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Majeske collection Bobby Unser and the Olsonite Eagle defined speed at the 1972 Indianapolis 500. |
Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the Indianapolis 500!
I think it’s fair to say that Bobby Unser did something in 1972 that will never happen again: He jumped the pole speed by more than 17 mph with a four-lap average of 195.940 mph, including one lap of 196.678 mph. The combination of aerodynamics (in the form of giant wings), better tires, basically unlimited engines and extremely brave drivers meant that everyone in the lineup for the 1972 Indianapolis 500 qualified faster than the 1971 pole speed, which was a comparatively paltry 178.696 mph.
Unser ran away from everyone at the start, leading the first 30 laps. He was out after Lap 31, however, with a bad ignition rotor – something that almost never fails. His 30th-place finish was the worst for a pole-sitter in the 1970s.
#ThisIsMay #Indy500 #UncleBobby @IMS
@IMSMuseum @IndyCar
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