United States Lazier Partners Racing
Founded2013
Folded2018
Team principal(s)Bob Lazier[1][2]
Corbet Krause
Chris Nielsen
Jason Peters
Current seriesIndyCar Series
Current driversUnited States 44. Buddy Lazier (Indy 500)

Lazier Partners Racing was an American racing team in the IndyCar Series. The team was owned by former driver Bob Lazier, father of Buddy Lazier and Jaques Lazier, along with Corbet Krause, Chris Nielsen, Jason Peters, and others.[1][2][3]

History

Initial plans to race began in February 2012 during a ski trip in Vail, Colorado, but the team could not find a car for the 2012 Indianapolis 500.[2][4] Lazier Burns Racing (then called Lazier Partners Racing) was formed as a late entry for the 2013 Indianapolis 500.[4] The Dallara DW12 car was a Lotus test chassis bought from Fan Force United for $250,000, who raced in the 2012 Indianapolis 500 with Jean Alesi.[2][5][6] The chassis required updates at the Dallara factory in Indianapolis and engines were leased from Chevrolet.[3][7] Dennis Lacava was hired as the crew chief along with former crew members from Hemelgarn Racing.[6] To make the race, the team spent an estimated half million dollars.[2] Advance Auto Parts and Peak Motor Oil sponsored the team.[1] To honor victims of the 2013 Moore tornado, the car was renamed "Spirit of Oklahoma."[8] The team ran the least practices laps, qualified 32nd, and finished 31st after running only 44 laps due to a mechanical issue.[9]

Planning for 2014 was delayed due to the Lazier family's concentration on its Tivoli Lodge business.[10][11] The team returned for the 2014 Indianapolis 500 supporting the University of Iowa Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research.[9] Support for the institute was given as Buddy Lazier's daughter Jacqueline suffers from Aniridia.[12] Team support is being provided by Phillips Energy Partners and Herman Miller, with associate sponsorship from Briggs & Stratton.[9][13] Buddy Lazier will drive in the next five Indianapolis 500's due to a new sponsorship agreement.[4] David Cripps, ex-Panther Racing engineer, was hired as the lead engineer.[11][13] The team had trouble finding engineers and mechanics due to a shortage in IndyCar.[10][11] U.S. Olympians Abe Morlu and Dallas Robinson were members of the pit crew, serving as the right-rear tire changer and refueler.[14] The team ran roughly 77 practices laps, qualified 33rd, and finished 32nd after running 87 laps due to a mechanical (clutch) issue.[7][15][16]

Due to their engine contract and low budget, the team could not practice for the 2015 Indianapolis 500 until Thursday and missed practice time due to rain.[17][18] Before qualification the car suffered a broken axle and upright.[19] The team was slow during qualification two even after making radical rear wing changes and did not qualify for the Indianapolis 500.[20][21]

In 2016, the team returned in partnership with Indiana contractor Tom Burns, and the team was rebranded as Lazier Burns Racing.[22] The team also changed their car number to 4 instead of their usual 91, but Buddy Lazier remained as driver. With only 33 entries for the race, the Lazier team was guaranteed a spot in the field. Lazier qualified in 32nd for the race, the slowest car that completed their qualifying run. In the race, the team suffered problems during the parade lap stemming from a stuck throttle.[23] While the car would return to the track after spending about 30 laps in the pits, the car was eventually retired after completing 100 laps when a tire came off the car after a pit stop; the team finished 30th.

