DOCUMENT: Sports, Crime

Race Car Driver Al Unser Jr. Busted

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Race Car Driver Al Unser Jr. Busted

Indy car champion Al Unser Jr. was arrested this morning (7/9) and charged with domestic battery for allegedly striking his girlfriend "numerous times" during an argument.

As detailed in this Marion County Sheriff's report, Jena Soto, 39, told deputies that she argued with a "very intoxicated" Unser as they drove home from the Classy Chassy, an Indianapolis strip joint. Soto, who was driving Unser's Chevy Blazer, claimed that the two-time Indy 500 winner tried to put the car in reverse or neutral several times, which almost caused her to crash.

Soto said that after she backhanded Unser, 40, in an attempt to get him to leave her alone, he smacked her several times, which left Soto complaining of "pain and then numbness in the right side of her face." At that point, Soto pulled the car over and got out along Interstate 465, where she was picked up by police after placing a 911 call.

Unser was later arrested in his motor home, which was parked on the infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (4 pages)