American racing legend Bobby Unser died at the age of 87, on 2 May 2021, at home in New Mexico.
Unser, older brother to Al and nephew of nine-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb winner Louis, is one of 10 drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 three times, having crossed the famous bricks first in 1968, 1975 and 1981.
The longevity of his success is matched only by Rick Mears, who like Unser won the great race in three different decades.
From stock-car racing to open-wheelers (including a brief one-race foray into Formula One), sports cars and midgets, Unser’s career was as varied as they come.
In the year of his first Indy win he claimed the championship title, having finished third in the standings with two wins in 1967. In 1974 he added a second USAC win, having claimed runner-up at Indy, and the following year secured his second Brickyard win as well as IROC.
En route to his maiden Indy 500 win in 1968
In the late 1970s he and teammate Mears dominated the breakaway CART series for Penske, coming up short in the inaugural season despite six wins to champion Mears’ three.
