullivan suddenly went to the pits at the end of lap 27.

He lost six laps repairing a broken rear suspension. Sullivan was one of the fastest cars the rest of the way, but was able to regain only two of his lost laps.