Al Unser Jr.

Alfred Unser Jr. (born April 19, 1962) – nicknamed "Little Al" to distinguish him from his father, Al Unser – is an American former racing driver. Known primarily for his Championship Car career, Unser won two CART championships, and is a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500.

Early in his career, Unser found success in the Can-Am series, winning the championship in 1982. He joined his great uncle, uncle, and father, as a winner of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, doing so in 1983. He is a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona. He has the most Long Beach Grand Prix victories in history, winning six times.

History Unser was born into a racing family in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is the son of Al Unser and the nephew of Bobby Unser, both Indianapolis 500 winners. The Unser family has won the Indy 500 a record nine times.

Early career By the age of eleven, Unser was racing sprint cars. After high school, he was already in the World of Outlaws series of sprint car racing. He soon moved into road racing, winning the Super Vee title in 1981, and the Can-Am title in 1982.

Rising CART star In 1982, Unser made his debut on the CART circuit. He suffered personal tragedy when his sister Debbie was killed in a dune buggy accident, but this did not deter Unser; and a year later, he competed in his first Indianapolis 500, finishing ninth.

Hours after the race ended, Unser Jr. was issued a two-lap penalty by chief steward Thomas W. Binford for passing two cars under caution with less than forty laps to go as well as blocking the eventual winner, Tom Sneva, from passing his father with less than twenty laps to go. The penalty dropped him from an original finish of ninth to tenth. Despite being lauded for his performance as a rookie, Unser Jr. lost the Rookie of the Year award to Teo Fabi.

Unser continued racing on the CART circuit, becoming one of the series' rising stars. He finished second in the CART championship point standings in 1985, losing to his father by just one point. He began competing in the IROC championship in 1986, winning that championship with two victories in four races. At the age of 24, Unser was the youngest IROC champion ever. Unser won the 1986 and 1988 IROC championships, becoming the final Indycar driver to win an IROC championship. Unser won the 24 Hours of Daytona, also at age 24, in both 1986 and 1987.

Unser continued to improve on the CART circuit, finishing fourth in the points standings in 1986, third in 1987, second in 1988, and finally winning the series for the first time in 1990.

In 1989, Unser was on the verge of winning his first Indianapolis 500; unfortunately, while battling with Emerson Fittipaldi for the lead, the two touched wheels and Unser spun, hitting the wall and ending his chances of winning the race.

This Indianapolis 500 race is remembered for a show of sportsmanship, as Little Al climbed out of his wrecked racecar and gave Fittipaldi the "thumbs up" as he drove by Unser under the yellow flag. Unser would eventually have his day at Indy in 1992, as he went on to defeat Scott Goodyear by 0.043 seconds, a record that stood for 34 years the second closest finish in Indianapolis 500 history.

During the off-season, he drove in the 1993 Daytona 500 for Hendrick Motorsports finishing 36th in his only NASCAR start. He ran well in the race, running with the leaders all day, until a late crash with Kyle Petty and Bobby Hillin Jr. During an interview with Mike Joy after the accident, Joy asked him if he would be back. Unser said that he wanted to come back, but it would never happen. Unser also tested a Williams F1 car, but never competed in the Formula One series.

Penske years

In 1994, Unser again won at Indy, this time with Penske Racing. His teammates were Emerson Fittipaldi, the man whom he battled only five years earlier, and Paul Tracy. Unser turned in a dominant season-long performance, winning eight of sixteen races on his way to his second CART championship, as well as being named ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year.

In 1995, Unser, along with teammate Emerson Fittipaldi, failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. Unser would later point to this incident as the trigger event for his descent into alcoholism and the breakup of his marriage.

He would finish second to Jacques Villeneuve in CART championship points in 1995. He finished fourth in 1996, despite still having a chance of winning the championship late in the season.

Unser ranked 13th in 1997, 11th in 1998 and 21st in 1999. He was not helped by the fact that he had to sit out two races after breaking his leg in a first-lap accident in the season-opener at Miami. Little Al's decline in performance coincided with the Penske team's struggles with their in-house chassis, Mercedes engines, and Goodyear tires- which were being abandoned by most teams during this era in favor of Firestones.

Team Penske began abandoning the much maligned in-house Penske chassis for Lola chassis in 1999. By the end of 1999, Unser and Penske parted ways. Combined with the death of Gonzalo Rodríguez, Penske replaced Unser and Rodriguez with Helio Castroneves and Gil de Ferran. Unser would leave CART to join the budding Indy Racing League for the 2000 campaign.

