# Al Unser

Alfred Unser (May 29, 1939 – December 9, 2021) was an American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of fellow racing drivers Jerry and Bobby Unser, and father of Al Unser Jr. He was the second of four men (A. J. Foyt, himself, Rick Mears and Hélio Castroneves) to have won the Indianapolis 500 four times (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987), the fourth of six to have won the race in consecutive years, and the winner of the National Championship in 1970, 1983, and 1985. The Unser family has won the Indy 500 a record nine times. He was the only person to have both a sibling (Bobby) and child (Al Jr.) as fellow Indy 500 winners. Al's nephews Johnny and Robby Unser have also competed in that race. In 1971, he became the only driver to date to win the race on his birthday (his 32nd).
After his son Al Unser Jr. joined the national championship circuit in 1983, Unser was generally known professionally by the retronym "Al Unser Sr." He was also nicknamed "Big Al", and Al Unser Jr. was likewise nicknamed "Little Al".

## Personal life

Unser was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the youngest of four sons of Mary Catherine (Craven) and Jerome Henry "Jerry" Unser. His father and two uncles, Louis and Joe, were also drivers. Beginning in 1926 they competed in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, an annual road race held in Colorado. Joe Unser became the first member of the Unser family to lose his life to the sport, killed while test-driving an FWD Coleman Special on the Denver highway in 1929.
Al's oldest brother Jerry became the first Unser to drive at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He qualifying 23rd and finishing 31st in the 1958 Indianapolis 500. However, tragedy struck the next year when he was killed by injuries sustained in a fiery crash during a practice session.
Middle brother Bobby drove in his first Indianapolis 500 in 1963. In 1968, he became the first family member to win. He went on to win the race a total of three times. Son Al Unser Jr. drove in his first Indy 500 in 1983, winning twice. His mother Mary "Mom" Unser became a popular a fixture at the track. Each year she treated the participants to a chili cookout in the garage area. She died on December 18, 1975.
Al Unser married Wanda Jesperson in 1958 and they had three children- Alfred Jr., Mary, and Deborah. Deborah was killed in a dune buggy accident in 1982. Al and Wanda divorced in 1971. Al married Karen Sue Barnes on November 22, 1977. Karen and Al divorced in 1988.
Al Unser, with his family, owned and operated the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

## Racing career and Indianapolis 500
### USAC and Indycar

He began racing in 1957, at age 18, initially competing primarily in modified roadsters, sprint cars and midgets. In 1965 he raced in the Indianapolis 500 for the first time and finished ninth. His breakout year in IndyCar's was in 1970 when he joined Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing, where he would drive for the next seven years.
He won the Indianapolis 500 in 1970, two years after his brother, Bobby. During the race, he led for all but ten of the 200 laps and averaged 155.749 miles per hour (250.654 km/h). His quick pit stops were a factor in the victory, as well as the fact that VPJ had an insurmountable advantage over the field that year. That season, he won a record ten times on oval, road and dirt tracks to capture the United States Auto Club national championship. Unser competed in USAC's Stock Car division in 1967, and was the series Rookie of the Year.
In 1971, with Vel's Parnelli Jones, he won the Indianapolis 500 again, starting from the fifth position with an average speed of 157.735 miles per hour (253.850 km/h), and holding off Peter Revson's McLaren for the victory. Unser's bid to become the first three-time consecutive Indy 500 champion was thwarted when he finished second to Mark Donohue in the 1972 Indianapolis 500. Unser would continue driving for the team up until 1977. During a few of those years, VPJ lost their competitive edge after changing their chassis, as well as their failed F1 bid. By 1977, the team regained competitive form, although Unser would announce his departure for Jim Hall Racing at year's end. Unser would later say, in a 2020 interview, that his departure from VPJ stemmed from disagreements with Jones and his partners over the direction of the team, although Unser maintained a friendship with Jones.
Despite starting the 1978 Indianapolis 500 from the fifth position in a First National City Travelers Checks Chaparral Lola, Unser's car was considered before the race to be a second-tier entry at best, if not an outright long shot to win. Moving to the front of the field for the first time on lap 75, he and opponent Danny Ongais engaged in an on-again off-again duel for 75 more laps, before an engine failure on Ongais' car on lap 150 allowed Unser to assume a commanding 35 second lead. Although suffering right front-wing misalignment due to impacting a tire on his final pit stop, a situation that led to the lead shrinking steadily over the race's final 20 laps, it nevertheless proved wide enough for victory by nine seconds to spare at the checkered flag. Unser's race average speed of 161.363 mph (259.689 km/h) ranked as the then-second fastest ever run (one mile per hour less than the then-1972 record), and would not itself be topped for second for four more years.
In 1979, Unser departed Jim Hall's team for the Longhorn Racing Team owned by Bobby Hillin Sr.. Although Unser went winless for three seasons, he would later say that driving for the Hillin family was his most joyful experience as a driver before his successful Penske years. The team folded operations after three years, putting Unser out of a ride.
In the 1983 season, Unser joined Team Penske and drove for four years in a Penske-owned car. Unser controlled the late stages of the 1983 Indianapolis 500, leading 61 laps. With less than 20 laps to go, Unser got challenges from Tom Sneva who led the most laps. With help from his son - who was several laps down - Unser began pulling away from Sneva. However Sneva got by Al Jr., and set sail for Unser Sr.. Sneva caught up to Unser within one lap of passing Al Jr., and passed him to retake the lead with nine laps to go. Sneva then easily pulled away to win the race by 11 seconds, avenging his firing from the team in 1978. After the race, Unser Jr. was penalized two laps for his actions as well as having passed two cars under caution on lap 170.
Unser won the IndyCar championships in 1983 and 1985 by winning one race and then having several top-five finishes. In 1986, Penske decided to focus the team's attention on teammate Rick Mears when he healed from serious injuries. As a result, Unser cut down his schedule to only a few IndyCar races a year, which he would do going forward.

