Motor Racing: Mansell blocked by Unser obstacle

WITH five races completed in the PPG IndyCar World Series, Nigel Mansell is still in very good form. He is healthier than he was a year ago when he was still recovering from early-season injuries. Newman-Haas, under the fine leadership of the team manager, Jim McGee, continue to deliver a quality product to their driver. Things should be looking better for the champion, who is only fourth in the points.

The big difference in the competition for Mansell this year is the former PPG Cup champion and two-time Indy 500 winner, Al Unser Jr, who is fired up about finally joining the same Penske team who so often in the past shared triumphs with his uncle and his father. Unser has the Penske chassis which is looking more and more like this year's magic.

Emerson Fittipaldi and Unser Jr had a little race of their own here. By the time Mansell had found the balance to match the Penske speeds he was already a lap down.

While questions about Mansell's immediate future in the series continue to circulate, the team owner, Carl Haas, emphatically states that there has never been a question that Mansell will finish the season in IndyCars. None the less speculation persists that Mansell may compete in some Formula One races this year. Mansell said: 'Anything can happen in motor racing.'

WISCONSIN INDYCAR 200-MILE RACE (Milwaukee) Leading finishers (race shortened by rain to 192 miles): 1 A Unser Jnr (US) Penske-Ilmor 192 laps; 2 E Fittipaldi (Bra) Penske-Ilmor 192; 3 P Tracy (Can) Penske Ilmor 190; 4 Michael Andretti (US) Reynard-Ford Cosworth 189; 5 N Mansell (GB) Lola-Ford Cosworth 189; 6 R Gordon (US) Lola-Ford Cosworth 189; 7 B Rahal (US) Lola-Honda 189; 8 R Boesel (Bra) Lola-Ford Cosworth 188; 9 J Villeneuve (Can) Reynard- Ford Cosworth 187; 10 B Herta (US) Lola-Ford Cosworth 187. Championship standings: 1 Unser 79pts; 2 Fittipaldi 54; 3 Michael Andretti 49; 4 Mansell 45.