INDIANAPOLIS, July 12 – Racing legend Bobby Unser says his nephew has a drinking problem. Police arrested Al Unser Jr. earlier this week after his girlfriend claimed he hit her while she was driving, then left her at the side of the road at 3:30 in the morning.
Now, prosecutors say Jena Soto is downplaying what happened.
But Little Al's uncle Bobby isn't.
Bobby Unser says he's talked to his nephew about his drinking problem. "It’s been addressed, for sure. He knows about it, but not doing anything is the problem. In other words, knowing is one thing, doing something about it is another thing and he really needs to do something about it."
"His father and I told him this was gonna happen someday because someday it would become public knowledge, and it has now and we don't like it. And it's not the family with the problem, it's Al. He's just got to shape up and we're sad and we don't like it."
Al Unser Jr. is expected to be in court next Friday.
Soto originally told authorities she got in a fight with Unser while driving along I-465. She got out. Unser reportedly drove away and she called for help.
Deputies eventually arrested Al Jr. and charged him with domestic battery after a seemingly subdued 911 call for help.
Soto: "Hi, I am at I-70 and 465 in Indianapolis and I need assistance."
911: "Okay, you broke down?"
Soto: "No, my boyfriend is drunk and he just hit me. He took the keys. He won't let me have the keys and I am the designated driver."
With little physical evidence and a reluctant victim to drive the case, detectives say they have little to go on in this case.