### NASCAR and IROC

Outside of his open-wheel career, Unser was a semi-regular competitor in IROC, winning three races and the 1977-1978 championship. His final IROC start was an 11th-place finish at the 1993 Michigan race after winning the pole.
Unser also started five races in NASCAR, three in the late 1960s and two in 1986. His best finishes were a pair of 4th-place results, one at the 1968 Daytona 500 and the other at the 1969 Motor Trend 500 at Riverside International Raceway. He fared less well in two 1986 starts, finishing 29th at Watkins Glen and 20th at Riverside.

## Fourth Indianapolis 500 victory

In 1987, Penske's slate of drivers included Rick Mears, Danny Sullivan, and Danny Ongais. Al Unser Sr. was dropped from the team, and entered the month of May without a ride. During the first week of practice, Al Sr. spent much of the week shopping for a ride, and a few offers were made by owners. Al Sr., however, refused the offers, as he insisted on landing a ride in a competitive, well-funded car only. Unser planned on staying through the week, and if he did not have a ride by the end of the first week of time trials, he was planning to return home. Coincidentally, his son Al Unser Jr. (driving for Shierson Racing) was having difficulty with his car's handling. At the end of the first weekend of time trials, Al Jr. surprisingly had not yet qualified. Al Sr. agreed to stay through the week in order to help his son get his car up to speed.
Danny Ongais crashed into the wall during the first week of practice, suffering a serious concussion, and was declared unfit to drive. Meanwhile, the Penske team's new Penske PC-16 chassis had been uncompetitive during practice. By the end of the first week of practice, Penske parked the PC-16s and elected to qualify back-up cars for the race. Mears and Sullivan were provided 1986 March-Ilmor Chevrolet machines, while a third car, a 1986 March-Cosworth, was planned for third driver.
Midway through the second week of practice, Roger Penske consummated a deal with Al Sr. to drive the third car. Penske promised Unser a well-funded effort, and a brand new Cosworth engine, the same chassis/engine combination that had won the previous four Indy 500s. The year-old March was removed from a Penske Racing display at a Sheraton hotel in the team's hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania, and hurriedly prepared for a return to active competition. Unser easily put the car in the field on the third day of time trials.
At the start Unser was in the 20th position. On a day when heavy attrition felled most of the field's front-runners, including the overwhelmingly dominant Newman-Haas entry of Mario Andretti, Unser worked his way steadily forward and took the lead on the 183rd lap, after Roberto Guerrero's car stalled on his final pit stop. Averaging 162.175 mph (260.995 km/h), Unser bested a charging Guerrero by 4.5 seconds to win his fourth Indy 500, only five days before his 48th birthday. In doing so he tied Foyt as the winningest Indy 500 driver and broke brother Bobby's record as the oldest Indy winner.
Unser rode the wave of his fourth Indy victory to secure a ride at Penske for the Michigan 500, Pocono 500, and Marlboro Challenge for 1987. Near the end of the year, Unser had two other starts. He drove as a substitute for Roberto Guerrero at Nazareth, and had a competitive run until crashing a few laps short of the finish. He was then hired to drive the brand new Porsche Indy car at Laguna Seca. The team was still in its infancy, and the car dropped out. Unser left the team after only one race.
In 1988 and 1989, Unser returned to Penske to secure a ride at the three 500-miles races (Indianapolis, Michigan, Pocono). Unser appeared headed for a third Pocono 500 victory during the 1988 Pocono 500 until he suffered ignition failure while leading with 28 laps remaining. Unser had led a race-high 79 laps.

