Al Unser (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987)

In our first driver profile of the month of May, we analyze the extraordinary career of Al Unser, arguably the greatest racer in the history of the Indianapolis 500. 

Al Unser, or more commonly known as "Al, Sr." since his son started racing in IndyCar with him, holds numerous records at the Indy 500. The two most prolific of those records were both achieved in his 4th and final victory at the Brickyard. In that race, he joined A.J. Foyt as the only four time winners at Indianapolis (Rick Mears would join that club four years later). In the process, he became the oldest driver (47 years old) to win the 500. Also, on the last lap of the race, he set the record for most career laps led in the Indy 500. That record still stands today, now at 644 career laps led.



Unser started quickly on his way to that career laps led record. In 1970, Unser started on the pole and led 190 of 200 laps en route to his first victory at the Brickyard. He cruised to a 32-second victory that day in one of the most dominating performances in Indy 500 history. The following year, Unser took it another step as he became the fourth driver to win back-to-back 500's, again in dominating fashion. He led 103 of 200 laps and cruised to a 23-second victory.

In his quest for a third straight victory, Unser finished second in 1973 (a feat later repeated by Helio Castroneves in 2003). He also finished 3rd in 1977, and in the top 5 each year from 1982 to 1985.

Unser was back to his usual antics of domination at the Brickyard in 1978. Unser quickly got to the lead, and after his final pit stop with 20 laps left, he had a 30-second lead over Tom Sneva. However, he bent his front wing during that pit stop and was much slower, allowing Sneva to chip away one lap at a time. Sneva would run out of laps to catch Unser's wounded car, finishing 8 seconds behind of Unser in the second closest finish in the history of the 500 (at the time).

 The 1987 Indy 500 was full of ups and downs for "Big Al." Team Penske had such a great group of drivers, including Danny Ongais, Danny Sullivan, and Rick Mears, that there literally was no room for Al Unser on the team. He was dropped. During the first week of practice, though, Ongais crashed and suffered a concussion. With both car and driver unable to go, Roger Penske had a tough decision to make. In reality, it wasn't all that tough.

Penske called on old faithful, in two ways. He brought Al Unser in to take Ongais's spot in the 500, but also took an old chassis and engine, an '86 March-Cosworth, a chassis-engine combo which had won the previous four Indy 500s.

Cars kept dropping like flies left and right in front of Unser on race day. Mario Andretti had the car to beat, leading 170 laps. However, on lap 177, he slows and pulls into the pits with electrical problems. The second extremely fast car of Roberto Guerrero then took the lead, and quickly put the second place car of Al Unser a lap down. Guerrero still has to make his final pit stop, however.

And what a big pit stop it was! Guerrero stalls the car as he exits his pit box! This will make for a tight finish! Guerrero gets re-fired and pulls away, only to stall it AGAIN half way down pit lane! By the time he is back on track, Guerrero is a lap down. However, his speed puts him back on the lead lap, and a caution makes things a bit more interesting. However, with only four laps to go and six cars separating Unser and Guerrero at the restart, Unser can pretty much coast to a 4.5 second victory, his record-tying 4th.

Al Unser, Sr. is undoubtedly one of the best to ever race at Indianapolis. After his '87 victory, he got two more 3rd place finishes ('88 and '92). He always was in contention to win, and when his car and his team cooperated, he not only won but won big. A man we're all used to seeing at the front of the field, no matter at what age. One of the greatest of all time to race at Indianapolis, a fitting start to the Month of May.