Buddy Lazier

{{Infobox racing driver | name = Robert Buddy Lazier | image = | pixels = | caption = Buddy Lazier in his team's garage prior to the 2008 Indy 500 | nationality = American | | date of birth = 10/31/1967 | place of birth = Vail, Colorado | date of death = | retired = | related to = Bob Lazier (father)
Jaques Lazier (brother) | current series = IRL IndyCar Series | first year = 1996 | current team = Hemelgarn Racing | car number = 91 | former teams = Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Panther Racing
Sam Schmidt Motorsports | starts = 100 | wins = 8 | poles = 2 | fastest laps = | best finish = 1st | year = 2000 | prev series = CART | prev series years = 1989-1995 | titles = Indy Racing League Champion | title years = 2000 | awards = Scott Brayton Trophy | award years = 2003 |}

Robert Buddy Lazier (born October 31, 1967 in Vail, Colorado) is an American open-wheel racecar driver. He won the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and has finished in the Top Ten in that race six times. Both his father Bob Lazier and brother Jaques Lazier are veterans of the Indy 500 as well.

Career

1989-2005

Lazier first appeared in CART beginning in 1989 driving for Gary Trout Motorsports and also participated in The Indy 500 as a rookie. In preparation for the founding of the Indy Racing League in 1996, he signed with Ron Hemelgarn's Hemelgarn Racing whom he drove in the Indianapolis 500 for in 1991.

Buddy Lazier driving at Laguna Seca in 1991

Buddy was one of the drivers in the first IRL race and won the 1996 Indianapolis 500, the first sanctioned by the IRL despite suffering a major back injury earlier in the season. Following the fame and money of the Indy win, a strong partnership between Buddy, Hemelgarn, and sponsor Delta Faucet formed. This partnership resulted in a model season for the team in 2000 with Buddy winning 2 races on his way to the series championship followed by a second place effort in 2001. Following the influx of former CART Teams and the new engine suppliers in 2002, Lazier and Hemelgarn had extreme difficulty competing at the level that they had before and they lost their sponsor following the 2003 season. Buddy only completed in the Indy 500 in 2004 for Hemelgarn and was signed to drive the 2005 Indy 500 for the Byrd Brothers and Panther Racing, placing fifth in the race, ahead of Panther's 2 regular drivers Tomáš Enge and Tomas Scheckter in a race that many believe may have resurrected his career.

In 2005, Buddy acquired a four-race deal with Panther Racing to drive the #95 Pennzoil/American Sentry Guard Dallara/Chevrolet. However, he received an extra race in Enge's #2 Rockstar Energy Drink Dallara/Chevrolet at Milwaukee on July 24. Enge was injured during a crash at the Nashville Superspeedway during the Firestone Indy 200 a week earlier. He logged four top-tens in the No. 95 and an 18th-place finish in Enge's No. 2 car. With Panther's contraction to a single car in 2006, Lazier was forced to search for another team, which he found in Robbie Buhl's Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

2006-2008

In 2006, Lazier raced in seven events for Dreyer & Reinbold with a best finish of 12th in the Indy 500. He was replaced by Aussie Ryan Briscoe for the Watkins Glen International race and Briscoe finished third. He was replaced again by Briscoe after the Kansas Speedway race on July 2, finishing a disappointing 15th after starting seventh. Lazier returned for the Michigan International Speedway race in August, but Sarah Fisher finished the season for the team in the two remaining races that Briscoe was not contracted for in the IndyCar Series.

Lazier did not have a contract as a regular driver for the 2007 IndyCar Series season. However, Lazier teamed up with Sam Schmidt Motorsports to race in the 2007 Indianapolis 500. Without a permanent ride, Lazier drove in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race with Billy Ballew Motorsports at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 22 of that year and finished 24th.

Lazier practicing for the 2008 Indianapolis 500

2008 began similar to 2007 without a full-time ride in any series. Lazier and Hemelgarn Racing reunited in a late effort to qualify for the 2008 Indianapolis 500. Lazier qualified on the third day of qualifying but was bumped from the field. He struggled to find speed early in Sunday's bump day session, but with less than half an hour remaining in the session the team completed major changes and made a qualifying attempt with no practice laps on the new setup. The attempt was not fast enough, so the team adjusted wing settings to remove drag from the car and went out for another attempt, again with no practice. This attempt was fast enough to bump Roger Yasukawa and put Lazier 32nd on the grid and earn them a $50,000 bonus for being the last driver to make a successful qualifying attempt.