## Retirement

After reorganization at Team Penske in 1990, Unser was finally crowded out of his part-time ride. With competitive rides filling up, and his career winding down, he joined the sub-par Patrick Racing Alfa Romeo team for 1990. After finishing 13th at Indy, Unser returned to the team for the Michigan 500. A broken right-front push-rod after only six practice laps led to a severe crash. The 51 year-old Unser suffered a broken right femur, right collarbone, and three upper right ribs. He quit the team after the crash.
He spent most of the month of May 1991 shopping around for a competitive ride. The restrictions on the number of leases to the Chevy Ilmor engine kept him out of a ride during the first week of practice. A last-minute deal with the UNO/Granatelli team (where he would be Arie Luyendyk's teammate) fell through when there was not enough time to prepare the car. Instead of jumping into another car "just to make the show," Unser sat out the 1991 race and watched from the sidelines for the first time since 1969.
In 1992, Unser entered the month of May for the second year in a row without a ride. During the first week of practice, Nelson Piquet was involved in a serious crash, and was unable to drive. Unser was hired by Team Menard to fill the position vacated by Piquet. Unser drove to a 3rd-place finish, while his son Al Unser Jr. won the race. It was Team Menard's best Indy 500 finish, the best finish for the Buick Indy engine, and the first time the Buick engine had gone the entire 500 miles (800 km). Later in the year, Unser was selected to drive as a substitute for the injured Rick Mears at Nazareth. It was Unser's first start for Penske since 1989, and his final start in a CART series event. He finished 12th, earning 1 championship point.
In 1993, driving for King Racing, he led 15 laps at the Indianapolis 500 to extend his career laps-led record. He finished 12th, one lap down.
A month shy of his 55th birthday, Unser entered the 1994 race with Arizona Motorsports, hoping to qualify for what would be his 28th Indy 500. The team was very underfunded, and Unser had considerable trouble getting the car up to speed. On the first weekend of qualifying, he waved off after a poor qualifying lap. After some minimal practice the following day, he quit the team. He announced his retirement on May 17, 1994. His son Al Unser Jr. won the Indianapolis 500 on his father's 55th birthday.

### Health and death

Unser suffered from hereditary haemochromatosis, which contributed to him being diagnosed with liver cancer in 2004 and having a tumor and half of his liver removed in 2005. Unser continued to suffer from cancer for the next 17 years before dying from the disease aged 82 on December 9, 2021, in his home in Chama, New Mexico.

## Career highlights

Unser has led the second most laps of any driver in the history of the Indianapolis 500, at 644. Unser tied Ralph DePalma's long standing record of 612 laps led on the last lap of his 4th victory.
Unser holds the record of being the oldest driver to ever win the 500 at 47 years old (1987), breaking the previous record set by his brother Bobby.
Unser won two 500-mile races at Pocono (in 1976 and 1978) and two more at Ontario (in 1977 and 1978) bringing his total of 500-mile race wins (including four Indianapolis 500s) to eight.
Unser was the 1978 IROC champion. He also competed in the 1968 Daytona 500 and four other NASCAR Winston Cup & Grand National races, all held on road courses with a best finish of fourth (twice).

