Mears Sought Treatment for Drinking

Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears was never scared in a race car. Alcohol is a different story.

“I’m a guy who’s always liked his beer,” Mears said Saturday. “A while back, I just felt like it was catching up with me, that I was starting to drink too much.”

Mears, 50, revealed that he checked himself into a treatment program twice--in mid-April and in late May.

Mears retired from driving after the 1992 season and currently is an advisor with Marlboro Team Penske. His story recalls that of Al Unser Jr., another champion driver who sought treatment for alcohol abuse earlier this month.