Indy 500 record-holder Al Unser Sr passes away

Unser Sr’s older racing sibling Jerry was killed in a fiery accident at Indianapolis in 1958, but this didn’t deter him from making his Brickyard debut in 1965, finishing ninth.

Five years later, he was the 500 champion. The man from New Mexico completely dominated the race, starting from pole and leading 190 laps.

Taking home $271,697 from a $1,000,002 winner’s prize, which was the first to top $1m. With his brother winning the race two years previously, they became the first duo of brothers to win the 500. Al would also take his first IndyCar championship in the first year.

Al would win the race again the next year, and nearly took a third consecutive victory when he finished second to Mark Donohue in 1972.

In 1978, the Chaparral Lola Al had entered was considered a subpar entry, but when the man he had been fighting with for 75 laps, Danny Ongais, had his engine fail on on the 150th tour, he assumed an unassailable lead to win the classic for a third time.

Moving to the heavyweight Penske team in 1983, he would win the Indycar title again in ’83 and ’85, both times only taking one race victory but using consistency to claim the crown. During the latter season, he would beat his son Al Jr to the title by a single point.

Prior to his famous fourth win in 1987, Unser had been dropped by Penske. Entering the first week of practice for the 500, the New Mexican didn’t even have a drive.

Penske’s Ongais then concussed himself in a heavy crash during practice, meaning Unser Sr was brought back into the fold halfway through the second week of the ‘Month of May’.

Starting in 20th, Unser Sr steadily worked his way up the field as other cars dropped out, taking the lead on lap 183. He would hold onto it to tie with AJ Foyt as the most successful 500 driver, as well as beating his brother Bobby’s record for oldest victor.

After making sporadic Indycar appearances of the next six years, including subbing for the injured Nelson Piquet in ’92 to finish third, he would call it a day in 1993.

The Unser Racing Museum, opened in Albuquerque, remembers the sporting achievements of Unser Sr and his family. Built in the shape of a steering wheel, a central rotating exhibit shows new race cars and artefacts every few months.

The Indycar legend is survived by his wife Karen Sue Barnes, as well as two of his children, Al Jr and Mary, after his third child Deborah was tragically killed in a dune buggy accident in 1982.

Motor Sport extends its condolences to to family, friends and fans of Al Unser Sr.