Unser Jr.

The Indy Racing League's season opener at Homestead, Fla. is 13 days away and its biggest name still doesn't have a ride.

But, if Tom Kelley's team can pull things together in the next 48 hours, Al Unser Jr. will have a home for 2002.

And, if Greg Ray doesn't deliver sponsorship soon, he'll not be driving for Kelley Racing this year.

Kelley, who has fielded a two-car operation the past three seasons, could wind up with as many as three drivers or could just be down to Scott Sharp by March 2.

That's the reality of one of the IRL's most solvent and high-profile teams.

"There's a lot of things going on right now and we're all trying to make this scenario work but it's very challenging," said Jim Freudenberg, general manager for Kelley Racing.

"Tom (Kelley) has given me the mandate to run a third car for Al if I can make it work financially and get the equipment. Greg's deal is contingent on sponsorship and he's working his butt off to get it."

Unser's situation seems to change weekly. Out of a job when Rick Galles closed the doors earlier this winter, the two-time Indy 500 winner has been shopped to John Menard, A.J. Foyt, Fred Treadway, Chip Ganassi and Eddie Cheever but had no takers.

According to Freudenberg, the 40-year-old veteran has a sponsor and the stipulation is that he's got current equipment for all 15 IRL races.

"I don't have Al or his sponsor under contract yet and the deal is not done," said Freudenberg, whose sponsors, Delphi and Futuba, are two of the IRL's most loyal.

"Right now our major concern is equipment because we're not going to run Al Junior in last year's car. But to get an update kit from Dallara and have a finished product is pretty much a one-week project. Our truck leaves for Homestead next Monday so we're up against the clock.

"But, if we can get the equipment issues solved, then Al's got a ride."

Manpower is not an issue for the Indianapolis-based team, although Freudenberg fears that engines could be a problem if all three cars make the rotation.

"You can't run three cars for three races in March with only 14 engines so that's also a concern," he said.

As for Ray, who took over Mark Dismore's seat, the clock is also ticking because his sponsorship hasn't been secured.

"Tom said he took one of his best friends (Dismore) out of the car and he isn't going to treat Greg any worse or any better than he did Mark but that if the money wasn't there, the car was not running," said Freudenberg. "Mark would still be on this team if we'd had a sponsor for him.

"But, in fairness to Greg, he's run into a lot of walls and had some issues based on the economy."

Ray, who tested over the weekend for Kelley at Homestead, could not be reached for comment and Unser told ESPN over the weekend that he wasn't going to give up.

"If I don't get something for this year then I'll just wait for next year," he said. "I'm not going to quit."