An icon and hero to racing fans around the world. A history-making and beloved member of the IMS family. 4-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser has passed away at age 82. Godspeed, racer.
Simply put, Al Unser, Sr. was the greatest of them all at the Indianapolis 500, and he has the record to back that up. Not only did he win the race four times (1970-'71, '78, and '87), but he also finished second three times (1967, '72, and '83) and third four times (1977, '84, '88, '92), and also happens to be the race's all-time lap leader, with 644 leading laps to his credit. His 11 top 3 Indianapolis 500 finishes came while driving for FIVE different teams (Mecom Racing, Vel's-Parnelli Jones, Chaparral Racing, Penske Racing, and Team Menard with the tempermental Buick V-6 engine). And by the way, he also finished fourth in his one and only Daytona 500 appearance in 1968 in Cotton Owens' famed #6 Dodge (he was the only Chrysler driver to finish in the top 5 that day), was the only driver to win IndyCar Racing's Triple Crown, doing so in 1978, which also happened to be the same year he took the IROC title, and in 1985, added a win in the 24 Hours of Daytona, alongside fellow 4-time Indy champ A.J. Foyt, and Bob Wollek. That same year (1985), he would battle his son for the IndyCar championship, ultimately taking the title by one point.
@@kurtfoulke5130 Certainly the race's all-time laps led record is within the reach of Scott Dixon and the top finishes record might be within the reach of Helio Castroneves, who still has years to become a 5-time winner, but beyond those two, it's certainly hard to fathom anyone else reaching some of Al Sr.'s race records. The one many overlook is having top three finishes at with 5 different teams, or having top 3 finishes 25 years apart. One feat that certainly won't be equaled again is Al Sr.'s winning three 500-mile IndyCar races in one year, since only one is now run annually with Pocono off the schedule. Frankly, I'm not sure if there are any other tracks where it would be safe to run a 500-mile IndyCar race nowadays.
@@roddy6924 To Be Clear I mean RACER, not a stat monster. Although all of these have spectacular stats. 1. AJ Foyt 2. Mario Andretti 3. Ayrton Senna 4. Al Unser 5. Jim Clark honorable mentions - Jackie Stewart - Tony Stuart - Niki Lauda
@@me109aa That is an impressive list. AJ, Al, Mario & Tony all paid their dues the hard way and were masters on dirt too, which in my book puts them above most of the others.
@@kurtfoulke5130 Yeah, that is where my heart lies - race anything anywhere that is a racer! Hard to not include Senna and Clark (may have been number one had he lived), they both raced hard as nails.
An excellent tribute. Here in Brazil he was called by the announcers "Al Unser Pai" during the broadcasts of Indy races. I remember that in 1992 he raced in the car that belonged to Nelson Piquet, who was out of that edition after a big accident and came in third, still leading a few laps of the 500 Miles in Indianapolis. And he still competed in two more editions of that race, in 1993 where he even managed to lead a few laps and in 1994 he ended up failing to qualify for the race for the Arizona team.
Al Unser & his Johnny Lightning ⚡ Indy Car was my earliest racing obsession. I got to stand beside him after the 70 Longhorn 150 after finishing 2nd to my other hero, brother Bobby. I didn't get to see Al win @ Indy but I was lucky enough to be there when Al Jr did. Gone but not forgotten R.I.P. Big Al 🙏
RIP Al, you will be missed................................... 🏁
So sad to loose both Bobby and AL Unser in the same year, RIP to the Legends
Simply put, Al Unser, Sr. was the greatest of them all at the Indianapolis 500, and he has the record to back that up. Not only did he win the race four times (1970-'71, '78, and '87), but he also finished second three times (1967, '72, and '83) and third four times (1977, '84, '88, '92), and also happens to be the race's all-time lap leader, with 644 leading laps to his credit. His 11 top 3 Indianapolis 500 finishes came while driving for FIVE different teams (Mecom Racing, Vel's-Parnelli Jones, Chaparral Racing, Penske Racing, and Team Menard with the tempermental Buick V-6 engine).
