Lazier to race around the clock.
Before attempting to defend his Indy Racing Northern Light Series title in 2001, Northern Light Cup champion Buddy Lazier will take the reins of a sports car in the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona on February 3 - 4.
In the endurance event, which will kick off Speedweeks 2001 at Daytona International Speedway, Lazier will join 1992 SCCA Trans Am National Champion Jack Baldwin, former IMSA star Irv Hoerr and sports-car standout George Robinson on the Robinson Racing team.
Before attempting to defend his Indy Racing Northern Light Series title in 2001, Northern Light Cup champion Buddy Lazier will take the reins of a sports car in the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona on February 3 - 4.
In the endurance event, which will kick off Speedweeks 2001 at Daytona International Speedway, Lazier will join 1992 SCCA Trans Am National Champion Jack Baldwin, former IMSA star Irv Hoerr and sports-car standout George Robinson on the Robinson Racing team.
Robinson Racing is fielding the No. 74 Ranch Resort Riley & Scott/Judd in the SportsRacing Prototype class, comprised of the fastest and most exotic cars in the field.
"The guys on my team have a huge amount of experience and have been racing sports cars for a long time," said Lazier. "They have had tremendous success. It is a very exciting team for me to be a part of. I believe we have a fair chance for a victory. All of the ingredients are there for a successful run."
Lazier, from Vail, Colorado, made his debut in the car on Jan. 5, during a three-day test session. The team topped the afternoon practice times with a lap of 1min 42.280secs (125.303 mph) on the 3.56-mile circuit that incorporates part of the speedway's famed 2.5-mile, high-banked oval.
During the night practice on Jan. 5, their Riley & Scott managed a lap of 1min 44.211secs to place the team second only to Dyson Racing's No. 20 team driven by Rob Dyson and Elliott Forbes-Robinson.
The Jan. 6 practice sessions brought more top times as Lazier's group was second in the morning practice with a time of 1min 43.471secs and again in the afternoon with a best time of 1min 42.720secs.
Dyson Racing's No. 16 team with drivers James Weaver, Andy Wallace and Butch Leitzinger topped the charts during both Saturday sessions.
Although Lazier wasn't in the car on Jan. 4, the first of the three days of testing, the team posted a top-two run with a time of 1min 41.925secs.
"I'm doing this for fun," said Lazier. "This is a fun event that allows me to compete without affecting my Indy Racing Northern Light Series program."
Fellow Indy Racing Northern Light Series driver Jeret Schroeder also will drive in the SportsRacing Prototype class with the TRV Motorsport team.
Schroeder, a Rolex 24 hours veteran, will team up with Tom Volk, John Mirro and Barry Waddell in the #95 Riley & Scott/Chevrolet.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
