Wednesday, May 7, 2014

INDY 500: Lazier Partners continue upon Building the Perfect Beast...



This just in from my Sentimental pick for this year's Indy 500, as I've already scribbled 'bout the reasons why in;


As Buddy's one of the Coolest Catz' I've met and who doesn't like a little team doing good! As I've even gotten to meet 'N greet Bob Lazier (#91 Team Owner) and Jaques Lazier - both during last year's Legends Day autograph session.

As now comes word that Lazier Partners have announced the addition of veteran engineer David Cripps to their line-up this year, along with the addition of Briggs & Stratton as associate sponsor.

As Cripps's repertoire is quite diverse, having seen the veteran engineer finding himself in Sochi for the Winter Olympics this past February, helping the United States earn four medals in men’s and women’s bobsled
competition, but now he is back where he is most comfortable – the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Lazier Partners Racing (LPR) co-owner Bob Lazier announced yesterday that Cripps will be the lead engineer for the team’s No. 91 University of Iowa Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone car in this year’s Indianapolis 500. The car will be driven by 1996 Indy 500 winner Buddy Lazier.

As the U.S. Bobsled team’s technical director in Sochi, Cripps’ job was to make the team’s sleds as fast as possible. His job with LPR is no different, and few know how to make a Verizon IndyCar Series car as slippery and fast at the Speedway better than Cripps. His record in the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race is eye-opening.

On four occasions, drivers in cars engineered by Cripps have won the coveted Rookie of the Year award for the Indianapolis 500. And though he has not sipped milk in victory lane yet, Cripps has been the engineer on five cars that have finished the Greatest Spectacle in Racing in second place.

LPR will be attempting to qualify for its second consecutive race with Vail, Colo.’s Buddy Lazier driving. Lazier, in addition to winning Indy in 1996, is the 2000 Verizon IndyCar Series champion.

This year’s Indianapolis 500 will be Lazier’s 18th start in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. In addition to his 1996 Indy 500 win, Lazier has finished second twice (1998 & 2000), fourth (1997) and fifth (2005).

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As Lazier Partners Racing continues to augment its competition department with key personnel, the team also is bolstering its portfolio of sponsors, having just signed Briggs & Stratton as an associate sponsor on the No. 91 University of Iowa Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research car this week. As Briggs & Stratton joins other associate sponsors Herman Miller and Phillips Energy Partners supporting Lazier Partners Racing in 2014.

Buddy Lazier will be 46 when he takes the green flag in this year’s Indy 500. Is that too old to win? Ask Emerson Fittipaldi, Bobby Unser or Al Unser. Fittipaldi was 46 when he won in 1993, while the Unser brothers each recorded their last wins at the age of 47.

Practice for the Indianapolis 500 begins on Sunday May 11. Qualifying for the Indy 500 is on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18. The 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is Sunday, May 25, and will be live on ABC...