1987 Indy 500: Al Unser captures fourth victory

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Al Unser was a last minute substitute for the injured Danny Ongais, and the car he drove wasn’t expected to compete, either.

The year-old March chassis, fitted with a Cosworth engine because no more Chevrolets were available, was booked for a hotel lobby in Reading, Pa., before being called into service.

Unser didn’t have a ride when Ongais suffered a serious head injury in a turn four crash in practice. Unser had turned down a chance to replace Jim Crawford, out with serious leg injuries.

But Unser didn’t turn down Roger Penske, which led to his fourth Indy win. Unser inherited the lead when Mario Andretti lost power and Roberto Guerrero stalled on pit road, the latter the result of hitting a tire earlier in the race. That tire flew into the stands and killed a fan, the first spectator fatality in 57 years.

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