Bobby Unser

Unser was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the son of Mary Catherine (Craven) and Jerome Henry Unser, the third oldest of four brothers. When he turned one, his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where his father started a garage on U.S. Route 66. From 1953 to 1955, he served in the United States Air Force and became a top competition sharpshooter in military matches. ==Racing career==

Early career Unser began racing in 1949 in a Modified at Roswell Speedway. Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Unser debuted in 1955 at Pike's Peak, dubbed "Unser's Peak" because of his family's history of success at the hill climb. He won six straight titles from 1958 to 1963. Unser's record time was broken by Michele Mouton, so Audi approached Unser asking if he would want to attempt to take the record back. including two stock car class victories (1969 and 1974) and a single sports car class win (1963). IndyCar career Unser came from a family of racecar drivers. He won numerous racing championships throughout his career, including three Indianapolis 500 titles. When asked in 2008 about his potential to move from midget and sprint cars, Unser said, "I never considered Indianapolis because I didn't think I was good enough. But Rufus (Parnelli Jones) told me I was going and he got me a ride and I always be indebted to him." Unser made his IndyCar debut in 1962 Unser's second Indianapolis 500 in 1964 ended on the second lap in the crash that killed Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald. Unser moved to an IndyCar owned by Bob Willke from 1966 until 1970. Teams were allowed to bolt on a wing for the first time and speeds rose significantly (the previous record speed was ). He remained on Gurney's team until 1979. Roger Penske wanted a proven winner to join his young driver Rick Mears. Unser retired during off-season testing for Pat Patrick at Phoenix. For years, Unser and Andretti did not speak to each other willingly until early 2017 when Unser announced on his YouTube channel that Andretti reached out to wish him the best after Unser got extremely sick. In 1993, Unser set a new Bonneville Salt Flats record at Bonneville Speedway of 223.709 in a D/Gas Modified Roadster that stood for 18 years. In 2003, Unser published a book, ''Winners are Driven: A Champion's Guide to Success in Business and Life''. ==Broadcaster==

Unser was a television broadcaster for 20 years after his retirement from racing. He was a television commentator for IndyCar races after his retirement working for NBC, ABC, and ESPN. Unser also worked as the analyst for the IMS Radio Network in 1986. In 1989, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded ABC's telecast of the Indianapolis 500 the Sports Emmy Award for "Outstanding Live Sports Special". Unser received announcer honors with Paul Page and Sam Posey. Unser was announcing in the booth for his brother Al's record-tying fourth Indy 500 victory in 1987 and Al's 1985 CART championship. He also called his nephew Al Jr.'s first Indy 500 victory in the 1992 Indianapolis 500 and second in 1994. Unser also broadcast several NASCAR events between 1986 and 1992 alongside Page and Benny Parsons. The most famous NASCAR race Unser broadcast was the 1989 The Winston in which Rusty Wallace won by wrecking Darrell Waltrip with 2 laps to go; Unser was the first broadcaster of the broadcasting team to spot the post-race fist-fight between Wallace and Waltrip's pit crews. ==Awards==

• Unser was selected as one of Sports Illustrated's "Top Five Athletes" in the popular magazine's first twenty years, along with the Martini & Rossi and Olsonite "Driver of the Year" awards in 1974. • Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame (1990) • International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1990) • National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (1997) • Pikes Peak Hill Climb Museum Hall of Fame (1997) • Colorado Sports Hall of Fame (2011) • International Snowmobile Hall of Fame (2018) • He was presented with Indy 500 Front Row Award in 1999, for being a nine-time front row qualifier (1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981). • He was selected fourth in The Greatest 33 list of Indianapolis 500 drivers in 2011. ==Personal life==

Unser was the father of two sons, Bobby Jr. and Robby, and two daughters, Cindy and Jeri. Unser coached Robby for the 1998 and 1999 Indianapolis 500. Unser was later convicted of a Federal misdemeanor, "unlawful operation of a snowmobile within a National Forest Wilderness Area" (16 U.S.C. 551, 36 C.F.R. 261.16(a)), and was fined $75. Unser appealed this decision all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, ==Death==

Unser died on May 2, 2021, at the age of 87 at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico from natural causes. Pallbearers outside of the Unser family included Willy T. Ribbs, Johnny Rutherford, and Rick Galles. Bobby Unser Jr., who participated in racing before giving it up to pursue stunt car driving, music, and horse breeding, died less than two months after his father at the age of 65, as a result of complications from hip surgery. ==Racing record==

American open-wheel racing results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) Complete USAC Championship Car results CART Indianapolis 500 results Indy 500 qualifying results Complete Formula One World Championship results Unser participated in two Formula One World Championship Grands Prix. (key) NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.) Grand National Series Winston Cup Series Daytona 500 ==References==