Legendary IndyCar Driver Lee Kunzman Passes Away at 80

Kunzman's racing career was marked by resilience as he overcame serious injuries to participate in the Indianapolis 500 four times - in 1972, 1973, 1977, and 1979. His best finish was seventh in both 1973 and 1977, and his final start in 1979 saw him secure an 11th-place qualifying position.

In addition to his Indianapolis 500 starts, Kunzman had a successful career in the INDYCAR SERIES, with his best finish being second at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1979. He fought hard against winner Johnny Rutherford.

After retiring as a driver, Kunzman became a team manager for Hemelgarn Racing, which celebrated an Indy 500 win in 1996 and the INDYCAR SERIES title in 2000.

Kunzman had tremendous success in the United States Auto Club (USAC), racking up 30 national victories in Midget and Sprint Car racing. He first gained attention as the Rookie of the Year in the Little 500 at Anderson Speedway in 1967, and achieved eight USAC National Midget wins in 1969.

Kunzman faced serious challenges during his career, including a life-threatening crash in 1970 that left him with burns and fractures. Remarkably, he returned to racing just two months later. He endured another severe accident in 1973 but made a triumphant comeback by finishing fourth in a race at the same track where he was injured.