Bobby Unser
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
| Indianapolis 500 Winners | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Four-time winners | |||
| 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 | ||