Racing results

Complete IndyCar Series results

(key)

Year Chassis Engine Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
2013 STP ALA LBH SAO INDY DET TXS MIL IOW POC TOR MDO SNM BAL HOU FON
Dallara DW12 Chevrolet IndyCar V6t United States Buddy Lazier 91 31
2014 STP LBH ALA IMS INDY DET TXS HOU POC IOW TOR MDO MIL SNM FON
Dallara DW12 Chevrolet IndyCar V6t United States Buddy Lazier 91 32
2015 STP NOL LBH ALA IMS INDY DET TXS TOR FON MIL IOW MDO POC SNM
Dallara DW12 Chevrolet IndyCar V6t United States Buddy Lazier 91 DNQ
2016 STP PHX LBH ALA IMS INDY DET ROA IOW TOR MDO POC TXS WGL SNM
Dallara DW12 Chevrolet IndyCar V6t United States Buddy Lazier 4 30
2017 STP LBH ALA PHX IMS INDY DET TEX ROA IOW TOR MDO POC GAT WGL SNM
Dallara DW12 Chevrolet IndyCar V6t United States Buddy Lazier 44 29

References

  1. ^ a b c "Buddy Lazier's Indy 500 effort gets boost from Peak Motor Oil and Advance Auto Parts". Autoweek. May 23, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e Chatelain, Dirk (May 18, 2013). "Omahan revved up about ownership stake in Indy 500 car". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Tuttle, Tim (May 19, 2013). "Buddy Lazier gives the Indy 500 another shot". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Wyrick, Randy. "Vail native Buddy Lazier aims for his 18th Indianapolis 500". April 24, 2014. Summit Daily. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  5. ^ Glendenning, Mark (May 9, 2013). "Buddy Lazier to enter own car for Indianapolis 500". Autosport. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  6. ^ a b DiZinno, Tony (May 17, 2013). "Buddy Lazier gets reacclimated to Speedway after four-year hiatus". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  7. ^ a b Wyrick, Randy (May 25, 2014). "Vail's Lazier returns to an all-too familiar Indy". Post Independent. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  8. ^ "Lazier's Indy 500 entry honors OK tornado victims". Associated Press. May 26, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  9. ^ a b c "1996 winner Buddy Lazier to enter 2014 Indianapolis 500". Autoweek. April 10, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  10. ^ a b DiZinno, Tony (May 13, 2014). "1996 Indy 500 champ Buddy Lazier motivated as ever despite generational shift". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c Wyrick, Randy (May 23, 2014). "Vail native Buddy Lazier is running his 18th Indianapolis 500". Vail Daily. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  12. ^ Cavin, Curt (April 10, 2014). "Former Indy 500 champ Buddy Lazier gets another ride". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  13. ^ a b Estrada, Chris (May 6, 2014). "Indy 500: 'Little Al' in as driver coach for KV; Cripps added as Lazier's lead engineer". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  14. ^ DiZinno, Tony (May 20, 2014). "Two Olympic bobsled members will crew Buddy Lazier's car in Indy 500". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  15. ^ Cavin, Curt (May 25, 2014). "2014 Indy 500 race results, comments". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  16. ^ Blau, Aaron (May 25, 2014). "Wynning the race against blindness - Exposure for Wynn Institute soars at Indy 500, thanks to positive approach by Buddy Lazier". Iowa Now. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  17. ^ Cavin, Curt (May 11, 2015). "Lazier will get late start due to short-week engine contract". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  18. ^ Cavin, Curt; Schuster, Blake (May 17, 2015). "Clauson holds on to final spot in Indy 500". Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  19. ^ Johnson, Jim (May 19, 2015). "Lazier heads home after failing to qualify for Indy 500". Associated Press. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  20. ^ Kenny, Justin (May 17, 2015). "Indy 500 qualifying notebook - Series looks for answers on crashes; Lazier falls short". News-Sentinel. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  21. ^ DiZinno, Tony (May 17, 2015). "Hawksworth, Coletti, Clauson survive second qualifying group; Lazier fails to make Indy 500". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  22. ^ Cavin, Curt (May 12, 2016). "Lazier team has new name, number, better chance in Indy 500". USA Today. Indianapolis: Gannett Company. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  23. ^ Glendenning, Mark (May 29, 2016). "Indy 500: Rookie Rossi wins 100th Running". Racer.com. Racer Media and Marketing, Inc. Retrieved June 16, 2016.

External links

IndyCar Series teams
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