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Bobby UnserAmerican racing driver, two-time champion of the USAC Indy Car series
Date of Birth: 20.02.1934
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Bobby Unser
Bobby Unser is an American race car driver, a two-time champion of the USAC Indy Car series. He is one of the seven three-time winners of the Indianapolis 500 race and one of the few to win the race in three different decades. Robert William Unser was born on February 20, 1934, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, into a family of professional race car drivers. His grandfather, Louis Unser, worked as a mechanic and actively supported his three racing sons in the 1920s. One of them, Jerry Unser, became Bobby's father. Bobby's father was married to a school teacher named Mary Craven. Together, they raised four sons - Jerry Jr., Louis, Robert, and Al. In 1956, the family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the patriarch opened a garage and gas station. The sons regularly helped their father in the garage and quickly learned the trade. They assembled and modified Fords from spare parts and took turns racing on short tracks in amateur car races in New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona.
Early Racing Career
At the age of sixteen, Bobby Unser won his first race - the Southwest Modified Stock Car Championship - and went on to hold the title of champion for several years. From 1953 to 1955, Bobby served in the United States Air Force. Upon his return, he immediately returned to racing. At that time, his older brothers, Jerry and Louis, were already competing in the USAC Indy Car series. Soon, Louis was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and had to retire from racing. In 1959, tragedy struck when Jerry, the eldest brother, was killed while competing in the Indianapolis 500 race. This opened the doors for the younger Unser brothers to make their mark in the racing world.
USAC Indy Car Career
Bobby Unser made his debut in the USAC Indy Car series in 1963. By 1967, he had already switched teams multiple times and eventually ended up with the Eagle group. The following year, the talented driver not only won the Indianapolis 500 but also became the champion of the entire series. Unser secured his second victory in the race in 1974. In the twilight of his career, in 1979, Bobby Unser joined the Penske team. He spent three seasons with them and in 1981, for the third time in his career, he won the Indy 500.
Later Career and Legacy
After retiring from racing, Bobby Unser became a manager and later owner of one of the teams participating in the independent high-altitude race, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which he himself won 13 times. Unser's contributions to the sport and his achievements have solidified his legacy as one of the most successful and respected race car drivers in American history.
