Louis Unser

Louis Unser
BornLouis Unser Jr.
(1896-03-16)March 16, 1896
Alton, Illinois, U.S.
DiedOctober 18, 1979(1979-10-18) (aged 83)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Championship titles
Major victories
Pikes Peak Hill Climb (1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1946, 1947, 1953)
Champ Car career
10 races run over 10 years
Best finish23rd (tie) (1947)
First race1947 Pikes Peak Hill Climb
(Pikes Peak)
Last race1965 Pikes Peak Hill Climb
(Pikes Peak)
First win1947 Pikes Peak Hill Climb
(Pikes Peak)
Last win1953 Pikes Peak Hill Climb
(Pikes Peak)
Wins Podiums Poles
2 6 1

Louis Unser Jr. (March 16, 1896 – October 18, 1979) was an American racing driver.[1] He was the patriarch of the Unser family of American auto racers. He was renowned for his hill-climbing career, winning the Pikes Peak Hill Climb nine times between 1934 and 1953.

Oldest Indy car driver

Unser is officially the oldest ever Indy car driver to have started a race. He raced the 1965 Pikes Peak Hill Climb at the age of 69 years 3 months and 19 days, however his record is often given to A. J. Foyt, who competed in the 1992 Indianapolis 500 at the age of 57 years 4 months and 8 days.

Unser is also the oldest Indy car winner. He won the 1953 Pikes Peak Hill Climb at the age of 57 years 5 months and 22 days,[2] however his record is often given to Mario Andretti, who won at Phoenix in 1993 at the age of 53 years 1 month and 7 days.

Burial

Unser is buried at the Fairview Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Awards and honors

Motorsports career results

AAA Championship Car results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Rank Points
1947 INDY
MIL
LAN
ATL
BAI
MIL
GOS
MIL
PIK
1
SPR
ARL 23rd 200
1948 ARL INDY
MIL
LAN
MIL
SPR
MIL
DUQ
ATL
PIK
7
SPR
DUQ
42nd 60
1949 ARL
INDY
MIL
TRE
SPR
MIL
DUQ
PIK
2
SYR
DET
SPR
LAN
SAC
DMR
27th 160
1950 INDY MIL
LAN
SPR
MIL
PIK
3
SYR
DET
SPR
SAC
PHX
BAY
DAR
29th 140
1951 INDY
MIL
LAN
DAR
SPR
MIL
DUQ
DUQ
PIK
3
SYR
DET
DNC
SJS
PHX
BAY
33rd 140
1952 INDY
MIL RAL SPR
MIL DET DUQ PIK
2
SYR DNC SJS
PHX
25th 160
1953 INDY
MIL
SPR
DET
SPR
MIL
DUQ
PIK
1
SYR
ISF
SAC
PHX
25th 200
1954 INDY
MIL
LAN DAR
SPR
MIL
DUQ
PIK
18
SYR
ISF
SAC
PHX
LVG
- 0
1955 INDY
MIL
LAN SPR MIL
DUQ PIK
11
SYR ISF
SAC PHX
51st 20
1965 PHX
TRE
INDY
MIL
LAN
PPR
12
TRE
IRP
ATL
LAN
MIL
ISF
MIL
DSF
INF
TRE
SAC
PHX
56th 5

See also

References

  1. ^ "Louis Unser". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  2. ^ PPIHC (2024-01-11). "BEHIND THE WHEEL - Louis Unser". Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  3. ^ "Hall of Fame". Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Retrieved 2023-09-23.