Unser Jr. faces more severe DWI charges

Unser Jr. faces more severe DWI charges

Published Jan. 5, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

Racing legend Al Unser Jr. is facing more severe drunken driving charges after a New Mexico judge granted a prosecution request for the upgrade based on a previous conviction.

KOB-TV reports that Unser, a two-time Indy 500 winner, was arrested in September after police say he was driving his SUV at speeds faster than 100 mph while racing another vehicle. Authorities say his blood-alcohol content was twice the legal limit.

Unser, known in racing circles as "Little Al," previously pleaded no contest to a drunken driving charge in 2007 in Las Vegas.

Unser, who is retired, was not at the hearing Wednesday because his appearance was waived.

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The charges have been changed from aggravated DWI 1 to aggravated DWI 2.

Unser is set to go to trial March 5.

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