Unser, Al (Alfred Unser, Sr.)
[key] 1939–2021, American automobile racing driver, b. Albuquerque,
N.Mex. In three decades (1964–94) under the aegis of the United
States Auto Club (later Championship Auto Racing Teams) he won the
Indianapolis 500 four times (1970–71, 1978, 1987), along with 35
other races. One of his brothers, Bobby Unser (Robert William
Unser), 1934–2021, b. Albuquerque, won the Indy 500 three times in
three different decades (1968, 1975, 1981). Bobby also broke his uncle
Louis's record by winning the Pike's Peak Climb 13 times. (Louis had set the
record at nine climbs.) Their older brother, Jerry Unser
(Jeremy Michael Unser, Jr.), 1932-1959, b. Albuquerque, was killed in a
crash during the trial runs for the 1959 Indianapolis 500 race. Al's son,
Al Unser, Jr. (Alfred Unser, Jr.), 1962–, also b.
Albuquerque, won the Indianapolis race in 1992 and 1994. The Unsers have all
also raced stock and sports
cars.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Sports: Biographies
