View source for Johnny Unser

{{short description|American racing driver}}
{{Infobox racing driver
| name              = John William Unser
| image             = Johnny Unser.jpg
| imagesize         = 
| caption           = Unser in 2009
| nationality       = {{flagicon|USA}} American
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1958|10|22}}
| birth_place       = [[Long Beach, California]], U.S.
| death_date        = 
| retired           = 2001
| related to        = [[Jerry Unser]] (father)<br>[[Al Unser]] (uncle)<br>[[Bobby Unser]] (uncle)<br>[[Al Unser Jr.]] (cousin)<br>[[Robby Unser]] (cousin)
| last series       = [[Indy Racing League]] [[IndyCar Series]]
| years active      = 1996–2000
| teams             = [[Project Indy]]<br>[[Byrd-Cunningham Racing]]<br>[[Hemelgarn Racing]]
| starts            = 15
| wins              = 0
| poles             = 0
| fastest laps      = 0
| best finish       = 24th
| year              = [[1996–1997 in IRL|1996–1997]]
| prev series       = [[Champ Car|CART]]
| prev series years = 1993–1994
| titles            = 
| title years       = 
| awards            = 
| award years       = 
}}
'''Johnny Unser''' (born October 22, 1958) is an American former race car driver and current race steward for the [[USF Juniors]] series.  He is the son of open wheel driver [[Jerry Unser Jr.]], cousin of [[Al Unser Jr.]] and [[Robby Unser]], nephew of [[Al Unser]] and [[Bobby Unser]], and first cousin once removed of [[Alfred Unser]]. Unser's father, Jerry, died in a racing accident when Unser was seven months old. He made 5 starts in [[Champ Car|CART]] in 1993 and 1994 with a best result of 15th. He joined the [[Indy Racing League]] in its inaugural [[1996 in IRL|1996]] season but had a transmission failure during the pace lap of what would've been his first [[Indianapolis 500]] and was not credited with completing any laps. In [[1997 in IRL|1997]] he made his first start in the Indy 500 starting in the 35th position after League and Speedway owner [[Tony George]] added his and [[Lyn St. James]]' car to the field because slower cars than theirs were guaranteed starting positions because of prior races. He went on to finish 18th, his best "500" result in 5 starts. Unser drove the majority of his IRL races for [[Hemelgarn Racing]] and in his 14 career IRL starts he had a best finish of 9th in his first series start in 1996 at [[Phoenix International Raceway]]. His last major open wheel race was the [[2000 in IRL|2000]] Indy 500.

On January 14 2008 Johnny Unser was named as the race director for the 2008 [[Champ Car Atlantic Championship]].<ref>[https://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/news_story/?ID=227283&hubname=auto_racing Johnny Unser named Atlantic Race Director], TSN.ca, January 14, 2008</ref> He is currently a driver coach and adviser to the [[Mazda Road to Indy]] and racing adviser and spokesman for [[Cooper Tire]]. He is an official for [[Indycar]] in Race Control and is also the owner of Unser Racing, Karting and Entertainment track in Denver, Colorado.

==Racing record==

===American Open Wheel===
([[Wikipedia:WikiProject American Open Wheel Racing/Driver results legend|key]])

====CART====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year
! Team
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! 15
! 16
! Rank
! Points
! Ref
|-
| [[1993 CART World Series season|1993]]
! [[Dale Coyne Racing]]
|[[1993 Australian FAI IndyCar Grand Prix|SRF]]<br /><small></small>
|PHX<br /><small></small>
|LBH<br /><small></small>
|[[1993 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br />
|MIL<br /><small></small>
|DET<br /><small></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|POR<br /><small>18</small>
|CLE<br /><small></small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|TOR<br /><small>17</small>
|MIC<br /><small></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|NHA<br /><small>18</small>
|ROA<br /><small></small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|VAN<br /><small>21</small>
|MDO<br /><small></small>
|NAZ<br /><small></small>
|LS<br /><small></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|'''44th'''
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|'''0'''
!<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/unserjo01/1993/R|title=Johnny Unser – 1993 CART Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 15, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1994 CART World Series season|1994]]
! [[Dale Coyne Racing]]
|[[1994 Australian FAI Indycar Grand Prix|SRF]]<br /><small></small>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PHX<br /><small>DNQ</small>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|LBH<br /><small>DNQ</small>
|[[1994 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br />
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MIL<br /><small>DNQ</small>
|DET<br /><small></small>
|POR<br /><small></small>
|CLE<br /><small></small>
|TOR<br /><small></small>
|MIC<br /><small></small>
|MDO<br /><small></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|NHA<br /><small>15</small>
|VAN<br /><small></small>
|ROA<br /><small></small>
|NAZ<br /><small></small>
|LS<br /><small></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|'''39th'''
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|'''0'''
!<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/unserjo01/1994/R|title=Johnny Unser – 1994 CART Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 15, 2023}}</ref>
|}

