Nationality American Starts 20 Name Al III | Debut season 2004 Wins 0 Role Race car driver | |
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Born October 23, 1982 (age 41)
Albuquerque, New Mexico ( 1982-10-23 ) Related to Former teams Vision Racing
Brian Stewart Racing
Playa Del Racing
American Dream Motorsports | ||
Alfred Richard Unser ("Just Al" or "Al Unser III") (born October 23, 1982, in Albuquerque, New Mexico) is a professional race car driver in the United States, who competed in the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights Series through the Firestone Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.
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Family connections
Al Unser III is the son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser, Jr., grandson of Al Unser, Sr., and grandnephew of Bobby Unser. Another granduncle, Jerry Unser, died in practice for the 1959 race. First-cousins-once-removed (his father's cousins) Robby and Johnny also drove in the Indianapolis 500.
During his young childhood years, he was often nicknamed "Mini Al" by the media and fans, all with the anticipation that he would undoubtedly follow in his family's footsteps to race. His grandfather (Al Unser, Sr.) became known as "Big Al," his father (Al Unser, Jr.) for a time became known as "Little Al," and Al III thus became known as "Mini Al." When starting his professional career, he has since abandoned any sort of nickname, and has insisted on being referred to as Just Al (i.e., Al Unser), or by his full name, Al Richard Unser.
His first TV appearance was the 1992 Indy 500 when his father won. Unser III was seen greeting his father in victory circle on live TV.
Career biography
Unser began driving go karts at age 10, but stopped racing until after earning his driver's license at 16. After attending driving schools, Unser competed in the Skip Barber Western Racing Series in 2002, winning six races and earning "Rookie of the Year" honors. A year later, he posted four top-10 finishes in the Barber Dodge Series.
In 2004, Unser made his Toyota Atlantic Championship debut, running in four of the 12 series events. His best finish came in his final start of the season when he was eighth at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. He also ran in eight of twelve races in the Infiniti Pro Series, a feeder series to the Indy Racing League, and finished third five times.
Unser started the 2005 season in the Infiniti Pro Series, posting three top-10 finishes in the first four races. He then returned to the Toyota Atlantic series and finished the season 7th in championship, after running ten of twelve events and posting a best finish of 4th.
In 2006 he drove in 2 Champ Car Atlantic series events with a best finish of 19th, prior to funding issues seeing him losing his drive.
Unser was signed to drive the Playa Del Racing #12 car in the Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 2007 Indy Pro Series. He continued in the series also appearing in several other oval races. He was announced as Playa Del Racing's full-time driver in the #12 car for the 2008 season.
Controlling interest in Playa Del Racing was sold in May, 2008 to former Las Vegas restaurateur Eric Zimmerman, who renamed it American Dream Motorsports. After finishing in 11th position at Indianapolis, Unser was reportedly released by the new owner and replaced by Tony Turco, who brought sponsorship to the program. American Dream Motorsports posted an entry for the Milwaukee 100 on May 31, but the car never took to the track.
Unser's sponsor, Ethos for Earth, shifted its support to Indy Lights at the series level, where it continues to feature Al Unser III and Al Unser, Jr. in marketing and promotions.
American open–wheel racing results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)