Unser Jr.

JOLIET, Ill. -- Al Unser Jr. matched his best qualifying effort in the IRL with a third on Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway. He also qualified third in June at the Texas Motor Speedway and finished second in the race.

The Delphi 300 is Unser's third race since spending three weeks in a rehab clinic for alcoholism. He was one of three drivers to go over 222 mph Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway.

''Third was good luck for us in Texas and I know we'll have a great car tomorrow,'' said Unser, whose last victory came at Gateway in 2001. ''At this track, like Texas, drafting is the key.''

Papis sighting

	Papis

Former CART driver Max Papis was visiting the Indy Racing League garage area Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway as he seeks a full-time ride.

After a very successful test with team owner Travis Carter's NASCAR Winston Cup team, however, Papis would like to become the first European to become a full-time driver in the stock car series.

"I'm considering every option that is around for me, whether it's CART, IRL or NASCAR," Papis said. "I want to work for a team in a consistent manner for several years. Driving the NASCAR Winston Cup was a lot of fun, a lot of horsepower on the car. The car is a big car compared to what I'm used to, but you can change things and the car reacts to it.

"When I went to the Bristol NASCAR race two weeks ago, I don't think I ever saw anything like that with that many people watching a race on a short track at night. I was shocked to see all the people there and the support. Every time Jeff Gordon was passing Dale Earnhardt Jr., the cheers of the fans were louder than the noise of the cars. That really impressed me."

The native of Italy believes it would be an honor to represent his country in what is generally an American-based series with American drivers.

"I'm not thinking of jumping into NASCAR immediately, but it would help to learn stock cars," Papis said. "I'm here looking around to keep all the options open to me. There is a lot of interest here. Travis Carter has an interest in me doing NASCAR and there are some teams in the IRL that would like me to drive.

"I have a great relationship with Eddie Cheever. I drove for him in the Indianapolis 500, but there are other teams that have talked to me about driving their race cars."

Papis declined comment on whether Honda or Toyota is trying to put a deal together to have him race in the IRL. Both engine manufacturers will leave CART at the end of this season to join the IRL.

Papis wants to compete in the Indianapolis 500 again after making his debut for Red Bull Cheever Indy Racing three months ago.

"To me, it was a dream and a big achievement driving at Indianapolis this year," Papis said. "It was maybe one of the biggest achievements in my career. I'm a racer, I want to win. I want to kick (butt), and that is what matters to me.

"I'm a racer and I can drive with the same passion on ovals that I have driven on street courses in CART. For me, it would be a great pleasure to work with an IRL team for several years or a NASCAR team."

Signed, sealed and delivered

	Giaffone

Second-year IRL driver Felipe Giaffone has renewed his contract with Mo Nunn Racing. Brazilian tobacco company Hollywood will remain as the sponsor of what could be a two-car IRL team with CART driver Tony Kanaan moving over.

"We're not sure what kind of equipment we are going to be using, but for the first time in my life, we're all set for next year," Giaffone said.

The driver said the team is deciding whether to run Honda or Toyota engines next season. It has yet to decide on chassis between Dallara, G Force and the new Falcon entry.

"In a few weeks, we should know what we are using," Giaffone said. "I think it will be a two-car team for next year, but it appears that it is going in that direction. I hope it's Tony Kanaan, but there are rumors that he has signed with Andretti/Green. Morris Nunn would like to have Tony on this team, though.

"Mo doesn't have anything guaranteed for CART and I know he is not happy with the engine deal in CART. It seems that a lot of teams are going to leave CART and come here."

Giaffone said there will be an exodus of drivers from CART to the IRL, and that makes deals more crucial.

Next year
Both the IRL and NASCAR will return to Chicagoland Speedway in 2003. The track will host the Tropicana 400 in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series on July 13, one day after the Tropicana Twister 300 for the Busch Series.

The IRL Delphi 300 will be run next Sept. 7.

New man in charge
Matt Alexander will replace Joie Chitwood III as the vice president and general manager of Raceway Associates, which runs Chicagoland Speedway. Alexander, currently the director of sales and marketing for Raceway Associates, will take over the post Oct. 1.

Chitwood is leaving for a management position at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Sweetness remembered
The Mi-Jack/Conquest Racing team is honoring the memory of the late Chicago Bears star Walter Payton in Sunday's race. Its car, driven by Laurent Redon, bears the No. 34, the same one Payton wore during his Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Bears.

''I was friends with Walter for a long time. His love of racing was second only to his passion for football,'' said Mi-Jacks Products president Mike Lanigan, who was a friend and business partner of Payton's.

Redon qualified eighth in the car Saturday. He will also have the word ''Sweetness'' on his rear wing during Sunday's race.

Bloodlines
The front row for Sunday's Pro Series 100 features two familiar names.

A.J. Foyt IV, grandson of the four-time Indy 500 winner, won the pole Saturday and Arie Luyendyk, Jr., son of the two-time Indy winner, was second in qualifying for the 150-mile race in the Infiniti Pro Series race.

Foyt, who has won three races and is the series points leader, won the pole with a qualifying speed of 178.338. Luyendyk ran a 177.140.

The SportsTicker contributed to this story.