Galles Racing

American auto racing team


title: "Galles Racing" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["champ-car-teams", "indycar-series-teams", "american-auto-racing-teams"] description: "American auto racing team" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galles_Racing" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American auto racing team ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Indy500winningcar1992.JPG" caption="Al Unser Jr.'s 1992 Indy 500 winning [[Galmer]]."] ::

Galles Racing is a former auto racing team owned by Rick Galles that competed in the CART series, Can-Am and the Indy Racing League. The team won the 1990 CART championship as well as the 1992 Indianapolis 500, both with driver Al Unser Jr. The team won a total of 21 Indy car races along its history. In addition to Unser's 1992 victory, the team finished second at Indianapolis on three separate occasions (1989, 1990, 1996).

In 1992, the team notably fielded their own in-house Galmer chassis. The team achieved two victories with the car during its very brief foray into the sport.

History

1980s

The team first competed in a partial CART season in 1980, then was away from CART until 1983 when it fielded a car for rookie Al Unser Jr. Unser left the team after the 1984 season.

For 1985, Galles fielded the Buick V-6 engine at the Indy 500, with driver Pancho Carter winning the pole position. Carter, however, dropped out early and finished last.

In 1986-1987, Galles Racing became the primary support team for the new Brabham-Honda engine (later known as the Judd AV). Geoff Brabham and Jeff MacPherson fielded the engine at Indy in 1987, with MacPherson finishing a respectable 8th. Later in the season, Brabham scored second-place finishes at the Pocono 500 and at Road America.

In 1988, Al Unser Jr. returned to the team, and the entry was granted a lease for the Ilmor Chevrolet Indy-V-8 engine. In 1989, Unser Jr. then driving his familiar Valvoline-sponsored Chevy machine, nearly won the Indy 500, finishing second after crashing out with just over a lap to go in a famous duel with Emerson Fittipaldi.[[Image:BobbyRahalLagunaSeca1991.jpg|thumb|right|Bobby Rahal driving the Galles-[[Kraco]] car at [[Laguna Seca Raceway]] in 1991]]

Championship years

After the 1989 season, Galles merged teams with Maurice Kranes (who had fielded Kraco-sponsored cars for Michael Andretti and then Bobby Rahal). Kranes brought Rahal and Kraco with him, while Unser Jr. remained in the Valvoline-sponsored machine. The team competed as Galles-Kraco Racing from 1990 to 1992 and Unser won the 1990 CART Championship with five wins. The Galles-Kraco duo of Unser and Bobby Rahal was one of the top teams in CART during that period. Unser and Rahal teamed up for three 1-2 finishes, including the 1990 Michigan 500. The two drivers finished on the podium in the same race six times. Rahal himself earned an impressive, yet frustrating, eleven second-place finishes for the team in 1990-1991. Rahal finished fourth in the championship in 1990 and second in the championship in 1991, winning one race in 1991.

Al Unser Jr. finished third in points in both 1991 and 1992.

Rahal was replaced in 1992 by veteran Danny Sullivan as the team introduced their new proprietary Galmer chassis. Unser won the 1992 Indianapolis 500 in a Galmer in what would be the closest finish in race history. Despite winning, the Galmer chassis was scrapped after only one season. Sullivan won the race at Long Beach, after being involved in a controversial incident with less than four laps to go. Unser Jr. was leading the race, and Sullivan was running second. The two cars tangled, and Unser was sent spinning into a tire barrier, while Sullivan went on to win. The incident created friction inside the team.

Unser and Sullivan retained their seats in 1993, and were joined by Kevin Cogan and Mexican rookie Adrián Fernández, who would share a third car for selected races throughout the season. At the 1993 Indy 500, Sullivan was the first to retire from the race after a crash, but Unser finished in 8th place and Cogan finished 14th. After a lackluster season that saw only three podium finishes, Unser would leave for Penske Racing, and Sullivan moved into semi-retirement (he raced stock cars in 1994, and raced for PacWest in 1995). The final two wins of Sullivan's Indy car career came with the team, but it was later revealed that behind-the-scenes, there was a toxic atmosphere and internal friction inside the team that got worse when Sullivan tangled with Unser; it led to Sullivan being fired before the season concluded, right when Sullivan was not in a position to easily find himself a new job.

For 1994, Fernández was the team's lone entry, as the team reverted to its Galles Racing name. Fernández was joined by Brazilian journeyman Marco Greco for 1995, with a 3rd place for Fernández at the Michigan 500 being their best finish for the season.

