The Unsers from Albuquerque NM are one of the most iconic families in the history of auto racing, and are being honored with a once-in-a-lifetime exhibit at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum that opened Monday April 9. “The Amazing Unsers: From Albuquerque to Indianapolis,” will feature 25 cars that Unser family members drove in Indy 500 competition. Included in the exhibit will be eight of the nine that took them to Indy’s fabled Victory Lane, starting with the Rislone Eagle-Offy that carried Bobby Unser to the family’s first “500” victory 50 years ago this May.
“It’s really nice of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum to honor the Unser family,” said Bobby Unser, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner. “To showcase all the Unsers at a track where so many great names have raced is very special for us.”
“For the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum to honor my family is just tremendous. It’s really hard to put into words how much it actually means,” added two-time 500 winner Al Unser Jr. (above, in the first of his father’s four 500 winners, the 1970 Johnny Lightning Colt-Ford). “As you go through the exhibit you are going to see my dad’s career, my uncle Bobby’s career, my whole family’s career on display here, it’s just a huge honor, and we’re very excited and we truly hope everyone enjoys what we’ve put our heart and soul into.”
In addition to the Indycars made famous by the Unsers, many incredible machines representing their career in USAC, road racing and NASCAR will also be on display, some for the first time. Visitors will also see rare memorabilia from the drivers, and can take an audio tour of some of the cars and trophies hosted by Al Unser (above, IMS Photo), Al Unser Jr., Bobby Unser, Parnelli Jones and Roger Penske.
“Every wall and room in my house is filled with racing memorabilia – even the kitchen,” noted Bobby Unser. “I am sending some very special items back to the Museum in Indianapolis to share with everyone — from each of my three Indianapolis 500 wins, Pikes Peak, National Championships, Champ Cars, sprint cars, Formula One and lots of other special races. I can’t wait to go back to Indianapolis in May, and I surely can’t wait to see the beautiful exhibit. I know there are events planned at the Museum, and it will make May and the 50thanniversary of my first Indy win a great month.”
“The Amazing Unsers: From Albuquerque to Indianapolis” runs through October 28. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-15, with no charge for children under the age of 6. Museum members enjoy free admission. For complete information please visit indyracingmuseum.org
