Lazier Joins Panther for Indy 500

Lazier will drive Panther's Dallara-Chevrolet alongside Tomas Sheckter and Tomas Enge for the May 29 race - and there is a possibility he could stay with the team for further outings later in the year.

"The Indy Racing League is really growing and there are a lot of opportunities for race car drivers," said Lazier, who finished 23rd overall at Indy last year in a Hemelgarn Racing entry. "There were some opportunities that landed all at once, but I felt like this was the best fit for me right now. I will give everything I have, and I know they'll give me everything I need."

Lazier's victory in the 1996 event came just three months after he suffered serious back and pelvis injuries in a testing crash at Phoenix. He has a total of five top-ten finishes in 12 starts at Indy - including the runner-up spot in 1998 and 2000.

"To win it after 2000 would be wonderful," said Lazier, who is due to drive the car for the first time at a tyre test in April. "After you get a win at Indianapolis, all you can think about is winning it again. Now that I'm going back to Indy with the resources of the Byrd Brothers/Panther team, Chevy power, and two great team-mates, I believe that I can make it back to Victory Lane at the 500 this year."