Transition to IRL

1996 saw several drivers in Galles cars as the team was one of the few CART teams to cross over and compete in the rival Indy Racing League's first Indianapolis 500 with driver Davy Jones who finished second. Jones also drove a partial schedule in CART while rookie and former Motorcycle champion Eddie Lawson drove Galles' full-time CART entry. In 1997 the team moved full-time to the IRL with rookie Kenny Bräck. Bräck switched to A. J. Foyt Enterprises for 1998 and the team again ceased operations. Galles returned in 1999 with veteran Davey Hamilton. Hamilton was replaced in 2000 by a returning Al Unser Jr., who was switching over from CART after being released from Penske Racing. Unser was one of the first CART stars to switch full-time to the IRL. The team's final year was 2001 where Unser was joined by rookies Didier André and Casey Mears.

Summary

Throughout the team's 22-year history, their drivers captured 21 wins - 18 by Al Unser Jr. (6 in 1990, 4 in 1988, 2 in 1991 and 1 each in 1984, 1989, 1992, 1993, 2000, and 2001), two by Danny Sullivan (1 each in 1992 and 1993), and one by Bobby Rahal in 1991 in addition to capturing the 1990 CART championship and 1992 Indianapolis 500 with Unser.

Former drivers

CART

IRL

Racing results

Complete CART results

(key) ::data[format=table]

YearChassisEngineTyresDriversNo.1234567891011121314151617Pts PosPosGalles Racing1983198419851986198719881989Galles-Kraco Racing199019911992Galles Racing1993199419951996
ATLINDYMILCLEMCHROAPOCRIVMDOMCHCPLLAGPHX
Eagle 83Cosworth DFX V8tUSA Al Unser Jr.1769724*181010487th89
1910
March 83C17132
LBHPHXINDYMILPORMEACLEMCHROAPOCMDOSANMCHPHXLAGCPL
March 84CCosworth DFX V8tUSA Al Unser Jr.7RetRetRet31*4RetRet13RetRet662446th103
USA Tom Gloy7717RetRet40th0
USA Pancho Carter671121st22
LBHINDYMILPORMEACLEMCHROAPOCMDOSANMCHLAGPHXMIA
March 85CBuick 3300 V6tUSA Pancho Carter6133316th37
Cosworth DFX V8t5131616122107
Brazil Roberto Moreno28162516528th10
Australia Geoff Brabham761912142422915191341610122215th41
PHXLBHINDYMILPORMEACLETORMCHPOCMDOSANMCHROALAGPHXMIA
Lola T86/00Cosworth DFX V8tAustralia Geoff Brabham81031221111168512th64
Brabham-Honda V8t72214144122022
Cosworth DFX V8tBrazil Roberto Moreno92061913181825186101661620101716th30
USA Pancho Carter1519th28
151633
LBHPHXINDYMILPORMEACLETORMCHPOCROAMDONAZLAGMIA
March 87CBrabham-Honda V8tUSA Jeff MacPherson11101388132117222319th21
Cosworth DFX V8t209924
Lola T86/00Brabham-Honda V8t2521
March 87CAustralia Geoff Brabham1516824129422DNS822712538th90
PHXLBHINDYMILPORCLETORMEAMCHPOCMDOROANAZLAGMIA
March 88CChevrolet 265A V8tUSA Al Unser Jr.3181*1320441*1212471961*2nd149
PHXLBHINDYMILDETPORCLEMEATORMCHPOCMDOROANAZLAG
Lola T89/00Chevrolet 265A V8tUSA Al Unser Jr.221*282110752049220435th136
PHXLBHINDYMILDETPORCLEMEATORMCHDENVANMDOROANAZLAG
Lola T90/00Chevrolet 265A V8tUSA Al Unser Jr.531*4127315*111*11*1*341621st210
USA Bobby Rahal18212242112252223867354th153
SFRLBHPHXINDYMILDETPORCLEMEATORMCHDENVANMDOROANAZLAG
Lola T91/00Chevrolet 265A V8tUSA Al Unser Jr.116*1*641944422331*352423rd197
USA Bobby Rahal182221942331*311202342242nd200
SFRPHXLBHINDYDETPORMILNHATORMCHCLEROAVANMDONAZLAG
Galmer G92Chevrolet 265A V8tUSA Al Unser Jr.3454*193787432231193rd169
USA Danny Sullivan185121551212938207781777th99
SFRPHXLBHINDYMILDETPORCLETORMCHNHAROAVANMDONAZLAG
Lola T93/07Chevrolet 265C V8tUSA Al Unser Jr.31542185651958825182557th100
USA Danny Sullivan71323833161*14143Wth22261027202712th43
Mexico Adrian FernándezDNS24th7
112321729
USA Kevin Cogan1427131535th0
SFRPHXLBHINDYMILDETPORCLETORMCHMDONHAVANROANAZLAG
Reynard 94iIlmor 265D V8tMexico Adrian Fernández71310828162310713236822521713th46
MIASFRPHXLBHNAZINDYMILDETPORROATORCLEMCHMDONHAVANLAG
Lola T95/00Mercedes-Benz IC108B V8tMexico Adrian Fernández1011261218921106967123426221012th66
Brazil Marco Greco551321DNQ13112320152220252329th2
MIARIOSFRLBHNAZ500MILDETPORCLETORMCHMDOROAVANLAG
Lola T96/00Mercedes-Benz IC108C V8tUSA Eddie Lawson1015217917620615241520th26
USA Davy Jones121624141431st1
::

