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 time in IndyCar history marked by a split between the Indy Racing League (IRL) and CART. Despite his father's ties to CART, Lazier felt neutral about the divide and focused on racing. His victory was significant as it represented a breakthrough for him and the IRL amidst the ongoing tensions in the sport.
- ▪The 1996 Indy 500 was overshadowed by the split between the IRL and CART, with many top teams boycotting the race.
- ▪Buddy Lazier, whose father was a founding member of CART, chose to race for the IRL and won the Indy 500.
- ▪Lazier described his victory as a significant moment in his career, marking the first time he had a competitive car.
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