The Indy Racing League has lost its last star, and Indianapolis has lost its final active legend. Sunday, Al Unser Jr. announced he was retiring from competition, ending the era of sons.
Al Unser Jr. was a member of the four holy names of Indianapolis: the Unsers, the Andrettis, the Mears' and the Foyts. Now only A.J. Foyt's grandson remains in the series fulltime. With Casey Mears in NASCAR, Michael Andretti retired and an owner, and now Al Unser Jr. out, the IndyCar Series is now out of names.
While Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Sam Hornish, Kanaan and Wheldon may be great drivers, they don't have the public recognition Little Al did.
Walking through the garage this fall, Unser Jr. got more cheers than most of the other drivers. Sarah Fisher and Hornish got a ton, and there were a surprising few for defending champion Dixon, but more people said they were rooting for Al Unser than any other driver that I witnessed.
You don't need to read Unser Jr.'s history to understand his importance, you don't need to know that he owns the closest Indy 500 victory ever, that he won from the pole or that he once shouted, "You don't know what Indy means" in victory lane to understand his importance. It helps, but it's not necessary.
Unfortunately in 1996, Al Unser Jr., like many drivers, left Indianapolis at the prime of his career. While he did not win in 1996, he did win several times in 1995 and has won three times since returning to the series in 2000. He's also had two top 10's in the Indianapolis 500 in the last five years, but Unser Jr. hasn't been in the running for a win in the race since he won in 1994.
Still, with Michael Andretti exiting the series last year and Unser's retirement today, the IndyCar world needs a new star and fast. That means the developing "Just" Al Unser and Marco Andretti won't come around soon enough.
Castroneves might be the man for the job, as he has the personality and the talent to inspire the crowds, but he doesn't have the down to earth humanity of an Unser.
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