====IndyCar====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year
! Team
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! Rank
! Points
! Ref
|-
| [[1996 in IRL|1996]]
! [[Project Indy]]
|[[1996 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World|WDW]]<br><small></small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;"|[[1996 Dura Lube 200|PHX]]<br><small>9</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|[[1996 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small>33</small>
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| '''24th'''
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| '''56'''
!<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/unserjo01/1996/O/|title=Johnny Unser – 1996 Indy Racing League Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 6, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=3 | [[1996–1997 in IRL|1996-97]]
! [[Project Indy]]
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|[[1996 True Value 200|NHM]]<br><small>DNQ</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|[[1996 Las Vegas 500K|LVS]]<br><small>22</small>
|[[1997 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World|WDW]]<br><small></small>
|[[1997 Phoenix 200|PHX]]<br><small></small>
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
!
| rowspan=3 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| '''24th'''
| rowspan=3 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| '''107'''
! rowspan=3| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/unserjo01/1997/O/|title=Johnny Unser – 1997 Indy Racing League Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 6, 2023}}</ref>
|-
! [[Hemelgarn Racing]]
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|[[1997 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small>18</small>
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|[[1997 Las Vegas 500K|LV2]]<br><small>19</small>
!
|-
! [[Jonathan Byrd's Racing|Byrd-Cunningham Racing]]
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|style="background:#CFEAFF;"|[[1997 True Value 500|TXS]]<br><small>10</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|[[1997 Samsonite 200|PPIR]]<br><small>21</small>
|[[1997 VisionAire 500|CLT]]<br><small></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|[[1997 Pennzoil 200|NH2]]<br><small>13</small>
| &nbsp;
!
|-
| [[1998 in IRL|1998]]
! [[Hemelgarn Racing]]
|[[1998 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World|WDW]]<br><small></small>
|[[1998 Dura Lube 200|PHX]]<br><small></small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|[[1998 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small>25</small>
|[[1998 True Value 500|TXS]]<br><small></small>
|[[1998 New England 200|NHM]]<br><small></small>
|[[1998 Pep Boys 400K|DOV]]<br><small></small>
|[[1998 VisionAire 500K|CLT]]<br><small></small>
|[[1998 Radisson 200|PPIR]]<br><small></small>
|ATL<br><small></small>
|TX2<br><small></small>
|LVS<br><small></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| '''40th'''
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| '''5'''
!<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/unserjo01/1998/O/|title=Johnny Unser – 1998 Pep Boys Indy Racing League Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 6, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1999 in IRL|1999]]
! [[Hemelgarn Racing]]
|WDW<br><small></small>
|PHX<br><small></small>
|[[VisionAire 500K|CLT]]<br><small>C</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|[[1999 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small>32</small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|TXS<br><small>15</small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|PPIR<br><small>13</small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|ATL<br><small>13</small>
|DOV<br><small></small>
|PPI2<br><small></small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|LVS<br><small>23</small>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|TX2<br><small>DNQ</small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| '''27th'''
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| '''57'''
!<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/unserjo01/1999/O/|title=Johnny Unser – 1999 Pep Boys Indy Racing League Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 6, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2000 in IRL|2000]]
! [[Indy Regency Racing]]
|WDW<br><small></small>
|PHX<br><small></small>
|LVS<br><small></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|[[2000 Indianapolis 500|INDY]]<br><small>22<br></small>
|TXS<br><small></small>
|PPIR<br><small></small>
|ATL<br><small></small>
|KTY<br><small></small>
|TX2<br><small></small>
!
!
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| '''42nd'''
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| '''8'''
!<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/unserjo01/2000/O/|title=Johnny Unser – 2000 Indy Racing Northern Lights Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 6, 2023}}</ref>
|}

====Indianapolis 500 results====
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Year
! Chassis
! Engine
! Start
! Finish
|-
| [[1996 Indianapolis 500|1996]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Ford-Cosworth]]
| 16th
| 33rd
|-
| [[1997 Indianapolis 500|1997]]
| [[Dallara]]
| [[Infiniti]]
| 35th
| 18th
|-
| [[1998 Indianapolis 500|1998]]
| [[Dallara]]
| [[Oldsmobile]]
| 25th
| 25th
|-
| [[1999 Indianapolis 500|1999]]
| [[Dallara]]
| [[Oldsmobile]]
| 30th
| 32nd
|-
| [[2000 Indianapolis 500|2000]]
| [[Panoz|G-Force]]
| [[Oldsmobile]]
| 30th
| 22nd
|}

===24 Hours of Le Mans results===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
|-
! Year
! Team
! Co-drivers
! Car
! Class
! Laps
! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall position}}
! {{Tooltip|Class<br>pos.|Class position}}
|-
! {{24hLM|1995}}
|align="left"| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Callaway Cars|Callaway Competition]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Enrico Bertaggia]]<br />{{flagicon|DEU}} [[Frank Jelinski]]
|align="left"| [[Callaway Cars|Callaway Corvette]]
| LMGT2
| 273
| 9th
| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''2nd'''
|-
!colspan="8"|{{center|{{small|Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Johnny Unser|url=https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/track-record/driver/johnny-unser-5505|publisher=[[Automobile Club de l'Ouest]]|access-date=August 7, 2023}}</ref>}}}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/UnserJohnny.htm Johnny Unser at ChampCarStats.com]

{{Unser family}}
{{Dale Coyne Racing}}
{{Byrd Racing}}
{{Hemelgarn Racing}}
{{Project Indy}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Unser, Johnny}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:American people of Swiss-German descent]]
[[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers]]
[[Category:24 Hours of Daytona drivers]]
[[Category:Champ Car drivers]]
[[Category:Indianapolis 500 drivers]]
[[Category:IndyCar Series drivers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Long Beach, California]]
[[Category:Racing drivers from California]]
[[Category:Unser family]]


{{US-autoracing-bio-stub}}
[[Category:Dale Coyne Racing drivers]]