## Awards

* Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame (1986)
* Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1991)
* International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1998)
* Pikes Peak Hill Climb Museum Hall of Fame (2020)

## Motorsports career results
### American open-wheel racing

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

#### USAC Championship Car

USAC Championship Car results :
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | Pos. | Pts |
| 1964 | J. C. Agajanian | Troutman Barnes 64 | Offy 252 ci | PHX | TRE | INDY | MIL | LAN | TRE | ISF | MIL 23 | DSF | INF | TRE | SAC | PHX | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1965 | Arciero Racing | Weisman 64 | Maserati 255 ci 4.2 V8 | PHX DNP | TRE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | 495 |
| 1965 | Ansted-Thompson Racing | Lola T80 | Ford 255 ci V8 | | | INDY 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | 495 |
| 1965 | J Frank Harrison | Eisert 65 | Chevrolet 305 ci V8 | | | | MIL 13 | LAN 12 | | TRE 22 | IRP 12 | ATL 26 | LAN 16 | MIL 11 | ISF | MIL 7 | DSF | INF DNQ | TRE 20 | | PHX 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | 495 |
| 1965 | J Frank Harrison | Eisert | Ford 289 ci | | | | | | PPR 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | 495 |
| 1965 | Roger Carsten | Kuzma 53 D | Offy 252 ci | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SAC 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | 495 |
| 1966 | J Frank Harrison | Eisert 65 | Chevrolet 305 ci V8 | PHX 20 | TRE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 1260 |
| 1966 | STP Corporation | Lotus 38 | Ford 255 ci V8 | | | INDY 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 1260 |
| 1966 | Mecom Racing Enterprises | Lola T90 | Ford 255 ci V8 | | | | MIL 6 | LAN 9 | ATL 16 | PPR | IRP 2 | LAN 3 | ISF | MIL 20 | DSF | INF | TRE 2 | | PHX 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 1260 |
| 1966 | Joe Hunt | Lesovsky 58 D | Offy 252 ci | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SAC 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 1260 |
| 1967 | Mecom Racing Enterprises | Lola T90 | Ford 255 ci V8 | PHX 23 | TRE 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 2505 |
| 1967 | Mecom Racing Enterprises | Lola T92 | Ford 255 ci V8 | | | INDY 2 | MIL 19 | LAN 2 | PPR | MOS 6 | MOS 5 | IRP 2 | LAN 22 | MTR 5 | MTR 5 | | MIL 2 | | | TRE 11 | | HAN 25 | PHX 2 | RSD 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 2505 |
| 1967 | Mecom Racing Enterprises | Dunlop 64 D | Offy 252 ci | | | | | | | | | | | | | ISF 11 | | DSF 9 | INF 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 2505 |
| 1967 | Mecom Racing Enterprises | Lesovsky D | Offy 252 ci | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SAC 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 2505 |
| 1968 | Retzloff Racing Team | Lola T92 | Ford 255 ci V8 | HAN 2 | | | | | MIL 3 | MOS 4 | MOS 5 | LAN 12 | | CDR 4 | | | | LAN 1 | LAN 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 2895 |
| 1968 | Retzloff Racing Team | Lola T150 | Ford 255 ci V8 | | LVS 14 | PHX 16 | TRE 17 | | | | | | | | | IRP 1 | IRP 1 | | | MTR 9 | MTR 15 | | MIL 3 | | | | | | | | RSD 26 | 3rd | 2895 |
| 1968 | Retzloff Racing Team | Lola T150 | Ford 159ci V8t | | | | | INDY 26 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TRE 22 | | MCH 18 | HAN 15 | PHX 15 | | 3rd | 2895 |
| 1968 | Al Unser | Chevrolet Special | Chevrolet | | | | | | | | | | PPR 22 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 2895 |
| 1968 | Retzloff Racing Team | Dunlop 64 D | Offy 252 ci | | | | | | | | | | | | NAZ 1 | | | | | | | ISF 12 | | DSF 7 | INF 15 | | SAC 3 | | | | | | | 3rd | 2895 |
| 1969 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola T150 | Ford 159ci V8t | PHX 22 | HAN 13 | | | | | | | TRE 25 | | | MIL 1 | | DOV 12 | | | | | TRE 21 | | | | PHX 1 | | | | | | 2nd | 2630 |
| 1969 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lotus 56 | Ford 159ci V8t | | | INDY Wth | MIL | LAN | PPR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 2630 |
| 1969 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola T150 | Ford 255 ci V8 | | | | | | | CDR 9 | NAZ | | IRP 2 | IRP 19 | | | | | | BRN 3 | BRN 9 | | | SIR 2 | SIR 1 | | RSD 2 | | | | | | | 2nd | 2630 |
| 1969 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Kingfish 69 D | Ford 255 ci V8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | ISF 8 | | DSF 1 | INF 4 | | | | SAC 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 2630 |
| 1970 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Colt-Lola T150 | Ford 159ci V8t | PHX 1 | | TRE 3 | | | | | | | | MIL 1 | | | | | TRE 1 | | PHX 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 5130 |