Unser won a total of 31 races during his seventeen seasons in CART. His career win total including IRL stands at 34, which is currently the sixth-most all-time in American open-wheel racing (as of 2013). As a two-time Indy 500 winner and two-time overall points champion, Unser enjoyed a decorated career as one of the most dynamic and successful drivers in American auto racing.(9)

Indy Racing League Unser would go on to win a total of three races in his IRL career, but after breaking his pelvis in an all-terrain vehicle accident in October 2003, Unser had difficulty securing a ride for the 2004 season. He finally signed with Patrick Racing three races into the season, but after a 22nd-place finish in Richmond, Unser announced his retirement from racing on June 30, 2004. Unser continued to remain involved in racing, although outside of a driving capacity. He served as an adviser for Patrick Racing and worked as a mentor for his son, Al Richard Unser, who was working his way through the lower ranks of open-wheel racing.

Post-retirement racing and personal issues

In 2006, Unser announced his return to racing and that he would run the 2006 Indianapolis 500, teamed with former winner Buddy Lazier for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. This came just days after Michael Andretti also came out of retirement to run the 500. Unser qualified 27th in the 33-car field, and consistently ran in the upper half of the field until a crash ended his day.

In late August, Unser took part in an A1 Grand Prix test session at Silverstone.

On 25 January 2007, Unser was arrested near Henderson, Nevada and charged with driving under the influence, misdemeanor hit and run, failure to render aid in an accident, and failure to report an accident.

On May 2, 2007, it was announced that Unser would drive a car for racing legend A. J. Foyt in the 2007 Indianapolis 500, carrying the No. 50 on his car in recognition of A. J.'s 50 years at the storied race. Unser qualified in the 25th starting position after being bumped from the lineup on the second day of qualifying.

On May 18, 2007, Unser spoke publicly for the first time about his battle with alcoholism when he joined forces with LIVE outside the Bottle, a national educational campaign, to help the public understand the need to address and treat alcoholism.

During the race weekend of the 2009 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Unser confirmed that his IndyCar career was over. During the weekend, he returned to the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race that he won in 1985, and scored his second win in the event and his eighth Long Beach victory overall.

In 2010, Unser started the Race Clinic for Paralysis charity.

Unser is on the board of Baltimore Racing Development and helped announce plans for the 2011 Baltimore Grand Prix on August 17, 2009.

Unser was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2009.

On September 29, 2011, Unser was arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on charges of reckless driving and aggravated driving while intoxicated. Charges stemmed from an incident where Unser reportedly drag raced his Chevrolet Suburban SUV at speeds over . He was placed on indefinite suspension from his role with IndyCar.

In 2013, Unser entered a sportscar race at Thunderhill Raceway Park, the legendary 25 Hours of Thunderhill, racing with his son Al III as teammates. Unser dominated the race, but co-driver Ivan Bellarosa crashed the car.

In 2014, once again at Long Beach, he participated in the Pro/Celebrity race, finishing fifth, only 6.115 seconds behind winner Brett Davern and four other celebrities, winning the Pro Division (with a 30-second disadvantage assessed to professionals) for his ninth Long Beach victory overall, extending the "King of the Beach" nickname.

Later that year, Unser raced again at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, participating in the Indy Legends Charity Pro/Am race, during the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association's Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational event. This two-driver race included an Indianapolis 500 veteran in each car. Unser won the race, along with Peter Klutt, driving Klutt's 1969 Chevrolet Corvette. In so doing, Unser became the second driver to win on both the oval and road course at the Speedway.

In 2015, Unser participated in several Goodguys AutoCross competitions while racing Speedway Motors' 1970 Camaro. He also raced in the Sports Car Club of America Solo National Championship, placing second in his class, and is entered again at Thunderhill for the 25 Hours. Because of his age (over 50), Unser is eligible to drop down a level from professional class to an "amateur" class (Silver level) under the FIA driver rankings used for sportscar races, although the National Auto Sport Association does not use such ratings.

On May 20, 2019, just days before the 2019 Indianapolis 500, Unser was charged for DUI for a fourth time.

On October 1, 2021, Unser's memoir entitled A Checkered Past, co-authored by Jade Gurss, was published by Octane Press.

Personal life Unser Jr. (far left) with wife Shelley visiting United States president Ronald Reagan in 1986 along with father Al Unser, step-mother Karen Unser, uncle Bobby Unser, and aunt Marsha Unser Unser married Shelley; the couple later divorced. He has four children, Al Richard Unser, Cody Unser, Shannon Unser, and Joe Unser. Cody lost the use of her legs on February 5, 1999, when she was twelve years old. Shelley Unser died on August 15, 2018. On September 30, 2021, Unser married Norma Lawrence.

