Like the names Petty and Earnhardt in NASCAR, the names Foyt, Andretti, and Unser are as much a part of Indy Racing as the cars themselves.
Unser family patriarch Al Unser Sr. died December 9, 2021 after a 17 year battle with cancer in his Chama, New Mexico home at the age of 82. His wife Susan was at his side at the time of his death.
Unser is one of only four drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 four times; along with AJ Foyt, Rick Mears, and Helio Castroneves. The Unsers are the only racing family to have two brothers and a son win the famed race. His final win at age 47 made Unser the oldest driver to win the Indy 500. He also holds the record for leading the most laps in the 500 with 644. The Unser family has a total of 73 Indy 500 race starts; second only to the Andretti’s with 76.
Along with his Indy 500 wins, Unser was crowned the Indy car champion three times including beating out son Al Jr for the title in 1985. He ran five races in NASCAR including the 1968 Daytona 500 and took home the win three IROC – International Race of Champions – races. IROC pitted 12 drivers from different race disciplines and put them in identical cars for a racing series. He is also a member of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway International Motorsports Halls of Fame.
Albert Unser Sr was born on May 29, 1939 into a family of racers in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The youngest of four racers, Al, his brothers, father, and two uncles all raced. The Unser family began their racing legacy in 1926.
Older brother Jerry was the first Unser to qualify for an Indianapolis 500 but unfortunately died the following year in a practice crash. The family houses their race win and championship trophies at the family museum in Albuquerque.
Predeceased by brother Bobby and nephew Bobby Jr and daughters Mary and Deborah, Al is survived by his wife of over 40 years Susan and son Al Jr.
feature photo credit: [[File:Al Unser, Sr. Lola T500 at Goodwood 2014 001.jpg|Al_Unser,_Sr._Lola_T500_at_Goodwood_2014_001]]