Former Indianapolis 500 starter Bob Lazier and amateur partner Jim Caudle were the class of the field on Saturday at the Indy Legends Pro-Am, the spotlight event of the four-day Sportscar Vintage Racing Association’s Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational.
Thirty-three former Indianapolis 500 drivers paired with amateurs for a 40-minute race on the 2.439-mile IMS road course, and the team of Lazier and Caudle won by 48.9 seconds in a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette.
“It was absolutely fabulous. There were no problems with anybody, everybody was clean and having fun,” said Lazier, the father of 1996 Indianapolis 500 champion Buddy Lazier and seven-time “500” starter Jaques Lazier. “All these people we’ve known for 35 or 40 years and we just can’t wait to go out and have fun together. It’s like they’ve set up a party for all us old guys and we love every minute of it.”
Lazier and Caudle also partnered at last year’s inaugural Indy Legends Pro-Am, finishing ninth.
“How could you ask for anything better?” Caudle said. “It’s a dream come true. Last year, Bob was my co-driver and we were instant friends. I was really glad I got to drive with him again this year.”
Seven-time “500” starter Mark Dismore and partner Scott Hackenson took second place in a 1967 Ford Mustang, one second ahead of the 1970 Mustang of third-place finishers Max Papis (a two-time “500” starter) and Curt Vogt.
Among the others in the field were two-time “500” winner Al Unser Jr., Davey Hamilton, Davy Jones and Willy T. Ribbs. The range of “500” history stretched from Dick Simon, who first raced in 1970, to 2011 starter Alex Lloyd. Put another way, more than 10 percent of the 288 living Indianapolis 500 drivers filled the grid for the Indy Legends Pro-Am.
Also on hand as Honorary Stewards were Tom Sneva, the 1983 “500” winner, and Janet Guthrie, the first woman to start in an Indianapolis 500.
Three Unsers drove in the Pro-Am — Al Jr., Robby and Johnny — and four-time “500” winner Al and three-time winner Bobby will join in at 12:35 p.m. on Sunday for an oval exhibition in vintage Indy cars. It will be the first time five Unsers have been on track at the same time.
Racing on the IMS road course and exhibition runs on the famed 2.5-mile oval will continue Sunday from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m, in vehicles ranging from early 1900s models all the way up to modern cars and everything in between. More than 500 cars are on hand for the weekend.
SOURCE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway • PHOTOS: Brian Groce