Bobby Unser, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and a part of the one pair of brothers to win “The Best Spectacle in Racing,” has died. He was 87.

He died Sunday at his dwelling in Albuquerque, New Mexico, of pure causes, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway mentioned Monday. Unser received the Indy 500 in 1968, 1975 and 1981.

His youthful brother, Al, is one among solely three four-time Indy 500 winners in race historical past. Al Unser received the race in 1970, 1971, 1978 and 1987. The Unser household custom stretched to Al Unser’s son, Al Unser Jr., who received the Indy 500 in 1992 and 1994.

“Bobby was a ferocious competitor on the monitor, and his larger-than-life character made him some of the beloved and distinctive racers we now have ever seen,” mentioned Roger Penske, the present proprietor of Indianapolis Motor Speedway however the crew proprietor for Unser’s 1981 Indy 500 profitable automobile.

“Past his many wins and accomplishments, Bobby was a real racer that raised the efficiency of everybody round him. He was additionally some of the colourful characters in motorsports.”

Bobby Unser was born Feb. 20, 1934, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, however moved together with his household as a toddler to New Mexico. His father owned a storage alongside Route 66 and he and his brother grew up tooling round in outdated jalopies earlier than he started his racing profession in 1949 at Roswell (New Mexico) Speedway.

After two years within the U.S. Air Drive from 1953 to 1955 — a stint for which he was all the time proud — Unser turned to racing full time and have become one of many biggest racers in Indianapolis Motor Speedway historical past.

He was one among simply 10 drivers to win the five hundred at the very least 3 times, and Unser and Rick Mears are the one drivers to win the five hundred in three totally different many years. Unser was one among six members of the Unser household to race within the Indianapolis 500.

His last Indy 500 victory in 1981 got here in a Penske entry in some of the controversial and contentious outcomes. Unser beat Mario Andretti by 5.18 seconds, however officers dominated that Unser handed vehicles illegally whereas exiting the pit lane underneath warning — drawing a penalty that docked him one place and moved Andretti to winner.

Penske and Unser appealed, and after a prolonged course of, the penalty was rescinded in October of that 12 months. It was the thirty fifth and last victory of Unser’s profession.

At Indianapolis, Unser produced 10 top-10 finishes in 19 profession begins. He led in 10 races for a complete of 440 laps, which to this present day ranks tenth on the all-time listing.

“If you point out icons in racing, and notably the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Bobby Unser was a legend,” mentioned Doug Boles, president of the speedway. “He may drive, and win, in any sort of automobile and on any sort of monitor. And he was magical at Indy.”

After his driving profession, Unser moved to broadcasting and received an Emmy Award as a part of the ABC Sports activities broadcast crew for “Excellent Stay Sports activities Particular” for its protection of the 1989 Indianapolis 500.

Unser is survived by his spouse, Lisa; sons Bobby Jr. and Robby; and daughters Cindy and Jeri.