| 1970 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Colt 70 | Ford 255 ci V8 | | SON 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 5130 |
| 1970 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Colt 70 | Ford 159ci V8t | | | | INDY 1 | MIL 3 | LAN 2 | | MCH 18 | | | | ONT 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 5130 |
| 1970 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Colt-Lola T150 | Ford 255 ci V8 | | | | | | | CDR 5 | | IRP 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 5130 |
| 1970 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Kingfish 69 D | Ford 255 ci V8 | | | | | | | | | | ISF 1 | | | DSF 1 | INF 1 | SED 1 | | SAC 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 5130 |
| 1971 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Colt 70 | Ford 159ci V8t | RAF 1 | RAF 1 | PHX 1 | TRE 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 2200 |
| 1971 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Colt 71 | Ford 159ci V8t | | | | | INDY 1 | MIL 1 | POC 31 | MCH 24 | MIL 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 2200 |
| 1971 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Colt 71 | Offy 159 ci t | | | | | | | | | | ONT 15 | TRE 17 | PHX 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 2200 |
| 1972 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Colt 71/72 | Offy 159 ci t | PHX 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 1800 |
| 1972 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Parnelli VPJ-1 | Offy 159 ci t | | TRE 20 | INDY 2 | MIL 20 | MCH 15 | POC 3 | MIL 15 | ONT 31 | TRE 23 | PHX 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 1800 |
| 1973 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Parnelli VPJ-2 | Offy 159 ci t | TWS 1 | TRE 7 | TRE 3 | INDY 20 | MIL 9 | POC 33 | MCH 22 | MIL 26 | ONT | ONT 4 | ONT 9 | MCH 21 | MCH | TRE 25 | TWS 16 | PHX 19 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13th | 1080 |
| 1974 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Eagle 73 | Offy 159 ci t | ONT | ONT 5 | ONT 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 2430 |
| 1974 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Eagle 74 | Offy 159 ci t | | | | PHX 18 | TRE 10 | INDY 18 | MIL 5 | POC 22 | MCH 2 | MIL 9 | MCH 1 | TRE 6 | TRE 5 | PHX 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 2430 |
| 1975 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Eagle 74 | Offy 159 ci t | ONT 7 | ONT | ONT 26 | PHX | TRE | INDY 16 | MIL | POC 32 | MCH | MIL | MCH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 450 |
| 1975 | Sugaripe Prune Racing Team | Eagle 74 | Offy 159 ci t | | | | | | | | | | | | TRE 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 450 |
| 1975 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Parnelli VPJ-6B | Cosworth DFX V8t | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHX 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 450 |
| 1976 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Parnelli VPJ-6B | Cosworth DFX V8t | PHX 4 | TRE | INDY 7 | MIL 4 | POC 1 | MCH 10 | TWS 17 | TRE 2 | MIL 1 | ONT 32 | MCH 18 | TWS 3 | PHX 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 3020 |
| 1977 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Parnelli VPJ-6B | Cosworth DFX V8t | ONT 2 | PHX 9 | TWS 2 | TRE | INDY 3 | MIL 3 | POC 25 | MOS 17 | MCH 16 | TWS 21 | MIL 15 | ONT 1 | MCH 4 | PHX 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 3030 |
| 1978 | Chaparral Racing | Lola T500 | Cosworth DFX V8t | PHX 10 | ONT 3 | TWS Wth | TRE | INDY 1 | MOS 12 | MIL 8 | POC 1 | MCH 17 | ATL 14 | TWS 17 | MIL 5 | ONT 1 | MCH 17 | TRE 4 | SIL 10 | BRH 15 | PHX 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 4031 |
| 1979 | Chaparral Racing | Chaparral 2K | Cosworth DFX V8t | ONT | TWS | INDY 22 | MIL | POC | TWS | MIL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1980 | Longhorn Racing | Longhorn LR01 | Cosworth DFX V8t | ONT 16 | INDY 27 | MIL 20 | POC 24 | MDO 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 34th | 49 |
| 1981-82 | Longhorn Racing | Longhorn LR02 | Cosworth DFX V8t | INDY 17 | POC | ISF | DSF | INF | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1981-82 | Longhorn Racing | Longhorn LR03 | Cosworth DFX V8t | | | | | | INDY 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1982-83 | Penske Racing | Penske PC-11 | Cosworth DFX V8t | ISF | DSF | NAZ | INDY 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 800 |
| 1983-84 | Penske Racing | March 84C | Cosworth DFX V8t | DSF | INDY 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 700 |

