Amid IndyCar's Civil War split, Buddy Lazier won Indy 500. 'Yeah, I felt the divide'
Buddy Lazier won the Indy 500 in 1996 during a tumultuous period in IndyCar history marked by a split between the Indy Racing League and CART. Despite his father's ties to CART, Lazier felt neutral and focused on racing. His victory came as a surprise, as it was the first time he had a competitive car capable of winning.
- ▪The 1996 Indy 500 was overshadowed by a split between the Indy Racing League and CART.
- ▪Many top CART teams boycotted the race, opting to compete in the U.S. 500 instead.
- ▪Buddy Lazier won the Indy 500 driving for Hemelgarn Racing, marking a significant achievement in his career.
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