Motorsports Career Results

American Open Wheel

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Champ Car

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Rank	Points
1989	Lazier	Template:Country data USA PHX	Template:Country data USA LBH	Template:Country data USA INDY INJ	Template:Country data USA MIL	Template:Country data USA DET	Template:Country data USA POR	Template:Country data USA CLE	Template:Country data USA MEA	Template:Country data CAN TOR	Template:Country data USA MIS	Template:Country data USA POC	Template:Country data USA MDO	Template:Country data USA ROA	Template:Country data USA NZR	Template:Country data USA LS1	Template:Country data USA LS DNQ
1990	Hemelgarn	Template:Country data USA PHX DNP	Template:Country data USA LBH DNP	Template:Country data USA INDY DNQ	Template:Country data USA MIL DNP	Template:Country data USA DET DNQ	Template:Country data USA POR 13	Template:Country data USA CLE Ret	Template:Country data USA MEA DNP	Template:Country data CAN TOR DNS	Template:Country data USA MIS Ret	Template:Country data USA DEN DNQ	Template:Country data CAN VAN 12	Template:Country data USA MDO Ret	Template:Country data USA ROA DNS	Template:Country data USA NZR1 DNP	Template:Country data USA NZR Ret	Template:Country data USA LS DNP		29th	1
1991	Hemelgarn/Coyne/Walker	Template:Country data AUS SRF Ret	Template:Country data USA LBH Ret	Template:Country data USA PHX DNP	Template:Country data USA INDY Ret	Template:Country data USA MIL DNP	Template:Country data USA DET 18	Template:Country data USA POR DNP	Template:Country data USA CLE 11	Template:Country data USA MEA DNP	Template:Country data CAN TOR Ret	Template:Country data USA MIS DNP	Template:Country data USA DEN 9	Template:Country data CAN VAN DNP	Template:Country data USA MDO Ret	Template:Country data USA ROA Ret	Template:Country data USA NZR DNP	Template:Country data USA LS1 DNP	Template:Country data USA LS Ret	22nd	6
1992	Coyne	Template:Country data AUS SRF 16	Template:Country data USA PHX 14	Template:Country data USA LBH Ret	Template:Country data USA INDY Ret	Template:Country data USA DET Ret	Template:Country data USA POR Ret	Template:Country data USA MIL 17	Template:Country data USA NHM DNP	Template:Country data CAN TOR Ret	Template:Country data USA MIS 7	Template:Country data USA CLE Ret	Template:Country data USA ROA 13	Template:Country data CAN VAN 10	Template:Country data USA MDO Ret	Template:Country data USA NZR1 DNP	Template:Country data USA NZR 15	Template:Country data USA LS Ret		19th	10
1993	Leader Card	Template:Country data AUS SRF Ret	Template:Country data USA PHX Ret	Template:Country data USA LBH 19	Template:Country data USA INDY DNQ	Template:Country data USA MIL 15	Template:Country data USA DET Ret	Template:Country data USA POR DNP	Template:Country data USA CLE Ret	Template:Country data CAN TOR DNP	Template:Country data USA MIS Ret	Template:Country data USA NHM DNQ	Template:Country data USA ROA 14	Template:Country data CAN VAN DNP	Template:Country data USA MDO 20	Template:Country data USA NZR Ret	Template:Country data USA LS DNQ			38th	0
1994	Leader Card	Template:Country data AUS SRF DNQ	Template:Country data USA PHX 13	Template:Country data USA LGH Ret	Template:Country data USA INDY DNQ	Template:Country data USA MIL 18	Template:Country data USA DET 17	Template:Country data USA POR Ret	Template:Country data USA CLE DNP	Template:Country data CAN TOR DNQ	Template:Country data USA MIS Ret	Template:Country data USA MDO DNQ	Template:Country data USA NHM DNS	Template:Country data CAN VAN Ret	Template:Country data USA ROA DNP	Template:Country data USA NZR DNQ	Template:Country data USA LS DNP			36th	0
1995	Project Indy/Menard/Payton/Coyne	Template:Country data USA MIA DNP	Template:Country data AUS SRF Ret	Template:Country data USA PHX DNP	Template:Country data USA LBH DNP	Template:Country data USA NZR Ret	Template:Country data USA INDY Ret	Template:Country data USA MIL 18	Template:Country data USA DET DNP	Template:Country data USA POR DNP	Template:Country data USA ROA DNP	Template:Country data CAN TOR 15	Template:Country data USA CLE DNP	Template:Country data USA MIS 14	Template:Country data USA MDO DNP	Template:Country data USA NHM Ret	Template:Country data CAN VAN DNP	Template:Country data USA LS DNP		35th	0

