Al Unser Sr., four-time Indy 500 champion, dies at 82

In one of the most pivotal races of his career, Al Unser Sr. had to decide whether he was a racer or a father.

He chose racer. In reality, he was both.

By finishing fourth in the final race of the 1985 CART championship, Unser Sr. denied his son Al Unser Jr. the title by one point.

“I pulled alongside of him, I tried to tell him that I was sorry,” Unser Sr. said years later.

No apology was necessary.

Al Unser Sr. died late Thursday evening at his home in Chama, New Mexico. after a 17-year battle with cancer. A brother to the late Bobby Unser and father to fellow racing legend Unser Jr., Al Unser Sr. was 82 years old. A smooth racer on the track, his five-decade career included four Indianapolis 500 victories, three national championships, two Pikes Peak Hill Climb victories, one IROC championship and the most laps led (644) to date in the Indy 500.

"Al's combination of his quiet and humble approach outside the car with his fierce competitive spirit and fearless talent behind the wheel made him a fan-favorite," said IMS president Doug Boles in a statement. "He will be remembered as one of the best to ever race at Indianapolis, and we will all miss his smile, sense of humor and his warm, approachable personality.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with (his wife) Susan Unser, the entire Unser family, and all Al's friends and fans."

Balancing aggression with care for his equipment, Unser Sr. earned 39 victories in American open wheel racing competition, but it was his final win that cemented the Albuquerque, New Mexico, native’s place in motorsports lore.

Coming to the 1987 Indianapolis 500 without a ride, Unser Sr. stayed near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to help his son get up to speed. Danny Ongais had replaced the elder Unser at Team Penske, but a heavy crash in practice ruled out Ongais for the 500.

Roger Penske called Unser Sr. to see whether he would run the car.

“I said heck yes, I didn’t have to take a second guess about that one because it is a team that is capable of winning,” said Unser Sr.

'AN ICON AND HERO': Reaction to the death of Al Unser Sr.

Qualifying 20th in a car that had been on display in a Sheraton Hotel lobby before arriving at Indianapolis, Unser Sr. was lapped before Lap 20. But by the time Mario Andretti dropped from the lead on Lap 177, Unser Sr. had moved to second place.

After leader Roberto Guerrero stalled his engine multiple times during his final pit stop, Unser Sr. took the lead, leading the final 18 laps and becoming the oldest driver — 47 —to win the Indianapolis 500. His son finished fourth.

It was a fitting final win to a career full of peaks, valleys, triumph and tragedy, with an off-track life to match.

Born on May 29, 1939, Al Unser Sr. was the youngest of four brothers. Al waited for his chance in racing while Jerry, Louie and Bobby all took their turns.

Unser Sr. raced locally around New Mexico before winning the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in 1964 and 1965. 1965 was important for Unser Sr. because it was his rookie year at the Indianapolis 500, where he would finish a respectable ninth.

After finishing second in the 1967 Indianapolis 500, Unser Sr. crashed out of the 1968 Indianapolis 500 that brother Bobby would win. Unser Sr. would withdraw from the 1969 Indianapolis 500 after breaking his left leg while riding his motorcycle in the infield. Unser Sr. would win five races that year to finish second in the national championship to Mario Andretti.

Unser Sr. scored the first of four Indianapolis 500 victories the next year, ending the 1970 season with eight wins from the final 10 races that season. The Indianapolis 500 would be Unser Sr.’s to win again in 1971, the fourth of five victories that season and also the last time a driver would win consecutive 500s until Helio Castroneves in 2001-2002.

While Unser Sr. was winning on track, off track was a different situation. Unser Sr. and wife Wanda would divorce in 1971, the pressures of racing having taken a toll on the couple. The wins became fewer and far between, with six victories over the next five years.

In 1978, Unser Sr. would again win at Indianapolis, en route to winning all three 500 mile races that year and finishing second in the USAC national championship to Tom Sneva. Off the track, Unser Sr. would marry his second wife, Karen, while son Unser Jr. would start his climb up the open-wheel racing ladder.

As the 1980s dawned, Unser Sr. had to deal with two key events that would shape the rest of his life. His daughter Deborah died in 1982 after striking her head on the roll cage of a dune buggy while riding by a lake. That same year, Bobby Unser decided to retire from full-time competition while son Unser Jr. started his IndyCar career at Riverside International Raceway, finishing fifth.

Moving to Team Penske in 1983 gave Unser Sr. top tier equipment after three winless years with Longhorn Racing. After earning six top-three finishes in the first six races of 1983, Unser Sr. clinched his second national championship.

All the while, Unser Jr. grew as a racer, scoring his first win in IndyCar competition at Portland International Raceway on Father’s Day weekend. Unser Sr. finished last and found that competing against his son grew more difficult.

Driving as a substitute for Rick Mears after Mears suffered massive foot injuries in September 1984, Unser Sr. was near the top of the CART season points throughout 1985, with his son rising in the points as the season continued. The final showdown came at Tamiami Park in Miami on Nov. 9, 1985, with Unser Sr. ahead of Unser Jr. by three points as the race started.

Unser Jr. was ahead by one point while running in third ahead of Roberto Moreno and Unser Sr. After passing Moreno and winning the 1985 CART championship, Unser Sr. shared an emotional hug post-race with his son.

Unser Sr. stopped racing full time in 1986, becoming the Team Penske development driver of the new Ilmor Chevrolet engine. After winning his fourth 500 in 1987, Unser Sr. finished third at Indianapolis in 1988 and 1992 before retiring in 1994.

Al Unser Sr. was preceded in death by his father, Jerry Unser Sr.; mother, Mary; brothers Jerry Jr., Louie and Bobby and daughters Mary Unser-Tanner and Deborah Unser. He is survived by his son Al Unser Jr., nephews Robby and Johnny Unser and many grandchildren.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Al Unser Sr., four-time Indianapolis 500 champion, dies at 82