And by the way, he also finished fourth in his one and only Daytona 500 appearance in 1968 in Cotton Owens' famed #6 Dodge (he was the only Chrysler driver to finish in the top 5 that day), was the only driver to win IndyCar Racing's Triple Crown, doing so in 1978, which also happened to be the same year he took the IROC title, and in 1985, added a win in the 24 Hours of Daytona, alongside fellow 4-time Indy champ A.J. Foyt, and Bob Wollek. That same year (1985), he would battle his son for the IndyCar championship, ultimately taking the title by one point.
It's hard to imagine anyone ever being able to come close to those accomplishments again.
@@kurtfoulke5130 Certainly the race's all-time laps led record is within the reach of Scott Dixon and the top finishes record might be within the reach of Helio Castroneves, who still has years to become a 5-time winner, but beyond those two, it's certainly hard to fathom anyone else reaching some of Al Sr.'s race records. The one many overlook is having top three finishes at with 5 different teams, or having top 3 finishes 25 years apart.
One feat that certainly won't be equaled again is Al Sr.'s winning three 500-mile IndyCar races in one year, since only one is now run annually with Pocono off the schedule. Frankly, I'm not sure if there are any other tracks where it would be safe to run a 500-mile IndyCar race nowadays.
One of the 5 finest racers ever.
Hi 🙂 Who would you pick for the other four?
Thankyou for your time.
@@roddy6924 To Be Clear I mean RACER, not a stat monster. Although all of these have spectacular stats.
1. AJ Foyt
2. Mario Andretti
3. Ayrton Senna
4. Al Unser
5. Jim Clark
honorable mentions
- Jackie Stewart
- Tony Stuart
- Niki Lauda
@@me109aa That is an impressive list.
AJ, Al, Mario & Tony all paid their dues the hard way and were masters on dirt too, which in my book puts them above most of the others.
@@kurtfoulke5130 Yeah, that is where my heart lies - race anything anywhere that is a racer!
Hard to not include Senna and Clark (may have been number one had he lived), they both raced hard as nails.
An excellent tribute. Here in Brazil he was called by the announcers "Al Unser Pai" during the broadcasts of Indy races. I remember that in 1992 he raced in the car that belonged to Nelson Piquet, who was out of that edition after a big accident and came in third, still leading a few laps of the 500 Miles in Indianapolis. And he still competed in two more editions of that race, in 1993 where he even managed to lead a few laps and in 1994 he ended up failing to qualify for the race for the Arizona team.
R.I.P Big Al
A real class guy. RIP.
Rest In Peace Al Unser Sr. You Are One My Favorite Race Car Drivers
I’ve had just about all the 2022 I can stand. A great ambassador, driver and champion. Godspeed, racer.
He will be missed RIP Al Unser
So sad to see another American hero go. RIP Al Unser. 🏁 🇬🇧
RIP Al. You will be missed. 🏁
Indeed
RIP Al, condoglianze a tutta la generazione Unser.
Bye Al. You were a gentleman and a class act.
RIP Al Unser Sr. One of the best american racing driver
Well done tribute. Thank you.
And Little Al would have had three Indy wins but for Fittipaldi using the dirty pit maneuver on the last lap.
Always had a boatload of respect for Al Sr, he may have been the best of the 4 time Indy winners & Mears was my IndyCar hero growing up...
Well done, racer. Godspeed.
Al was a great driver and one of the reasons I fell in love with the Indy 500 and racing! He will be missed but not forgotten! 🏎🏁🏁🏁🏁🏎👍
Al Unser & his Johnny Lightning ⚡ Indy Car was my earliest racing obsession.
I got to stand beside him after the 70 Longhorn 150 after finishing 2nd to my other hero, brother Bobby. I didn't get to see Al win @ Indy but I was lucky enough to be there when Al Jr did.
Gone but not forgotten R.I.P. Big Al 🙏
He should had race in Formula 1
Yeah,tons of Indycar greats should have gotten an full time F1 seat
@@yanibambang3047 Al Unser won in every racing category from Formula 5000 Can-Am, Sportscars and NASCAR
i was there at the 1987 win i loved it
RIP bis AL
RIP:(
Remembering himself Al Unser Sr. in Home Improvement.
RIP Al Unser
In dedicated to Jim Nabors... 1930-2017
We are losing all the greats of IndyCar