Al Unser Sr.

AL UNSER was the second driver to win the Indianapolis 500 four times, in 1970, 1971, 1978, and 1987. In addition to being runner-up in 1967, 1972, and 1983, he also placed third in 1977, 1984, 1988, and 1992. He led the field at some point in 11 of his 27 Indianapolis starts, and in 1987 he surpassed Ralph DePalma with the most laps led in a career, a record DePalma had held since 1921. Unser even led laps in his final start in 1993, closing out his total at 644. During his career, he amassed 39 victories in National Championship races, including all three 500- mile races on the schedule in 1978 (Indianapolis, Pocono, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, California), and national titles in 1970, 1983, and 1985. Two-time winner of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb (1964 and 1965), Unser won the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in four straight years (1970 through 1973) and captured the United States Auto Club Dirt Track title in 1973. In other forms of motorsports, he finished fourth in the 1967 Daytona 500 (his only start), was runner-up for the 1976 United States Auto Club/Sports Car Club of America Formula-5000 road racing series title, and won the 1980 Can-Am race at Riverside, California.