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Al Unser jr.

Al Unser jr.
  • Surname
    Unser jr.
  • First name
    Alfred "Al"
  • Date of birth
    19.04.1962

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Al Unser jr., also known as "Little Al" or "Al Junior", came from one of the most famous racing dynasties in the United States: his father Al Unser sr. and uncle Bobby Unser won the Indianapolis 500-mile race four and three times respectively. The junior started karting as a nine-year-old and – not surprisingly – showed great talent right away. At eleven, he was already competing in sprint car races on dirt track ovals.

In 1981, he won the title in the American Formula Super Vee. One year later, Unser was only 20 years old, he won the nine-round Can-Am Series, which was contested with large-volume motorised racing sports cars, with four victories. In the same year, he started for the first time in an Indy Car World Series race and finished an impressive fifth.

He finished his first full season, 1983, in seventh place, and the following year he finished second overall, just one point behind his father Al Unser, a unique feat in motorsport history. In 1986, 1987 and 1988, he finished fourth, third and second respectively. After finishing fifth in the 1989 season, he won his first Indy Car World Series title in 1990.

In 1992, he switched to Team Penske and continued a great family tradition with his first victory in the Indianapolis 500-mile race. Two years later, also in a Penske, he scored his second Indy success, this time, to the amazement of all observers, with the Mercedes-Benz 500I power unit with side camshaft and pushrod valve control and an output of 753 kW/1024 hp behind him, developed just for this one race.

Besides the race in Indianapolis, Unser jr. won seven further races in 1994, and became Indy Car champion for the second time in his career. He remained with Team Penske up to and including 1999, but after finishing second and fourth in 1995 and 1996 respectively, he no longer landed in the top ten in the final drivers' standings.

From 2001 to mid-2004, Al Unser jr. moved to the rival IndyCar Series, run by the Indy Racing League, and only managed a total of three race wins. In mid-2004, he announced his retirement from active motor racing, but still competed in the Indy 500 in 2006 and 2007 without achieving any notable success.

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