INDYCAR: Lazier's long, hard road back to Indy

It hasn't been easy but the Lazier family is back in Gasoline Alley as the 33rd entry for the 100th Indianapolis 500.

"Not making the race last year really hurt us, so it's been a bit of a challenge to get back here but I'm really proud of the group we've got this month," said Bob Lazier (right), the ex-Indy 500 driver who officially announced Sunday that his son, 1996 Indy winner Buddy (above), would be wheeling the No. 4 Dallara-Chevy this month. "We had a few bills left over from last year and got them taken care of, and we've been hustling to get his car upgraded. And without Tom Burns, it wouldn't have happened."

Burns, who fielded cars for Dominic Dobson and Jeff Andretti in the early 1990s, helped with the aero kit and Chevy engine upgrades and is now a partner in Lazier Burns Racing.

Veteran team manager Larry Curry went to work for Lazier last fall and hired longtime IndyCar mechanic Butch Winkle to assemble the five-year-old Dallara at another ex-IndyCar mechanic's (Damon Sturrock) shop, Snakepit Customs, and the crew includes Lew Parks – now in his fifth decade of working on Indy cars.

"We're still trying to sell a couple of $25,000 sponsorships because it's an expensive proposition but we're in much better shape this year than we were last year, when Buddy just had no chance," said Lazier, whose son was the only driver not in the show in 2015 after a myriad of mechanical issues. "People say Buddy is too old (48) but I promise you he's in great shape and still has that competitive fire in him."

Lazier was asked if there was any thought to trying to put together a full season in the future.

"We'd love to do a full season with one car and then an Indy only for Buddy," he replied. "We've already got our eye on a young driver. He's only 17 and winning everything in go-karts and he's also running Formula Vee. It's Buddy's son, Flynn, and he's going to be something else."