Bobby Unser, three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and a larger-than-life, colorful character in racing who would talk to anyone anywhere about « the greatest sport …
Bobby Unser, three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and a larger-than-life, colorful character in racing who would talk to anyone anywhere about « the greatest sport in the world, » passed away at his home in Albuquerque, N.M., Sunday at the age of 87. Unser was best known in racing for being the first driver to win the Indy 500 in three different decades,1968,1975 and 1981. Only four-time-winner Rick Mears has surpassed Unser in number of wins. Unser is one of just 10 drivers to have won the Greatest Spectacle in Racing more than twice, a list which also includes his brother Al Unser Sr. (1970,1971,1978 and 1987). He was also the uncle of two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr. Unser was born Feb.20,1934, in Colorado Springs, Colo., the third of four brothers, and when he was a year old, the Unser clan moved to Albuquerque. As his racing career blossomed into legendary status, including becoming the first of the Unser family to win the Indy 500, the city quickly became forever tied to the racing dynasty. Unser began his racing career as a teenager in 1949 at Roswell Speedway, and he won his first championship of any sort in Southwestern Modified Stock Cars in 1950. Following a three-year stint in the Air Force (1953-55), he and brothers Al and Jerry shifted into USAC racing. By 1962, Unser was driving Indy cars. His first Indy 500 came in 1963, where he started last and jumped up to 16th by the end — a fitting start to a career that saw him run and win his final Indy 500 in 1981, where he started and finished on top with Team Penske. « There simply was no one quite like Bobby Unser, » Roger Penske said Monday. « Bobby was a ferocious competitor on the track and his larger-than-life personality made him one of the most beloved and unique racers we have ever seen. » Mario Andretti said Monday he knew Unser wasn’t doing well. He’d been talking to Unser and people in their tightknit racing circles. « I wasn’t ready for this news. You know, you can never prepare for that, » he said. « When you here it, you’re still in shock. » Andretti said he’s been reminiscing on all the days he and Unser spent together. « Just working…trying to kill each other on the track and having a beer later, » he said. « The rivalry we had, there was a lot of comradery with that for sure. » One of the most notable rivalries between the two ended in the most controversial Indy 500 finish ever in 1981. It was the last pit stop for Unser and Andretti and the race was under caution on Lap 149. When the two pulled out of the pits together, Andretti said he watched Unser pull off an illegal move. By the rule book, which has the same rule today, if the field is alongside a driver coming out of the pits, that driver is supposed to look at the end of the wall and, whichever car he or she sees, blend in behind that car at Turn 2. « I watched Bobby (pull out of the pits) and just accelerate to the front, right in front of the pace car, » Andretti told IndyStar in 2019. « I’m screaming to my guy on the radio, ‘What the hell is going on?’ Bobby went right up with the pace car. » The driver Andretti saw at the end of the wall as he pulled out of the pits was A.J. Foyt. Andretti passed a couple of cars, but then fell back. That left 11 cars between Unser and Andretti. At race’s end, Andretti crossed the finish line in second place. Unser was the winner. Unser denies having done anything illegal. « Everybody would like for me to say that the whole thing was Mario (should have won), » he said. « The truth of the matter is it is not. » Unser crossed the finish line first and was the unofficial winner but the next morning, Andretti was declared the victor. Five months later, after court proceedings, Unser was given the win back. Andretti wouldn’t give the ring back. It was a feud like none other. Two of the biggest names in auto racing — the international star Andretti and America’s racing prom king Unser — in a battle. Never short on speed or opinions, Unser spoke his mind and didn’t care whether those around agreed with what he was saying.
