Unser

ALBUQUERQUE -- Al Unser Jr.'s bid to return to the days when he won the Indy 500 twice have been dealt a blow by his arrest on domestic violence charges after his girlfriend said he hit her while drunk.

But even as girlfriend Jena L. Soto downplayed the accusations that led to Unser's arrest Tuesday on misdemeanor charges, former Unser employee Steven Schweissgut accused him of drug use, the Albuquerque Journal reported Friday in a copyright story.

Schweissgut told the Journal he had used drugs and had provided them to Unser on occasions in 1998 and 1999. Schweissgut said he was going public to get help for Unser, who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1992 and 1994 but whose career and personal life nosedived in the late 1990s.

Schweissgut, who now lives and works in Toronto, alleged Unser used marijuana and cocaine, but more marijuana than cocaine.

"At times, I did supply it to him. He used more pot than coke. He smoked pot every day,'' Schweissgut said.

Unser said his attorneys would not let him talk. He left Indianapolis on Thursday for Chicago, where he is slated to drive Saturday in an International Race of Champions.

"Due to my current circumstances, I can't say anything,'' he told the Journal. "Once my situation is resolved, I will answer any question about anything. I'll be happy to answer questions then, but I can't now.''

Unser's uncle, Bobby Unser, said he does not believe his nephew is taking drugs now.

"From the best I can figure out, he hasn't been doing drugs for quite a while,'' he said. "When I looked into it, I think it has been two years.''

"I hope this is a wakeup call for him,'' said Bobby Unser, a three-time Indy winner who lives in Albuquerque. "He is going to have to make an effort to help himself.''

"I have tried to talk to him. That doesn't do any good,'' he said. "He's in denial. I think denial is the key word in all this.''

Soto, 38, of Albuquerque said she has been with Unser Jr. four years and has never seen him use drugs.

She initially told police Unser was drunk and struck her Tuesday while she was driving him home from an Indianapolis strip club. She accused him of hitting her in the face and leaving her on the side of an Indianapolis highway in the middle of the night.

Police said she downplayed the events in a taped statement late Tuesday. Detectives said they would rely on prosecutors to decide, likely next week, if the case should move forward. A hearing is set July 19.

Soto told the Journal she would not press charges against Unser and that she and Unser are still a couple.

"I really don't know what I'm allowed to say. This has all been blown out of proportion. I called the police just to get a ride home because I didn't know anyone in Indianapolis,'' Soto said.

Unser, 40, is divorced from his wife of two decades and went four years without a victory before winning in Las Vegas in spring 2000.

Last winter he lost 32 pounds and went through conditioning. He signed with Kelley Racing in late spring and has been having his best season in years, ranked sixth in the Indy Racing League point standings.

The IRL is looking at whether Unser violated rules and if any action should be taken against him.

"It is too early to determine if this is a matter that will require the league to take any action,'' said Ron Green, director of media relations for the IRL.

Green said Unser had met with Brian Barnhart, the IRL's vice president of operations.

The IRL has rules against assault or battery, alcohol or substance abuse and improper conduct. The rules state that violations "may be grounds for suspension or other penalties.''