A rookie called Bobby Unser

Picture above: Parnelli Jones is giving rookie Bobby Unser advice as he tries to qualify the Novi for the 1963 Indianapolis 500. Parnelli was instrumental in getting Bobby the ride in the Andy Granatelli owned car.

When Parnelli Jones introduced him, Andy asked Bobby, “Why should I let you dive the car?” Unser told him “Because I am asking!” That was enough to convince Granatelli.

Bobby said the first time he drove the Novi, he laid rubber all around the track. After his second flying lap he came in he said he wondered where those rubber marks are coming from and realised it was him!

Picture above from the Robin Miller Photo Collection: Andy Granatelli is kneeling at the left of the cockpit and Parnelli Jones is standing, talking to the driver, Indianapolis 1963.

Parnelli Jones won the race from pole (picture below) while Bobby Unser swerved to avoid running into a spinning car, and crashed into the wall on lap 3.