By: Shelby Harris

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., — When the drivers of the Indianapolis 500 take the green flag on Sunday, May 28, there will be one driver in the field who came very close to not being there. 

 

1996 Indianapolis 500 champion Buddy Lazier starts this 500 mile race in the next to last row in position 30, but it has been a battle just to get his car on the track.  

 

The oldest driver in the field, 49-year-old Buddy Lazier qualified for his 20th Indianapolis 500. But some wondered whether he would even get the chance this year. 

 

“It’s taken time, money and a lot of hard work from our crew,” Buddy Lazier said.

 

Money that wasn’t a sure thing. “The sport is kind of driven by people and money, we were able to get the people, but we weren’t able to get the money until the very last minute,” Bob Lazier, Buddy Lazier’s father said.

 

The sponsors finally came through and the team credits the racing community for helping get this team back on the track.

 

“It’s kind of like a big family if you want to know the truth,” Bob Lazier said. “It’s a competitive family, and they aren’t going to give you an inch on the racetrack, but they want you out there because they want to beat you.”

 

Despite the challenges they’ve  faced, Buddy Lazier is confident that his past experience at the Indianapolis 500 will keep him competitive.

 

 “I have a lot of laps here and I have been able to watch the different changes that the drivers and teams have been making,” Buddy Lazier said.

 

Despite his starting position and the lack of practice laps, Buddy Lazier feels he’s ready to make a run.

 

“It’s taken awhile to get where we are.  We weren’t going for the pole, we’re just happy to be here,” Buddy Lazier said.

 

Here is the 101st Indianapolis 500, which runs this Sunday.