Motor Racing: Unser Jnr claims crown

JACQUES VILLENEUVE won his first IndyCar race while Al Unser Jr secured his second championship with his second-place finish, writes Toni Toomey from Wisconsin. Nigel Mansell struggled through 50 laps on Lake Elkhart's four-mile course with an ailing engine.

In a bold move coming out of a spell under the yellow flag the phenomenal Villeneuve forced his way past Paul Tracy and Unser Jr to take the lead. He then held on to first place for the final 10 laps despite heavy pressure from the two Penske drivers.

Leading off the second row, Mansell's troubles began on the first lap with his Ford- Cosworth engine down on power. 'The car is working beautifully, it's just the engine,' a frustrated Mansell radioed to team manager Jim McGee. But even in the midst of disappointment Mansell refused to blame his team. 'It's nobody's individual fault. I don't know what we've done to deserve all this,' he said.

The final blow came as a puncture forced Mansell to limp back to the pits and he dropped to the back of the field. Mansell finished 13th in what is likely to be his last IndyCar appearance in the Midwest.