Al Unser Wiki

                                                Al Unser Biography

Who was Al Unser ?

Al Unser, a driver who has won the Indianapolis 500 four times during his career, has died after a long illness at his home in Chama, New Mexico, Indianapolis Motor Speedway reported early Friday.


Alfred Unser was an American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of fellow racing drivers Jerry and Bobby Unser, and father of Al Unser Jr. Wikipedia

Unser, known as “Big Al” once his own son made a name for himself in racing, is part of an elite club of four-time “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” winners.


Unser won the Indy 500 in 1970, 1971, 1978 and 1987, and is the only driver in history to have a brother and son also winning one of the most important races in the world.

Al Unser, Sr. poses with the Cotton Owens Dodge that drove to fourth place in the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

How old was Al Unser ?

 May 29, 1939, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Children:

Al Unser Jr.

Siblings:

Bobby Unser, Jerry Unser Jr.

Al Unser Death

Indianapolis Motor Speedway said early Friday that Unser died at his home in Chama, New Mexico, with his wife, Susan, by his side. He had been battling cancer for 17 years. Unser is the third member of one of America’s most famous racing families to die in 2021. His older brother, three-time Indy 500 winner Bobby Unser, died in May, and Bobby Unser Jr. passed away six weeks after his father. Known as “Big Al” once his own son made a name for himself in racing, Unser is part of an elite club of four-time “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” winners. Unser won the Indy 500 in 1970, 1971, 1978 and 1987, and is the only driver in history to have a brother and son also winning one of the most important races in the world. His final victory at age 47 made him the oldest winner in Indy 500 history. He dominated his first Indy victory in 1970 by starting from pole and leading all but 10 of the 200 laps. Unser beat runner-up Mark Donohue by 32 seconds that year.

Family


“Rest in peace an amazing three-time @IndyCar champion and four-time # INDY500 winner Al Unser,” he posted. “It was an absolute honor to attend his baby ceremony @BorgTrophy. His speech was so funny and charming. A great respect. My condolences to his family.”

Sato was referring to the 18-inch replica of the Indy 500 winner’s Borg-Warner Trophy kept in the circuit museum. Unser was honored in May alongside friends and family, the Associated Press reported. The report also said that he was to be honored in 2020 on the 50th anniversary of his 1970 victory in Indianapolis, but the celebration was postponed due to the pandemic.

Al Unser Sr. drives the Marmon Wasp during the 100th race of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 29, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Unser was born in Albuquerque in 1939 to a running family. His father Jerry Unser and two uncles, Louis and Joe, were also drivers. Beginning in 1926, the family began competing in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, an annual race held in Colorado.

Al’s older brother Jerry became the first Unser to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in 1958; he died in an accident during practice the following year.

“Some days the track smiles at you and other days, you do it the other way around,” Unser said during the July celebration. “You are not always going to think that you are going to win because your chances are very slim. There are 32 other guys who love it as much as you do. “Unser received his” Baby Borg, “the 18-inch replica of the Indy 500 winner’s Borg-Warner Trophy found in the circuit museum, during a celebration in May. with family and friends. He was scheduled to be honored in 2020 on the 50th anniversary of his 1970 Indianapolis victory, but the celebration was postponed due to the pandemic. Castroneves and two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato both praised Unser on social media, and Sato called Unser’s speech at the May winners ceremony “very funny and charming.” “Great respect,” Sato said. Unser, the youngest of four racing brothers, was born in Albuquerque in 1939 in a family of hardcore runners. His father Jerry Unser and two uncles, Louis and Joe, were also drivers. Beginning in 1926, the family began competing in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, an annual race held in Colorado.

Wife


Unser is survived by his wife, Susan, and his son, Al Jr., preceded in death by his daughters Mary and Deborah.

Al’s older brother Jerry became the first Unser to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in 1958; he died in an accident during practice the following year. Unser started racing himself in 1957 when he was 18 years old, but he raced primarily in speed cars. He came to Indy in 1965 driving in a car owned by Foyt and was part of the rookie class with future Indy 500 winners Mario Andretti (1969) and Gordon Johncock (1973, 1982). “Al was one of the smartest drivers I’ve ever faced,” Andretti said. “I often said that I wish I had had some of his patience.” The Unser family combined for 73 starts in the Indy 500 race, a number surpassed only by the 76 starts of the Andretti family. Unser’s participation includes Al (27 runs), Bobby (19) and Al Jr. (19), as well as Johnny (five), Robby (two) and Jerry (one). Unser was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 1986 and into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1998. His collection of trophies and cars is housed in the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque.

Source: wikisoon

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