#### PPG Indy Car World Series

CART results :
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Rank | Points | Ref |
| 1979 | Chaparral Racing | Lola T500 | Cosworth DFX V8t | PHX 4 | ATL 6 | ATL 3 | | | | | | | TRE 6 | | | | | | | | 5th | 2085 | |
| 1979 | Chaparral Racing | Chaparral 2K | Cosworth DFX V8t | | | | INDY 22 | TRE 2 | TRE 12 | MCH 13 | MCH 3 | WGL 5 | | ONT 5 | MCH 10 | ATL 5 | PHX 1 | | | | | | 5th | 2085 | |
| 1980 | Longhorn Racing | Longhorn LR01 | Cosworth DFX V8t | ONT 16 | INDY 27 | MIL 20 | POC 24 | MDO 13 | MCH 7 | WGL 19 | MIL 13 | ONT 4 | MCH 5 | MEX 3 | PHX 15 | | | | | | 8th | 1153 | |
| 1981 | Longhorn Racing | Longhorn LR02 | Cosworth DFX V8t | PHX 17 | MIL 5 | ATL 6 | ATL 7 | MCH 11 | RIV 14 | MIL 5 | | WGL 14 | MEX 2 | PHX 22 | | | | | | | 10th | 90 | |
| 1981 | Longhorn Racing | Eagle 81 | Cosworth DFX V8t | | | | | | | | MCH 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 90 | |
| 1982 | Longhorn Racing | Longhorn LR03 | Cosworth DFX V8t | PHX 21 | ATL 8 | MIL 17 | CLE 3 | MCH 4 | MIL DNS | | | | | | | | | | | | 7th | 125 | |
| 1982 | Longhorn Racing | Longhorn LR03B | Cosworth DFX V8t | | | | | | | POC 23 | RIV 17 | ROA 2 | MCH 18 | PHX | | | | | | | | | | | | 7th | 125 |
| 1983 | Penske Racing | Penske PC-11 | Cosworth DFX V8t | ATL 2 | INDY 2 | MIL 2 | CLE 1 | MCH 2 | ROA 3 | POC 11 | RIV 11 | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 151 | |
| 1983 | Penske Racing | Penske PC-10B | Cosworth DFX V8t | | | | | | | | | MDO 4 | MCH 5 | CPL 4 | LAG 11 | PHX 4 | | | | | | | | 1st | 151 | |
| 1984 | Penske Racing | Penske PC-12 | Cosworth DFX V8t | LBH 22 | PHX 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9th | 76 | |
| 1984 | Penske Racing | March 84C | Cosworth DFX V8t | | | INDY 3 | MIL 5 | POR 27 | MEA 8 | CLE 10 | MCH 30 | ROA 3 | POC 8 | MDO 8 | SAN 13 | MCH 4 | PHX 17 | LAG 6 | CPL 14 | | 9th | 76 | |
| 1985 | Penske Racing | March 85C | Cosworth DFX V8t | LBH 5 | INDY 4 | MIL | POR 4 | MEA 3 | CLE 3 | MCH 2 | ROA 7 | POC 3 | MDO 27 | SAN 13 | MCH 12 | LAG 2 | PHX 1 | MIA 4 | | | 1st | 151 | |
| 1986 | Penske Racing | Penske PC-15 | Chevrolet 265A V8t | PHX 18 | LBH | INDY 22 | MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | TOR | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 | |
| 1986 | Penske Racing | March 86C | Chevrolet 265A V8t | | | | | | | | | MCH 14 | POC 20 | MDO | SAN | MCH | ROA | LAG | PHX | MIA 15 | NC | 0 | |
| 1987 | Penske Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX V8t | LBH | PHX | INDY 1 | MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | TOR | MCH 2 | POC 15 | ROA | MDO | | | | | | 13th | 39 | |
| 1987 | Vince Granatelli Racing | March 87C | Cosworth DFX V8t | | | | | | | | | | | | | NAZ 10 | | | | | | | | 13th | 39 | |
| 1987 | Porsche Motorsports | Porsche 2708 | Porsche V8t | | | | | | | | | | | | | | LAG 24 | | | | | | 13th | 39 | |
| 1987 | Penske Racing | Penske PC-16 | Chevrolet 265A V8t | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MIA DNQ | | | | 13th | 39 | |
| 1988 | Penske Racing | Penske PC-17 | Chevrolet 265A V8t | PHX | LBH | INDY 3 | MIL | POR | CLE | | | MCH 9 | POC 13 | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | MIA | | | 19th | 23 | |
| 1988 | Vince Granatelli Racing | Lola T88/00 | Cosworth DFX V8t | | | | | | | TOR 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | 23 |
| 1988 | Vince Granatelli Racing | March 87C | Cosworth DFX V8t | | | | | | | | MEA 19 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | 23 | |
| 1989 | Penske Racing | Penske PC-18 | Chevrolet 265A V8t | PHX | LBH | INDY 24 | MIL | DET | POR | CLE 10 | MEA | TOR | MCH 8 | POC 7 | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | | | 16th | 14 | |
| 1990 | Patrick Racing | March 90CA | Alfa Romeo Indy V8t | PHX | LBH | INDY 13 | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | MEA | TOR | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 | |
| 1990 | Patrick Racing | Lola T90/00 | Alfa Romeo Indy V8t | | | | | | | | | | MCH Wth | DEN | VAN | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | | NC | 0 | |
| 1991 | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Lola T91/00 | Chevrolet 265A V8t | SRF | LBH | PHX 17 | INDY | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | MEA | TOR | MCH | DEN | VAN | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | NC | 0 | |
| 1992 | Team Menard | Lola T92/00 | Buick 3300 V6t | SRF | PHX | LBH | INDY 3 | DET | POR | MIL | NHA | TOR | MCH | CLE | ROA | VAN | MDO | | | | 16th | 15 | |
| 1992 | Penske Racing | Penske PC-21 | Chevrolet 265B V8t | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NAZ 12 | LAG | | 16th | 15 | |
| 1993 | King Racing | Lola T93/00 | Chevrolet 265C V8t | SRF | PHX | LBH | INDY 12 | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MCH | NHA | ROA | VAN | MDO | NAZ | LAG | | 32nd | 1 | |
| 1994 | Arizona Motorsports | Lola T94/00 | Ford XB V8t | SRF | PHX | LBH | INDY Wth | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MCH | MDO | NHA | VAN | ROA | NAZ | LAG | | NA | - | |