Indy Racing League results

(key) ::data[format=table]

YearChassisEngineTyresDriversNo.12345678910111213Pts PosPos19961996–97199920002001
WDWPHXINDY
Lola T95/00Mercedes-Benz IC108C V8tUSA Davy Jones70226th33
NHALSVWDWPHXINDYTXSPPIRCLTNHALSV
G-Force GF01Oldsmobile Aurora V8USA Davy Jones4Wth0
USA Jeff Ward1630th69
Sweden Kenny Bräck11331814552019th139
Brazil Marco Greco7013920103rd230
WDWPHXCLTINDYTXSPPIRATLDOVPPIRLSVTXS
G-Force GF01COldsmobile Aurora V8USA Davey Hamilton984th237
Dallara IR911737232132
WDWPHXLSVINDYTXSPPIRATLKTYTXS
G-Force GF05Oldsmobile Aurora V8USA Al Unser Jr.32591293*1032717*9th188
PHXHMSATLINDYTXSPPIRRIRKANNSHKTYGATCHITXS
G-Force GF05Oldsmobile Aurora V8USA Al Unser Jr.323617308113201441867th287
USA Casey Mears31201123DNQ31st36
France Didier André32271013DNQ1719416211112131520th188
::

IndyCar wins

::data[format=table]

#SeasonDateSanctionTrack / RaceNo.Winning driverChassisEngineTireGridLaps Led1984198819891990199119921992199320002001
1June 17CARTGrand Prix of Portland (R)7USA Al Unser Jr.March 84CCosworth DFX V8tGoodyear1068
2April 17CARTGrand Prix of Long Beach (S)3USA Al Unser Jr. (2)March 88CChevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear473
3July 17CARTStreets of Toronto (S)3USA Al Unser Jr. (3)March 88CChevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear385
4July 24CARTMeadowlands Street Circuit (S)3USA Al Unser Jr. (4)March 88CChevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear632
5November 6CARTTamiami Park, Miami (S)3USA Al Unser Jr. (5)March 88CChevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear582
6April 16CARTGrand Prix of Long Beach (S)2USA Al Unser Jr. (6)Lola T89/00Chevrolet 265A V8tGoodyearPole84
NCOctober 14CARTLaguna Seca Raceway (R)2USA Al Unser Jr.Lola T89/00Chevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear633
7April 22CARTGrand Prix of Long Beach (S)5USA Al Unser Jr. (7)Lola T90/00Chevrolet 265A V8tGoodyearPole91
8June 3CARTMilwaukee Mile (O)5USA Al Unser Jr. (8)Lola T90/00Chevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear982
9July 22CARTStreets of Toronto (S)5USA Al Unser Jr. (9)Lola T90/00Chevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear862
10August 5CARTMichigan 500 (O)5USA Al Unser Jr. (10)Lola T90/00Chevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear540
11August 26CARTStreets of Denver (S)5USA Al Unser Jr. (11)Lola T90/00Chevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear233
12September 2CARTStreets of Vancouver (S)5USA Al Unser Jr. (12)Lola T90/00Chevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear658
13April 14CARTGrand Prix of Long Beach (S)1USA Al Unser Jr. (13)Lola T91/00Chevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear293
14July 14CARTMeadowlands Street Circuit (S)18USA Bobby RahalLola T91/00Chevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear489
15August 25CARTStreets of Denver (S)1USA Al Unser Jr. (14)Lola T91/00Chevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear364
16April 12CARTGrand Prix of Long Beach (S)18USA Danny SullivanGalmer G92Chevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear27
17May 24USACIndianapolis 500 (O)3USA Al Unser Jr. (15)Galmer G92Chevrolet 265A V8tGoodyear1225
18June 13CARTDetroit Belle Isle Grand Prix (S)7USA Danny Sullivan (2)Lola T93/07Chevrolet 265C V8tGoodyear1030
19August 29CARTStreets of Vancouver (S)3USA Al Unser Jr. (16)Lola T93/07Chevrolet 265C V8tGoodyear538
20April 22IRLLas Vegas Motor Speedway (O)3USA Al Unser Jr. (17)G-Force GF05Oldsmobile Aurora V8Firestone2121
21August 26IRLGateway Motorsports Park (O)3USA Al Unser Jr. (18)G-Force GF05Oldsmobile Aurora V8Firestone875
::

References

References

  1. (April 6, 2017). "Danny Sullivan on His 1992 Long Beach IndyCar Win".

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