In the approximate time it takes many humans to involuntarily blink their eyes (0.04 seconds), Al Unser Jr. defeated Scott Goodyear in 1992 for the closest finish ever of the Indianapolis 500.
The official finish times were separated by 43-thousandths of a second. That’s 0.043 seconds!
The image captured by Indianapolis Star photographer Mike Fender in this week’s #FanTeaser illustrates – quite nicely we believe – just how close a finish it was. Notice how Unser’s car is not yet fully across the famed yard of bricks finish line as the nose of Goodyear’s is about to touch.
Unser’s victory was historic for another reason.
He put the Unser family’s name on the famed Borg-Warner Trophy again as the first – and still only – multi-generational family winner of the Indy 500 in the race’s storied history. Little Al’s father, Al Sr., won the race on four occasions (1970, 1971, 1978, and 1987). Senior’s older brother, Bobby Unser, also won the annual Memorial Day race three times (1968, 1975, and 1981). Little Al won the race again in 1994.
Tragedy has also touched the Unser family at the famed race course. Bobby and Senior’s older brother, Jerry Unser Jr., finished 31st in 1958 and, then, while practicing for the 1959 race, spun coming out of Turn 4 and hit the wall, suffering burns over 35% of his body and broken neck. Though conscious during his rescue, he later slipped into a coma and died two weeks later. Jerry’s accident and subsequent death, led to a requirement for all drivers to wear fire-resistant suits.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.