IndyCar

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Rank	Points
1996	Hemelgarn	Template:Country data USA WDW Ret	Template:Country data USA PHX DNS	Template:Country data USA INDY 1																	14th	53
1996-1997	Hemelgarn	Template:Country data USA NHM Ret	Template:Country data USA LVS Ret	Template:Country data USA WDW 5	Template:Country data USA PHX Ret	Template:Country data USA IND 4	Template:Country data USA TXS Ret	Template:Country data USA PPIR 8	Template:Country data USA CLT 1	Template:Country data USA NH2 12	Template:Country data USA LV2 Ret										8th	209
1998	Hemelgarn	Template:Country data USA WDW Ret	Template:Country data USA PHX Ret	Template:Country data USA INDY 2	Template:Country data USA TXS Ret	Template:Country data USA NHM 7	Template:Country data USA DOV 2	Template:Country data USA CLT 13	Template:Country data USA PPI 7	Template:Country data USA ATL Ret	Template:Country data USA TX2 6	Template:Country data USA LVS 3									5th	262
1999	Hemelgarn	Template:Country data USA WDW 10	Template:Country data USA PHX Ret	Template:Country data USA INDY 7	Template:Country data USA TXS 14	Template:Country data USA PPIR 5	Template:Country data USA ATL Ret	Template:Country data USA DOV 2	Template:Country data USA PPI2 4	Template:Country data USA LVS 11	Template:Country data USA TX2 10										6th	224
2000	Hemelgarn	Template:Country data USA WDW 2	Template:Country data USA PHX 1	Template:Country data USA LVS Ret	Template:Country data USA INDY 2	Template:Country data USA TXS 7	Template:Country data USA PPIR Ret	Template:Country data USA ATL 2	Template:Country data USA KTY 1	Template:Country data USA TX2 4											1st	290
2001	Hemelgarn	Template:Country data USA PHX 3	Template:Country data USA HMS Ret	Template:Country data USA ATL 6	Template:Country data USA INDY 18	Template:Country data USA TXS 4	Template:Country data USA PPIR 1	Template:Country data USA RIR 1	Template:Country data USA KAN 5	Template:Country data USA NSH 1	Template:Country data USA KTY 1	Template:Country data USA STL 13	Template:Country data USA CHI 11	Template:Country data USA TX2 Ret							2nd	398
2002	Hemelgarn	Template:Country data USA HMS Ret	Template:Country data USA PHX 7	Template:Country data USA FON 7	Template:Country data USA NZR Ret	Template:Country data USA INDY Ret	Template:Country data USA TXS 8	Template:Country data USA PPIR 15	Template:Country data USA RIR Ret	Template:Country data USA KAN 7	Template:Country data USA NSH Ret	Template:Country data USA MIS 13	Template:Country data USA KTY 3	Template:Country data USA STL 15	Template:Country data USA CHI 3	Template:Country data USA TX2 7					8th	305
2003	Hemelgarn	Template:Country data USA HMS DNP	Template:Country data USA PHX 11	Template:Country data JPN MOT Ret	Template:Country data USA INDY Ret	Template:Country data USA TXS 13	Template:Country data USA PPIR 10	Template:Country data USA RIR 20	Template:Country data USA KAN 13	Template:Country data USA NSH Ret	Template:Country data USA MIS 12	Template:Country data USA STL 11	Template:Country data USA KTY 16	Template:Country data USA NZR 13	Template:Country data USA CHI 16	Template:Country data USA FON DNP	Template:Country data USA TX2 DNP				19th	201
2004	Hemelgarn	Template:Country data USA HMS	Template:Country data USA PHX	Template:Country data JPN MOT	Template:Country data USA INDY Ret	Template:Country data USA TXS	Template:Country data USA RIR	Template:Country data USA KAN	Template:Country data USA NSH	Template:Country data USA MIL	Template:Country data USA MIS	Template:Country data USA KTY	Template:Country data USA PPIR	Template:Country data USA NZR	Template:Country data USA CHI	Template:Country data USA FON	Template:Country data USA TX2				30th	12
2005	Panther	Template:Country data USA HMS	Template:Country data USA PHX	Template:Country data USA STP	Template:Country data JPN MOT	Template:Country data USA INDY 5	Template:Country data USA TXS DNP	Template:Country data USA RIR DNP	Template:Country data USA KAN DNP	Template:Country data USA NSH 9	Template:Country data USA MIL Ret	Template:Country data USA MIS 6	Template:Country data USA KTY 6	Template:Country data USA PPIR DNP	Template:Country data USA SNM DNP	Template:Country data USA CHI 10	Template:Country data USA WGL DNP	Template:Country data USA FON DNP			23rd	140
2006	Dreyer & Reinbold	Template:Country data USA HMS Ret	Template:Country data USA STP Ret	Template:Country data JPN MOT 14	Template:Country data USA INDY 12	Template:Country data USA WGL DNP	Template:Country data USA TXS Ret	Template:Country data USA RIR 16	Template:Country data USA KAN 15	Template:Country data USA NSH DNP	Template:Country data USA MIL DNP	Template:Country data USA MIS 15	Template:Country data USA KTY DNP	Template:Country data USA SNM DNP	Template:Country data USA CHI DNP						18th	122
2007	Sam Schmidt	Template:Country data USA HMS	Template:Country data USA STP	Template:Country data JPN MOT	Template:Country data USA KAN	Template:Country data USA INDY 19	Template:Country data USA MIL	Template:Country data USA TXS	Template:Country data USA IOW	Template:Country data USA RIR	Template:Country data USA WGL	Template:Country data USA NSH	Template:Country data USA MDO	Template:Country data USA MIS	Template:Country data USA KTY	Template:Country data USA SNM	Template:Country data USA DET	Template:Country data USA CHI			28th	12
2008	Hemelgarn	Template:Country data USA HMS	Template:Country data USA STP	Template:Country data JPN MOT1	Template:Country data USA LBH1	Template:Country data USA KAN	Template:Country data USA INDY 17	Template:Country data USA MIL	Template:Country data USA TXS	Template:Country data USA IOW	Template:Country data USA RIR	Template:Country data USA WGL	Template:Country data USA NSH	Template:Country data USA MDO	Template:Country data CAN EDM	Template:Country data USA KTY	Template:Country data USA SNM	Template:Country data USA DET	Template:Country data USA CHI	Template:Country data AUS SRF2	37th	13

