Two big names ended their day atop the podiums of the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend. Robby Unser got to join other members of his famous family as a winner at the Brickyard, albeit under significantly different circumstances, while Paul Tracy earned another opportunity to remind everyone listening of his opinion on who won the controversial 2002 Indianapolis 500. The two were winners in the SVRA’s new format for the event, which was organized into two classes: A Production (AP) and B Production (BP).

“It’s not the ‘500,’ but heck yeah, it’s huge,” a beaming Unser said during the press briefing, still clutching the milk bottle he was handed on the AP podium just moments before.

“This is my second win at the Speedway,” Tracy said, in reference to his assertion that it was him, not Helio Castroneves, who actually won the 2002 Indianapolis 500 after a controversial yellow light call disallowed his apparent pass for the lead at the end of the contest. Tracy was the winner in the BP class.

Unser and co-driver Andre Ahrle drove the latter’s 1965 Cobra to the overall win as well as the AP class. Tracy and co-driver Gary Moore came home second overall in Moore’s 1965 Mustang GT 350. Moore finished second with co-driver Eliseo Salazar in the 2014 Indy Legends Pro-Am. Moore has known the highs and lows of the iconic Speedway. After his “pinch me” moment in 2014, his car suffered massive damage in the race last year and finished at the back.

“I wasn’t sure I wanted to come back,” he said, reflecting on his feelings immediately following last year’s race. “But time heals wounds and when I talked to Tony (SVRA President & CEO Tony Parella) and he told me Paul Tracy wanted to run with us, I told him I was absolutely in. I hope we can do it again next year.”

Robby Unser finished strong, driving the last half of race and taking the lead after a yellow flag bunched up the field when Tom Bagley spun co-driver Norm Daniels’ 1968 Camaro in Turn 1 and could not restart the engine. The Unser-Ahrle success was particularly sweet as there was plenty of doubt they would be able to start their powerful Cobra in the race after a Friday practice mishap bent much of the front suspension. Unser prevailed upon some of his friends at Speedway Motors, where he does development and promotional work, for assistance. They worked late into the evening and – as was painfully obvious to their competition during the race – hit the setup perfectly.

Tracy and Moore had nearly a racelong battle with Curt Vogt and Max Papis, but a mistake in the pits put Vogt’s 1970 Boss 302 Mustang out of competition. The Papis-Vogt aspirations were dashed when they violated a rule requiring a five-minute pit stop for driver change. The two ended their day a lap down from the leaders in the 14th spot.

Roberto Guerrero’s co-driver Jody O’Donnell and Peter Klutt, who was teamed with Al Unser Jr., waged a spirited duel during the first several laps of the race. Both drivers were in 1969 Corvettes. Klutt eventually pulled away and looked to be marching toward a reprisal of his victory with Al at the inaugural Pro-Am two years ago, but it was not to be. The Klutt-Unser combination slipped to fifth overall but did manage a third in A Production for a spot on that podium and another taste of milk. Richie Hearn and Clair Schwendeman raced a 1968 Corvette into the runner-up spot in AP.

Following the all-Canadian team of Tracy and Moore on the BP podium were George Del Canto and Davey Hamilton (1967 Camaro) in second with Charles Bentley and A.J. Foyt IV in third. Del Canto and Hamilton are partners in Kingdom Racing, the group that helped field Sage Karam in this year’s Indianapolis 500.

The top 12 finishers overall completed 25 laps with the defending champions Bob Lazier and Jim Caudle (1969 Corvette) coming home 12th. Seven cars fell by the wayside due a variety of mechanical maladies that are part and parcel of vintage racing. Perhaps the most notable among them was the “Garage 34” entry of NASCAR legends Bill Elliott and Ray Evernham. Evernham retired his 1965 Corvette after just five laps so Awesome Bill never got a shot to drive in the race.

All the podium finishers were smiling and in general enjoying a love fest. Everyone agreed the experience creates new friends and they want to partner again next year.

“Driving with Andre is a perfect partnership,” Robby Unser announced. “Someone asked me if I want the same partner next year. I said, you’re kidding right?”

Click on the thumbnails below for larger images.

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Full results:

1. Andre Ahrle/Robby Unser, 1965 Cobra CompR

2. Gary Moore/Paul Tracey, 1965 Ford Mustang GT350

3. Clair Schwendeman/Richie Hearn, 1968 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster

4. George Del Canto/Davy Hamilton, 1967 Chevrolet Camaro

5. Peter Klutt/Al Unser, Jr., 1969 Chevrolet Corvette

6. Charles Bentley/AJ Foyt IV, 1967 Chevrolet Camero Z28

7. Jody O’Donnell/Roberto Guerrero, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette

8. Don Henry/Pete Halsmer, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster

9. Shannon Ivey/Johnny Unser, 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS

10. Kirk Blaha/Larry Foyt, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster

11. Robert Korzen/Darren Manning, 1966 Ford Mustang

12. Jim Caudle/Bob Lazier, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette

13. James Heck/Dick Simon, 1964 Chevrolet Corvette

14. Curt Vogt/Max Papis, 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302

15. Samuel LeComte/Davy Jones, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro

16. Bob Lima/Josele Garza, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette

17. Scott Hackenson/Mark Dismore, 1967 Ford Mustang

18. Edward Sevadjian/Willy T Ribbs, 1972 Chevrolet Corvette

19. John McCormick/Lyn St James, 1985 Ford Cobra IV

20. Scott Brady/Dennis Firestone, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette

21. Peter Baselice/Rick Treadway, 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302

22. Steven Cole/Johnny Parsons, Jr., 1969 Chevrolet Corvette

23. Denise Olthoff/Ana Biatriz, 1965 Ford Mustang GT350

24. Mark Rife/Jimmy Kite, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster

25. Aaron Lorton/Billy Roe, 1966 Chevrolet Corvette

26. Michael Rankin/Donnie Beechler, 1965 Ford Mustang 

27. David Roberts/Alex Lloyd 1969 Chevrolet Camaro

28. Richard Wall/Geoff Brabham, 1965 Cobra 427

29. Norm Daniels/Tom Bagley, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro

30. Brent Jarvis/Scott Harrington, 1965 Chevrolet Corvette

31. Matt Parent/Cory Witherill, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster

32. Bill Feaster/John Martin, 1964 Ford Falcon

33. Ray Evernham/Bill Elliot, 1965 Chevrolet Corvette

34. Alan Sevadjian/Jaques Lazier, 1967 Chevrolet Camaro