#### Indianapolis 500

| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
| 1965 | Lola | Ford | 32 | 9 | Ansted-Thompson Racing |
| 1966 | Lotus | Ford | 23 | 12 | STP Corporation |
| 1967 | Lola | Ford | 9 | 2 | Mecom Racing Enterprises |
| 1968 | Lola | Ford | 6 | 26 | Retzloff Racing Team |
| 1969 | Lotus | Ford | Wth | Wth | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing |
| 1970 | Colt | Ford | 1 | 1 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing |
| 1971 | Colt | Ford | 5 | 1 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing |
| 1972 | Parnelli | Offenhauser | 19 | 2 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing |
| 1973 | Parnelli | Offenhauser | 8 | 20 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing |
| 1974 | Eagle | Offenhauser | 26 | 18 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing |
| 1975 | Eagle | Offenhauser | 11 | 16 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing |
| 1976 | Parnelli | Cosworth | 4 | 7 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing |
| 1977 | Parnelli | Cosworth | 3 | 3 | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing |
| 1978 | Lola | Cosworth | 5 | 1 | Chaparral Racing |
| 1979 | Chaparral | Cosworth | 3 | 22 | Chaparral Racing |
| 1980 | Longhorn | Cosworth | 9 | 27 | Longhorn Racing |
| 1981 | Longhorn | Cosworth | 9 | 17 | Longhorn Racing |
| 1982 | Longhorn | Cosworth | 16 | 5 | Longhorn Racing |
| 1983 | Penske | Cosworth | 7 | 2 | Penske Racing |
| 1984 | March | Cosworth | 10 | 3 | Penske Racing |
| 1985 | March | Cosworth | 7 | 4 | Penske Racing |
| 1986 | Penske | Chevrolet | 5 | 22 | Penske Racing |
| 1987 | March | Cosworth | 20 | 1 | Penske Racing |
| 1988 | Penske | Chevrolet | 3 | 3 | Penske Racing |
| 1989 | Penske | Chevrolet | 2 | 24 | Penske Racing |
| 1990 | March | Alfa Romeo | 30 | 13 | Patrick Racing |
| 1992 | Lola | Buick | 22 | 3 | Team Menard |
| 1993 | Lola | Chevrolet | 23 | 12 | King Racing |
| 1994 | Lola | Ford-Cosworth | DNQ / Wth | DNQ / Wth | Arizona Motorsports |