Years	Teams	Races	Poles	Wins	Podiums (Non-win)	Top 10s (Non-podium)	Indianapolis 500 Wins	Championships
13	4	100	2	8	10	27	1 (1996)	1 (2000)

Indy 500 results

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish	Team
1989	March	Cosworth	Practice Crash		Lazier
1990	Lola	Cosworth	Did Not Qualify		Hemelgarn
1991	Lola	Buick	23rd	33rd	Hemelgarn
1992	Lola	Buick	24th	14th	Leader Cards
1993	Lola	Buick	Failed to Qualify		Leader Cards
1994	Lola	Ilmor	Failed to Qualify		Leader Cards
1995	Lola	Menard-Buick	23rd	27th	Menard
1996	Reynard	Ford-Cosworth	5th	1st	Hemelgarn
1997	Dallara	Oldsmobile	10th	4th	Hemelgarn
1998	Dallara	Oldsmobile	11th	2nd	Hemelgarn
1999	Dallara	Oldsmobile	22nd	7th	Hemelgarn
2000	Dallara	Oldsmobile	16th	2nd	Hemelgarn
2001	Dallara	Oldsmobile	10th	18th	Hemelgarn
2002	Dallara	Chevrolet	20th	15th	Hemelgarn
2003	Dallara	Chevrolet	21st	21st	Hemelgarn
2004	Dallara	Chevrolet	28th	23rd	Hemelgarn
2005	Dallara	Chevrolet	9th	5th	Panther
2006	Dallara	Honda	25th	12th	Dreyer & Reinbold
2007	Dallara	Honda	22nd	19th	Schmidt
2008	Dallara	Honda	32nd	17th	Hemelgarn

External links

• Buddy Lazier Photos

Sporting positions
Preceded by Jacques Villeneuve	Indianapolis 500 Winner 1996	Succeeded by Arie Luyendyk
Preceded by Greg Ray	Indy Racing Northern Lights Series Champion 2000	Succeeded by Sam Hornish, Jr.
Awards
Preceded by Arie Luyendyk	Scott Brayton Award 2003	Succeeded by Helio Castroneves