Al Unser Jr. is the second-winningest driver in CART history (31).The two-time CART champion (1990-94) and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner suffered through a winless season for the first time since 1987. Still wound up fourth in PPG point standings. Owned big lead at Elkhart Lake only to lose power on the last lap. Runner-up at Rio and Milwaukee.

He began racing career at age nine in karts.

From 1979-1980 he competed in World of Outlaws sprint series. He finished fourth in first Super Vee race at Michigan in 1980. By 1981 he'd moved to Super Vees full time with Rick Galles Racing and captured championship with wins at Charlotte, Milwaukee (2) and Brainerd. the same year he was also named SCCA Rookie of the Year

The following year he won his second consecutive title for Rick Galles, this time competing in Can-Am series. Unser made his PPG Cup debut with a fifth-place finish at the California 500.

1983 brought his first full season with 13 starts, finishing seventh in PPG points in year of his father's national championship. He became the youngest driver to pass the 200 mph barrier at Indy. A year later he won his first PPG Cup event on Father's Day at Portland and placed sixth in PPG point standings.

In 1985 he joined Shierson Racing, but lost the closest point battle in Indy Car history (151-150) to father, Al Unser.

In 1986 he became the youngest IROC champion in the history of the series with wins in two of four events. He also won IMSA Road America race with Al Holbert and 24 Hours of Daytona with Holbert and Derek Bell; drove in off-road series during the winter.

1987 brought his final season with Domino's Pizza/Team Shierson, finished third in PPG points, but failed to post win for first time since 1983, nonetheless, scored seven Top Five finishes.

Unser scored first PPG Indy Car World Series championship in 1990, earning six wins in 16 races. He scored his first oval win, at Milwaukee, became first driver in Championship Auto Racing Teams-governed history to score four consecutive wins, won first superspeedway and 500-mile event, at the Marlboro 500 at Michigan. At a race average of 189.727 mph, Unser's win in the Marlboro 500 at Michigan was the fastest 500-mile auto race in history and fastest Indy car event ever.

Won first Indy 500, by history's closest margin, 0.043 seconds over Scott Goodyear in 1992. Also competed in IROC for seventh consecutive season, winning at Michigan and becoming the series' winningest driver with six victories.

Raced for sixth consecutive season in 1993 with Rick Galles, winning at Vancouver and scoring five Top Five finishes and 11 Top 10s. Competed in his first Daytona 500 for Hendricks Racing, starting 40th and running as high as fifth before being eliminated in an accident on lap 158. Signed with Marlboro Team Penske for 1994 season.

Indy Car Victories: 1984: Portland; 1985: Meadowlands, Cleveland; 1986: Miami; 1988: Long Beach, Toronto, Meadowlands, Miami; 1989: Long Beach; 1990: Long Beach, Milwaukee, Toronto, Michigan 500, Denver, Vancouver; 1991: Long Beach, Denver; 1992: Indianapolis 500; 1993: Vancouver; 1994: Long Beach, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Portland, Cleveland, Mid-Ohio, New Hampshire, Vancouver; 1995: Long Beach, Mid-Ohio, Vancouver

PPG points (standing): 1982 - 30 (21st); 1983 - 89 (7th); 1984 - 103 (6th); 1985 - 150 (2nd); 1986 - 137 (4th); 1987 - 107 (3rd); 1988 - 149 (2nd); 1989 - 136 (5th); 1990 - 210 (1st); 1991 - 197 (3rd); 1992 - 169 (3rd); 1993 - 100 (7th); 1994 - 225 (1st); 1995 - 161 (2nd); 1996 - 125 (4th)

Source: Speednet

High Resolution Al Unser Jr. Drawings:

Al Unser Jr. Road Course (Color Drawing)
Al Unser Jr. In Car/Pits (Color Drawing)
Al Unser Jr. Portrait (Color Drawing)
Al Unser Jr. At Speed (Color Drawing)

The May 1997 featured driver was "Christial Fittipaldi"

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