More Panther chances for Buddy Lazier

rustyfan · 12 Jun 2005, 06:20 (Ref:1326072)

Great news, Panther Racing will field a car for Buddy Lazier at two more races this year, Nashville and Michigan, and perhaps even more than that

SpeedTV reports:

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedTV

More Panther Chances for Buddy Lazier

Buddy Lazier will compete in at least two more IRL IndyCar Series races this season for Panther Racing, team officials disclosed Saturday afternoon.

Lazier, who finished fifth in the Indianapolis 500 on May 29 in what was thought to be a one-off deal with Panther, will return to the team for races at Nashville Superspeedway and Michigan International Speedway.

“We were very impressed with Buddy’s performance for us at Indianapolis and we would really like to give him the opportunity to win a race in 2005,” said Gary Pedigo, one of Panther’s co-owners. “Everybody at Panther Racing has been trying to find a way to get Buddy back in one of our cars.”

Lazier will compete at Nashville, where he won in 2001, on July 16. Two weeks later, he’ll compete at MIS. Lazier has won eight IRL races in his career, culminating in the series championship in 2000. He proved impressive in his first IRL race in 19 months by starting ninth and finishing fifth at Indy.

“ I can’t wait to get back in one of those cars,” Lazier said. “All I asked from the team at Indianapolis was that Panther Racing gave me a car that could win, and they did just that. I know with Panther Racing’s personnel and Chevrolet power behind me, I will have a chance to win both of these races, too.” ”

Panther officials said they hope to have more opportunities for Lazier later in the season. Both Panther drivers, Tomas Scheckter and Tomas Enge, are on the front row for Saturday night's Bombardier Learjet 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Kicking-back · 12 Jun 2005, 11:13 (Ref:1326232)

Good news.

Down F0rce · 12 Jun 2005, 11:39 (Ref:1326256)

Nice to see this is out of Chevy's pocket - maybe they really are having second thoughts?

Great news for Buddy, he deserves a full time ride really - but this'll do for the moment.

GP Racer · 12 Jun 2005, 13:47 (Ref:1326317)

Good deal, and good for the series!

I think having some of the "oldies" around like Lazier, and Sharp, is good for the sport, and for the IRL, which is the only series that would have given these guys a shot at the big-time. I love to watch them do well against some of the big name guys the IRL has these days. I guess it's the old underdog thing! I know there are other IRL fans that feel the same way.

Him and Scheckter should really push each other, and having Lazier around can only help Enge get better...

BootsOntheSide · 12 Jun 2005, 14:43 (Ref:1326347)

Hopefully a full-time drive will come from it for 2006, but his performance at the 500 was one of the race highlights, and deserves to lead ot a route back into the series.

marcus · 12 Jun 2005, 16:29 (Ref:1326431)

awesome news , I hope he kicks butt and lands a full time ride next year

Go get em Buddy

)

mountainstar · 13 Jun 2005, 04:50 (Ref:1327001)

It's good to see Buddy back, it'd be a hoot if he won a race.

climb · 14 Jun 2005, 09:32 (Ref:1328112)

Absolutely great news!

After Buddy's brilliant Indy500, I had already pointed out that he surely deserves a seta, particularly considering some regular IRL drivers

He's back with a very good team and package, Buddy i't up to you now!

N I Tram · 16 Jun 2005, 14:14 (Ref:1330406)

I've always felt that Lazier is good enough to compete in the new-model IRL, although perhaps not at the very front, so I hope he does well with this chance.

Tim Northcutt · 16 Jul 2005, 13:53 (Ref:1356822)

The Indy Star reported this morning that Lazier may also race beyond Michigan...

Namely Kentucky Motor Speedway and Chicagoland....

BootsOntheSide · 16 Jul 2005, 14:37 (Ref:1356836)

He and the whole Panther team are having a great weekend so far, and it would be a pity if this is the last we see of him. His successful reaturn most be a real eye-opener for those who've been frustrated with the IRL's evolution towards overseas drivers and road/street races.

Tim Northcutt · 16 Jul 2005, 14:59 (Ref:1356846)

Keep in mind that Panther itself could be "looking"....in another way...

I believe that Pennzoil may not be back...

Chevy is up in the air as well....

John Barnes says that they are'nt worrying about that now, and September will be more of a time to decide their future direction....

and he admitted that they have talked about forms of NASCAR, Grand Am, and yes...even Champ Car....

Byt he added that their future direction has always included the Indy 500, which should tell you where they would want to go.....

luke · 16 Jul 2005, 16:22 (Ref:1356864)

The Indystar has said Panter could move to Champ Car or else where, what goes around comes around.....

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