He was 82. Unser died at his home in Chama, New Mexico, with his wife, Susan, by his side, Indianapolis Motor Speedway said early Friday. He had been battling cancer for 17 years.
In all, more than a dozen members of the Unser family have worked in auto racing, including Al Unser’s older brothers, Jerry and Bobby. Bobby Unser, who himself won the Indianapolis 500 three times, called the 1987 race, which Al won, for a national television audience.
How old was Bobby Unser when died?
Death. Unser died on May 2, 2021, at the age of 87 at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico from natural causes. Page spoke at his funeral service; Andretti and Roger Penske spoke via videotape.
Which Unser passed away today?
4-time #Indy500 winner Al Unser has passed away at age 82. “Al was the class of the field,” fellow competitor Johnny Rutherford said.
How many times did Al Unser Jr won the Indy 500?
Alfred Unser Jr.
(born April 19, 1962), nicknamed “Little Al”, “Al Junior”, or simply “Junior”, is a retired American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner.
Who won the Indy 500 4 times?
Unser won “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 1970, 1971, 1978 and 1987. INDIANAPOLIS — Al Unser, one of only four drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 a record four times, died Thursday following a long illness. He was 82.
How many Indy 500 wins does Al Unser Jr have?
The Unsers are the most successful family in the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with a total of nine victories in the Indianapolis 500.
When was Bobby Unser Jr born?
Bobby Unser, Jr., son of Bobby Unser and first wife Barbara, was born in 1955.
How many times was Bobby Unser married?
By this time Unser had been married three times. He had two children, Bobby Jr. and Cindy, with his first wife Barbara Schumaker. He also had two children, Robby and Jeri, with his second wife Norma Davis.
Did Bobby Unser win the Indianapolis 500?
Bobby Unser , in full Robert William Unser, (born February 20, 1934, Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.—died May 2, 2021, Albuquerque, New Mexico), American automobile-racing driver from a family of drivers, who won the Indianapolis 500 three times (1968, 1975, 1981).
How old was Bobby Unser Jr?
Unser Jr., son of legendary race car driver dies at age 65.
Did Bobby Unser win the Indy 500?
Unser won the Indy 500 in 1970, 1971, 1978 and 1987, and is the only driver in history to have both a sibling and a child also win one of the biggest races in the world.
Who has won the Indy 500 2 times?
Bill Vukovich won the 500 twice in 1953 and 1954, and was one the most respected drivers of his time. It was thought by many that Vukovich was on his way to becoming the most dominant driver in Indianapolis racing history.
Who won the Indy 500 3 times?
The top spot goes to Bobby Unser: He won the 500 three times—1968, 1975 and 1981—becoming the only man to win the race in three different decades.
Who has won the Indy 500 5 times?
No. Five drivers have won the race two years in a row: Wilbur Shaw (1939-40) Mauri Rose (1947-48)
What does Al Unser Jr do now?
Despite his success and driving for Penske, he became bankrupt but has worked hard recently to turn his life around. He’s found faith in religion and now spends time helping young drivers who lack the finances to make the next step up. “I’m excited, I’m scared, all of the above,” says Unser.
Who won the 1987 Indy 500?
May 24, 1987 – Al Unser Sr., behind the wheel of a year-old car he had to beg to drive, won his fourth Indy 500, tying A.J. Foyt’s record. At 47, Unser was the oldest to win the race.
Did Al Unser race Nascar?
NASCAR Cup Series career | |
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Last race | 1986 Winston Western 500 (Riverside) |
Wins Top tens Poles 0 3 0 |
Who won the 1978 Indy 500?
Unser won the Indy 500 in 1970, 1971, 1978 and 1987, and is the only driver in history to have both a sibling and a child also win one of the biggest races in the world. His final victory at age 47 made him the oldest winner in Indy 500 history.
How fast do Nascars go?
How fast are the NASCAR cars? The average top speed of a NASCAR car is just over 321km/h, or 200mph. Compared to a Formula 1 car, this is quite a bit slower, as they hit speeds of 360km/h (223mph). Indycar – another major American racing series – is faster still, reaching speeds of 380km/h (236mph).
How many miles is the Indy 500 race?
IndyCar Series | |
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Surface | Asphalt |
Length | 2.5 mi (4.0 km) |
Turns | 4 |
Lap record | 37.895 sec (237.498 mph; 382.182 km/h) (Arie Luyendyk, Reynard/Ford-Cosworth XB, 1996) |
Why is it called Indy 500?
How many laps and miles is the Indy 500? The Indy 500 covers a total of 500 miles – hence the “500” part of the name. The drivers cover that distance by doing 200 laps of the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval circuit layout.
Who is Bobby Unser dad?
‘One of the smartest race drivers’
Born on May 29, 1939, Unser Sr. was the youngest of four brothers in a family where father Jerry Unser and two uncles, Louis and Joe, had already started laying the groundwork for the ‘Unser’ name’s fame. Patiently, he waited for his chance in racing while the others took their turns.
Where was Bobby Unser buried?
Birth | 20 Feb 1934 Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, USA |
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Burial | Sunset Memorial Park Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, USA Show Map |
What is an Unser?
our; us; ours; on our part.
Who was Bobby’s teammate in his first Indy 500?
Mears‘ first win, in 1979, was the first at Indianapolis in a Penske-built car. A part-time driver for Penske when he was named rookie of the year in 1978, Mears started the ’79 race from the pole. When teammate Bobby Unser slowed because of gearbox problems with 19 laps remaining, Mears seized the lead for good.
Who won the 1970 Indy 500?
Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |
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Indianapolis 500 | |
Date | May 30, 1970 |
Winner | Al Unser, Sr. |
Winning team | Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing |