Al Unser Jr.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 Winner Al Unser Jr., a prominent member of racing's fastest family, was raised in the rugged West. He grew up as an avid snowmobiler and outdoorsman, closely observing his father, Al Unser Sr., a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner, and his uncle Bobby Unser, a three-time Indy winner. Collectively, the Unsers have clinched the Indianapolis 500 title a remarkable nine times.

Known in the racing world as “Little Al”, Al Unser Jr. often shares that his father “taught me everything I know, but he hasn’t taught me everything he knows.” His racing career is highlighted by multiple significant achievements, including two Indy 500 victories and the titles of two-time CART champion (1990, 1994), two-time Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona winner (1986, 1987), and two-time IROC champion (1986, 1988). He has also participated in key NASCAR events, such as the Daytona 500.

Unser made his CART debut in 1982 and became a full-time competitor in 1983. His first series win came in 1984 on Father’s Day. The 1985 season almost mirrored a cinematic plot when he finished second in the series standings, narrowly behind his father by just one point. His breakthrough came in 1990 when he was named “Driver of the Year” and emerged as the first second-generation series champion. He clinched his first Indy 500 in 1992 by the closest margin in history, only 0.043 seconds, following in his father's footsteps.

1994 was a particularly remarkable year for Unser as he won both the Indy 500 and the Series championship a second time. He was honored as the “1994 Athlete of the Year” by ABC's "Wide World of Sports" and received the ESPY Award for Auto Racing Performer of the Year. Throughout 1994 to 1999, he drove for Team Penske, accumulating one CART Championship, one Indy 500 victory, and twelve race wins.

For the 2000 season, Unser moved to the Indy Racing League (IRL) with team owner Rick Galles. His transition to the IRL was driven by his fervent desire to compete again in the Indianapolis 500. In the IRL, Unser served as both competitor and spokesman, earning the “Most Popular Driver Award” in 2000. For the 2002 and 2003 IRL seasons, he joined Kelley Racing, fitting in seamlessly and finishing in the top ten in championship points.

Today, Al Unser Jr. leverages his extensive experience in motorsports for product endorsements and public relations, while also engaging audiences with talks on motivation and sports. His career achievements and continued impact in the field exemplify the competitive spirit of racing.