It's a little disturbing when you see the end of the career you watched begin. I felt the same way when the Richfield Coliseum out lived its usefulness and was torn down, when Jack Nicklaus retired, and last week when Al Unser, Jr. announced his retirement.
It happens, though, and I've got to say that, for Unser Jr. it was time. As the son of Al Unser, who won the Indianapolis 500 four times, and the nephew of Bobby Unser, who won it three times, Little Al grew up with that event being one of his family's annual rituals. Sort of like some families go camping every summer.
Little Al won the race two times, including the closest Indy finish, .043 seconds over Scott Goodyear.
At the age of 42, after 21 racing seasons, he also can point to two CART championships and a total of 34 checkered flags in CART and IRL races.
Unser said he decided to retire from driving because he just did not want to do it any more. He has had his problems the last few years, treatment for chemical dependence, a messy divorce, a very public drunken fight with his girlfriend, a serious illness afflicting his daughter, and an ATV accident that fractured his pelvis.
He worked hard to find a ride with Patrick Racing and missed the first three IRL events of the season. In the three in which he competed, his best finish was 11th.
He said he made his decision after being the slowest qualifier and the 22nd finisher at Richmond.
I congratulate Unser on making the choice. It was the right thing to do.
It becomes apparent when a person just no longer has the will to continue his or her particular career. In some careers, you soldier on, in spite of the lack of "fire in the belly." The FIB just isn't necessary for some jobs.
But if your job puts you in a crowd driving at 200 mph for several hours, you've got to want to be there.
Unser plans to continue as an adviser for Patrick Racing and a mentor for his son, Al, who is competing in the IRL's feeder Infiniti Series.
Unser's announcement reminded me of the similar scenario Roger Ward went through when he retired in 1966.
Ironically, he died Monday at the age of 83.
Also a two-time winner of the 500, Ward was the oldest surviving winner.
He raced at Indy over a period of 15 years, starting in 1951. He won in 1959 and 1962.
Ward also won a total of 26 champ-car races and took the USAC championship twice.
His words at the 1966 Indy banquet were similar to those of Unser. He had finished 15th and said that he just didn't want to do it any longer.