Louis Unser

{{Short description|American racing driver (1896–1979)}} {{More citations needed|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox racing driver | name = Louis Unser | image = | caption = | birth_name = Louis Unser Jr. | birth_date = {{Birth date|1896|03|16}} | birth_place = Alton, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|1979|10|18|1896|03|16}} | death_place = Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. | titles = '''Major victories''' Pikes Peak Hill Climb (1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1946, 1947, 1953) | module1 = {{Infobox Champ Car driver|embed=yes | Total_Champ_Races = 10 | Years_In_Champ = 10 | Best_Champ_Pos = 23rd (tie) (1947) | First_Champ_Race = 1947 Pikes Peak Hill Climb (Pikes Peak) | Last_Champ_Race = 1965 Pikes Peak Hill Climb (Pikes Peak) | First_Champ_Win = 1947 Pikes Peak Hill Climb (Pikes Peak) | Last_Champ_Win = 1953 Pikes Peak Hill Climb (Pikes Peak) | Champ_Wins = 2 | Champ_Podiums = 6 | Champ_Poles = 1 }}}}

'''Louis Unser Jr.''' (March 16, 1896 – October 18, 1979) was an American racing driver.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Louis Unser |url=http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/UnserLouis.htm |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=www.champcarstats.com}}</ref> 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.

== 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,<ref>{{Cite web |last=PPIHC |date=2024-01-11 |title=BEHIND THE WHEEL - Louis Unser |url=https://ppihc.org/behind-the-wheel-louis-unser/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Pikes Peak International Hill Climb |language=en}}</ref> 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)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hall of Fame |url=https://ppihc.org/hall-of-fame/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=Pikes Peak International Hill Climb |language=en}}</ref> * Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2025)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Louis Unser |url=https://www.mshf.com/Louis-Unser-10-1921258.html |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=www.mshf.com}}</ref>

== Motorsports career results ==

=== AAA Championship Car results ===

(key) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" |- ! Year ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! Rank ! Points |- ! 1947 | INDY {{small| }} | MIL {{small| }} | LAN {{small| }} | ATL {{small| }} | BAI {{small| }} | MIL {{small| }} | GOS {{small| }} | MIL {{small| }} |style="background:#FFFFBF;"|PIK {{small|1}} | SPR {{small| }} | ARL |colspan=7| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 23rd !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 200 |- ! rowspan=1| 1948 | ARL | INDY | MIL | LAN | MIL | SPR | MIL | DUQ | ATL |style="background:#CFEAFF;"| PIK 7 | SPR | DUQ |colspan=6| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 42nd !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 60 |- ! rowspan=1| 1949 | ARL | INDY | MIL | TRE | SPR | MIL | DUQ |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| PIK 2 | SYR | DET | SPR | LAN | SAC | DMR |colspan=4| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 27th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 160 |- ! 1950 |INDY | MIL | LAN | SPR | MIL |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| PIK 3 | SYR | DET | SPR | SAC | PHX | BAY | DAR |colspan=5| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 29th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 140 |- ! 1951 | INDY | MIL | LAN | DAR | SPR | MIL | DUQ | DUQ |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| PIK 3 | SYR | DET | DNC | SJS | PHX | BAY |colspan=3| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 33rd !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 140 |- ! rowspan=1| 1952 | INDY | MIL | RAL | SPR | MIL | DET | DUQ |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| PIK 2 | SYR | DNC | SJS | PHX |colspan=6| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 25th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 160 |- ! rowspan=1| 1953 | INDY | MIL | SPR | DET | SPR | MIL | DUQ |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| PIK 1 | SYR | ISF | SAC | PHX |colspan=6| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 25th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 200 |- ! rowspan=1| 1954 | INDY | MIL | LAN | DAR |SPR | MIL | DUQ |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| PIK 18 | SYR | ISF |SAC | PHX | LVG |colspan=5| !- !0 |- ! rowspan=1| 1955 | INDY | MIL | LAN | SPR | MIL | DUQ |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| PIK 11 | SYR | ISF | SAC | PHX |colspan=7| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 51st !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 20 |- ! 1965 | PHX {{small| }} | TRE {{small| }} | INDY | MIL {{small| }} | LAN {{small| }} |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| PPR {{small|12}} | TRE {{small| }} | IRP {{small| }} | ATL {{small| }} | LAN {{small| }} | MIL {{small| }} | ISF {{small| }} | MIL {{small| }} | DSF {{small| }} | INF {{small| }} | TRE {{small| }} | SAC {{small| }} | PHX {{small| }} !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 56th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 5 |}

== See also ==

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

== References ==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Unser, Louis}} Category:1896 births Category:1979 deaths Category:AAA Championship Car drivers Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:Carrera Panamericana drivers Category:Sportspeople from Alton, Illinois Category:Racing drivers from Illinois Category:Racing drivers from Colorado Louis Category:USAC Championship Car drivers Category:World Sportscar Championship drivers Category:Sportspeople from Colorado Springs, Colorado