### Non-Championship Formula One Results

(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 1971 | Kastner Brophy Racing | Lola T192 F5000 | Chevrolet 5.0 V8 | ARG | ROC | QUE 24 | SPR | INT | RIN | OUL | VIC |

### NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

#### Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | NGNC | Pts |
| 1968 | Rudy Hoerr | 3 | Dodge | MGR | MGY | RSD 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | 0 |
| 1968 | Owens Racing | 6 | Dodge | | | | DAY 4 | BRI | RCH | ATL | HCY | GPS | CLB | NWS | MAR | AUG | AWS | DAR | BLV | LGY | CLT | ASH | MGR | SMR | BIR | CAR | GPS | DAY | ISP | OXF | FDA | TRN | BRI | SMR | NSV | ATL | CLB | BGS | AWS | SBO | LGY | DAR | HCY | RCH | BLV | HBO | MAR | NWS | AUG | CLT | CAR | JFC | | | | | | | | NA | 0 |
| 1969 | Rudy Hoerr | 41 | Dodge | MGR | MGY | RSD 4 | DAY | DAY | DAY | CAR | AUG | BRI | ATL | CLB | HCY | GPS | RCH | NWS | MAR | AWS | DAR | BLV | LGY | CLT | MGR | SMR | MCH | KPT | GPS | NCF | DAY | DOV | TPN | TRN | BLV | BRI | NSV | SMR | ATL | MCH | SBO | BGS | AWS | DAR | HCY | RCH | TAL | CLB | MAR | NWS | CLT | SVH | AUG | CAR | JFC | MGR | TWS | NA | 0 |

#### Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | NWCC | Pts | Ref |
| 1986 | Baker-Schiff Racing | 88 | Olds | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | DOV | CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN 29 | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | | 106th | 76 | |
| 1986 | Dingman Brothers Racing | 50 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSD 20 | 106th | 76 | |

##### Daytona 500

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 1968 | Owens Racing | Dodge | 8 | 4 |

### International Race of Champions

(key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)
International Race of Champions results :
| Season | Make | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Pos. | Pts |
| 1975–76 | Chevy | | | | MCH 8 | RSD 9 | RSD 2 | DAY 5 | 6th | - |
| 1976–77 | Chevy | | | | MCH 5 | RSD 7 | RSD 5 | DAY 9 | 8th | - |
| 1977–78 | Chevy | | | | MCH 1 | RSD 1* | RSD 3 | DAY 7 | 1st | - |
| 1978–79 | Chevy | MCH | MCH 2 | RSD | RSD 11 | ATL 10 | | | 11th | - |
| 1986 | Chevy | | | | DAY 1 | MOH 5 | TAL 6 | GLN 12* | 4th | 51 |
| 1987 | Chevy | | | | DAY 10 | MOH 10 | MCH 6 | GLN 7 | 11th | 27 |
| 1988 | Chevy | | | | DAY 6 | RSD 6 | MCH 5 | GLN 5 | 8th | 38 |
| 1991 | Dodge | | | | DAY 3 | TAL 6 | MCH 7 | GLN 9 | 6th | 37 |
| 1993 | Dodge | | | | DAY 12 | DAR 9 | TAL 11 | MCH 11 | 12th | 21 |

### 24 hours of Daytona

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 1985 | Henn's Swap Shop Racing | Porsche 962 | 3 | 1 |
| 1987 | A J Foyt Enterprises | Porsche 962 | 8 | 4 |
| 1991 | Jochen Dauer Racing | Porsche 962 | 9 | 35 |