Motorsports career results Sports car results SCCA Can-Am SCCA Can-Am results Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rank Points 1982 Galles Racing Frissbee GR2 Chevy V8 ATL1 MOS1 MOH2 ROARet CTRRet MOS1 CPL2 RIV2 LAG1 1st 540

American open-wheel racing results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Formula Super Vee Formula Super Vee results Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rank Points 1981 Galles Racing Ralt RT5/81 VW Brabham CLT1 MIL1 WGl3 ROA2 BRN1 MIL1 MCH3 RIVRet PHX2 1st 98

PPG Indycar Series

IndyCar Series (key) IndyCar Series results Year Team No. Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points Ref 2000 Galles Racing 3 G-Force GF05 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 WDW25 PHX9 LVS1 INDY29 TXS3 PPIR10 ATL3 KTY27 TXS17 9th 188 2001 G-Force GF05B PHX23 HMS6 ATL17 INDY30 TXS8 PPIR11 RIR3 KAN20 NSH14 KTY4 GAT1 CHI8 TXS6 7th 287 2002 Kelley Racing 7 Dallara IR-02 Chevrolet Indy V8 HMS19 PHX5 FON11 NAZ12 INDY12 TXS2 PPIR6 RIR5 KAN17 NSH MCH KTY6 GAT7 CHI2 TXS20 7th 311 2003 31 Dallara IR-03 Toyota Indy V8 HMS13 PHX4 MOT5 INDY9 TXS1 PPIR14 RIR10 KAN14 NSH8 MCH9 GAT20 KTY4 NAZ6 CHI19 FON9 TXS9 6th 374 2004 Patrick Racing 20 Dallara IR-04 Chevrolet Indy V8 HMS PHX MOT INDY17 TXS11 RIR21 KAN NSH MIL MCH KTY PPIR NAZ CHI FON TXS 25th 44 2006 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 31 Dallara IR-05 Honda HI6R V8 HMS STP MOT INDY24 WGL TXS RIR KAN NSH MIL MCH KTY SNM CHI 35th 12 2007 A. J. Foyt Enterprises 50 HMS STP MOT KAN INDY26 MIL TXS IOW RIR WGL NSH MOH MCH KTY SNM DET CHI 32nd 10

Indianapolis 500 results Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team 1983 Eagle Cosworth 5 10 Galles 1984 March Cosworth 15 21 Galles 1985 Lola Cosworth 11 25 Shierson Racing 1986 Lola Cosworth 9 5 Shierson Racing 1987 March Cosworth 22 4 Shierson Racing 1988 March Chevrolet 5 13 Galles 1989 Lola Chevrolet 8 2 Galles 1990 Lola Chevrolet 7 4 Galles/Kraco 1991 Lola Chevrolet 6 4 Galles/Kraco 1992 Galmer Chevrolet 12 1 Galles/Kraco 1993 Lola Chevrolet 5 8 Galles 1994 Penske Ilmor-Mercedes 1 1 Penske 1995 Lola Ilmor-Mercedes DNQ Penske 2000 G-Force Oldsmobile 18 29 Galles 2001 G-Force Oldsmobile 19 30 Galles 2002 Dallara Chevrolet 12 12 Kelley 2003 Dallara Toyota 17 9 Kelley 2004 Dallara Chevrolet 17 17 Patrick 2006 Dallara Honda 27 24 Dreyer & Reinbold 2007 Dallara Honda 25 26 Foyt

NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series NASCAR Winston Cup Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Pts Ref 1993 Hendrick Motorsports 46 Chevy DAY36 CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 81st 55

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1993 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 40 36

International Race of Champions (key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.) International Race of Champions results Season Make 1 2 3 4 Pos. Pts Ref 1986 Chevy DAY11 MOH1* TAL7 GLN1 1st 62 1987 DAY5 MOH4 MCH1* GLN2 2nd 65 1988 DAY4 RSD3 MCH3 GLN1* 1st 66 1989 DAY4 NZH4 MCH5 GLN1* 2nd 60 1990 Dodge TAL2 CLE2 MCH5 2nd 44 1991 DAY4 TAL10 MCH3 GLN3 5th 47 1992 DAY6 TAL7* MCH7 MCH1* 3rd 59 1993 DAY3 DAR TAL1* MCH3 2nd 60.5 1994 DAY2 DAR10 TAL5 MCH1 2nd 56 1995 DAY10* DAR TAL MCH1* 7th 42 1996 Pontiac DAY5 TAL1 CLT8 MCH5 5th 48 1997 DAY1* CLT5 CAL6 MCH4 4th 57 1998 DAY8 CAL2 MCH12 IND2 4th 46 2001 Pontiac DAY TAL MCH2 IND5 NA 0 2002 DAY5* CAL8 CHI2 IND 7th 39

Video games Al Unser Jr.'s Turbo Racing, a 1990 NES game featuring Unser. Al Unser Jr.'s Road to the Top, a 1994 SNES game. An unreleased Sega Genesis game featuring Unser titled Al Unser Jr. Racing was showcased at the 1994 SCES. Al Unser Jr. Arcade Racing, a 1995 computer game featuring Unser.

Pop culture references In season 11, episode 12 of The Simpsons called "The Mansion Family" (originally aired on January 23, 2000), Bart is riding a bicycle through Mr. Burns's mansion screaming "I'm Al Unser Jr." In season 6, episode 20 of Home Improvement Unser was featured at the beginning of the episode with his father "big" Al, and his son, also named Al.