Bobby Unser

BOBBY UNSER won the Indianapolis 500 in 1968, 1975, and 1981 and scored 35 victories in National Championship races before retiring in 1983. Eight of his triumphs came in 500-mile races, one at Pocono, Pennsylvania, three at Indianapolis, and four at Ontario, California. Unser turned in multiple victories at Trenton, New Jersey; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Phoenix, Arizona, and dominated the Pikes Peak Hill Climb for more than a decade. The United States Auto Club National Champion in 1968 and 1974, he was also runner-up in 1970, 1979, and 1980. Moreover, he placed third three times, ranking eighth or higher in 14 out of 15 seasons from 1966 through 1980. Unser’s Indianapolis 500 race record was particularly impressive as he qualified for 19 consecutive races, earning front row starting positions nine times and leading laps in ten races for a total of 440 laps. He excelled at United States Auto Club sprint car racing, winning seven features and placing third in points in 1965 and 1966. He also won six United States Auto Club stock car races. After retiring from competition, Unser served as a driver-analyst for the American Broadcasting Company TV broadcast team for several years.