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Four-time Indianapolis 500 starter Lee Kunzman, a model of perseverance in motorsports, died Feb. 27. He was 80. Kunzman overcame serious injuries during his career to start in “The Greatest Specta…
Four-time Indianapolis 500 starter Lee Kunzman, known for his resilience in motorsports, passed away at the age of 80 on February 27. Despite facing significant injuries throughout his career, Kunzman participated in the iconic race in 1972, 1973, 1977, and 1979, securing his best finish of seventh in 1973 and 1977. His top qualifying position was 11th in his final Indy 500 appearance in 1979. Kunzman’s most notable achievement in his IndyCar tenure was securing second place at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1979, narrowly missing out on victory to Johnny Rutherford in a thrilling duel. Beyond his driving career, he took on the role of team manager for Hemelgarn Racing, leading the team to victory in the Indianapolis 500 in 1996 and securing the IndyCar Series championship in 2000 with driver Buddy Lazier. His accomplishments in USAC competition, including 30 national feature wins in Midget and Sprint Car, cemented his legacy, culminating in his induction into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2006.
