Louis Unser

Louis Unser Jr. (March 16, 1896 – October 18, 1979) was an American racing driver. 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.

Louis Unser
Born	Louis Unser Jr. (1896-03-16)March 16, 1896 Alton, Illinois, U.S.
Died	October 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 finish	23rd (tie) (1947)
First race	1947 Pikes Peak Hill Climb (Pikes Peak)
Last race	1965 Pikes Peak Hill Climb (Pikes Peak)
First win	1947 Pikes Peak Hill Climb (Pikes Peak)
Last win	1953 Pikes Peak Hill Climb (Pikes Peak)
Wins Podiums Poles 2 6 1

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, 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

• Pikes Peak Hill Climb Museum Hall of Fame (1997)

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

• Unser (disambiguation) for other family members who were race car drivers