Difference between revisions of "Bobby Unser"

Latest revision as of 16:14, 11 May 2009

Bobby Unser's 1979 Penske Cosworth Indycar

Robert William "Bobby" Unser (born February 20, 1934 in Colorado Springs, Colorado) was a U.S. automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser and Jerry Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser. Often under-rated, he was an astute and occasionally very rapid exponent of the subtle art of oval racing. He is one of seven drivers to win the Indy 500 three times and one of only two to have won the 500 in three different decades (1968, 75, 81).

1981 Indianapolis 500

Bobby was apart of one of the most controversial finishes in Indy 500 history. In lap 149, during a caution period, Bobby and Mario Andretti made their pit stop and headed back to the race, the problem was Bobby passed 8 cars during the caution, while Mario passed 2 cars himself, a subject that was heatily debated on ESPN Classic's Big Ticket episode in 2000. Unser won the race, but was stripped the next morning to the 2nd place finisher Mario Andretti, but Unser got his win back in October 1981.

Other achievements

Bobby was the 1975 IROC champion.

Bobby Unser won the USAC Indy car championships in 1968 and 1974. He also competed in the 1968 United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International, driving for the BRM team.

He also drove in 3 NASCAR Grand National races from 1969 to 1973 with a best finish of fourth.

Broadcaster

He was a color commentator for Indycar races after his retirement.

Awards

He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990.
He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1997.
Unser was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1994.

Indy 500 results

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish
1963	Kurtis Kraft	Novi	16th	33rd
1964	Ferguson	Novi	22nd	32nd
1965	Kurtis Kraft	Novi	8th	19th
1966	Huffaker	Offy	28th	8th
1967	Eagle	Ford	8th	9th
1968	Eagle	Offy	3rd	1st
1969	Lola	Offy	3rd	3rd
1970	Eagle	Ford	7th	11th
1971	Eagle	Offy	3rd	12th
1972	Eagle	Offy	1st	30th
1973	Eagle	Offy	2nd	13th
1974	Eagle	Offy	7th	2nd
1975	Eagle	Offy	3rd	1st
1976	Eagle	Offy	12th	10th
1977	Lightning	Offy	2nd	18th
1978	Eagle	Cosworth	19th	6th
1979	Penske	Cosworth	4th	5th
1980	Penske	Cosworth	3rd	19th
1981	Penske	Cosworth	1st	1st

External link

Bobby Unser Photos

Indianapolis 500 Winners
Four-time winners	A. J. Foyt • Al Unser, Sr. • Rick Mears
Three-time winners	Meyer • Shaw • Rose • Rutherford • B. Unser
Two-time winners	Milton • Vukovich • Ward • Johncock • Fittipaldi • Luyendyk • Unser, Jr. • Castroneves
One win	Harroun • Dawson • Goux • Thomas • DePalma • Resta • Wilcox • Chevrolet • Murphy • Corum • Boyer • DePaolo • Lockhart • Souders • Keech • Arnold • Schneider • Frame • Cummings • Petillo • Roberts • Davis • Robson • Holland • Parsons • Wallard • Ruttman • Sweikert • Flaherty • Hanks • Bryan • Rathmann • Jones • Clark • Hill • Andretti • Donohue • Sneva • Sullivan • Rahal • Villeneuve • Lazier • Cheever • Brack • Montoya • de Ferran • Rice • Wheldon • Hornish

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 '''Robert William "Bobby" Unser''' (born [[February 20]], [[1934]] in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]]) was a [[United States|U.S.]] automobile racer. He is the brother of [[Al Unser]] and [[Jerry Unser]], the father of [[Robby Unser]], and the uncle of [[Al Unser, Jr.]] and [[Johnny Unser]]. Often under-rated, he was an astute and occasionally very rapid exponent of the subtle art of oval racing. He is one of seven drivers to win the Indy 500 three times and one of only two to have won the 500 in three different decades (1968, 75, 81).