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Buddy Lazier to enter own car for Indianapolis 500

Buddy Lazier will attempt to qualify for this month's Indianapolis 500 after finalising a deal to enter a self-run car

The 1996 Indy 500 winner and 2000 IRL IndyCar champion will drive the Chevrolet-powered #91 car for Lazier Partners Racing, which is owned by his father and former Indy 500 racer Bob Lazier.

His entry brings the tally of former winners in the field to four, alongside Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves.

"This all happened roughly 10 days ago, and we're literally putting everything together now," said the 45-year-old, who last attempted to qualify for Indy in 2009.

"Sponsors are coming by the day, but we're all heading to Indianapolis to get it done.

"When I was 19 years old I was trying to pass my rookie test in a machinist's union car that was given to us with an all-voluntary crew. So I've done it where it's last minute, and I've been there with some of the best teams of their era.

"I have so many miles around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that I feel comfortable with the racetrack. I haven't driven this new rules package, but I was around with turbocharged engines before the Indy Racing League was formed."

Lazier Partners purchased the DW12 chassis that Jean Alesi used with Fan Force United (pictured) in last year's edition of the race.

Lazier served as Alesi's driver coach during his 2012 Indy preperations.

The team has been in discussion with other IndyCar squads about the possibility of a technical alliance, and has signed long-time Hemelgarn chief mechanic Dennis Lacava as crew chief.

Lazier's entry brings the confirmed entry count to 33, with more drivers still scrambling to complete last-minute deals.

2013 Indy 500 entry list so far:

 #   Driver              Team/Car
 1   Ryan Hunter-Reay    Andretti Dallara-Chevy
2 AJ Allmendinger Penske Dallara-Chevy
3 Helio Castroneves Penske Dallara-Chevy
4 JR Hildebrand Panther Dallara-Chevy
5 EJ Viso Andretti/HVM Dallara-Chevy
6 Sebastian Saavedra Dragon Dallara-Chevy
7 Sebastien Bourdais Dragon Dallara-Chevy
8 Ryan Briscoe Ganassi Dallara-Honda
9 Scott Dixon Ganassi Dallara-Honda
10 Dario Franchitti Ganassi Dallara-Honda
11 Tony Kanaan KV Dallara-Chevy
12 Will Power Penske Dallara-Chevy
14 Takuma Sato Foyt Dallara-Honda
15 Graham Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan Dallara-Honda
16 James Jakes Rahal Letterman Lanigan Dallara-Honda
17 Michel Jourdain Jr Rahal Letterman Lanigan Dallara-Honda
18 Ana Beatriz Dale Coyne Dallara-Honda
19 Justin Wilson Dale Coyne Dallara-Honda
20 Ed Carpenter Carpenter Dallara-Chevy
21 Josef Newgarden Sarah Fisher Hartman Dallara-Honda
22 Oriol Servia Panther DRR Dallara-Chevy
25 Marco Andretti Andretti Dallara-Chevy
26 Carlos Munoz Andretti Dallara-Chevy
27 James Hinchcliffe Andretti Dallara-Chevy
40 tba Carpenter Dallara-Chevy
41 Conor Daly Foyt Dallara-Honda
55 Tristan Vautier Schmidt Peterson Dallara-Honda
60 Townsend Bell Panther Dallara-Chevy
77 Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Hamilton Dallara-Honda
78 Simona de Silvestro KV Dallara-Chevrolet
83 Charlie Kimball Ganassi Dallara-Honda
93 Buddy Lazier Lazier Partners Dallara-Chevy
98 Alex Tagliani Herta Dallara-Honda
tba Pippa Mann Dale Coyne Dallara-Honda

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