Switch to backup, but Lazier still home seventh.

The Yamaha 400 saw Buddy Lazier once again come home in seventh place. After a swap to the backup car the 1996 Indy 500 winner put in a strong performance.

The day started off looking grim for Hemelgarn Racing's Buddy Lazier after his No. 91 Coors Light/TaeBo/Life Fitness/Delta Faucet/Chevrolet/Dallara hit the outside retaining wall in Turn 2. With the car suffering heavy damage on the right side, the 2000 Indy Racing League champions rolled out the No.91T backup car.

Lazier had recorded only 12 laps in his No. 91T car prior to the green flag dropping, with a quick time of 32.9175 seconds, 218.720 mph.

Starting from the 26th position, Lazier met the challenge and charged into the top-ten within 11 laps. In a race that saw just one accident, the 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner turned in a strong performance, finishing seventh.

Lazier couldn't say enough about his Coors Light team. "My guys did an awesome job getting the 'T' (backup) car ready. Given the fact that our rocket was crashed this morning and we raced our 2001 car, it was a strong day. I just wish we could have held them off at the end for a podium finish but it wasn't in the cards."

The last 25 laps produced the most exciting racing as Lazier battled wheel-to-wheel with Penske drivers Gil de Ferran and Helio Castro-Neves, Laurent Redon and Felipe Giaffone. A podium finish looked promising but drafting proved to be a greater opponent to overcome.

"I guess we can't be too disappointed when we look at how our morning started out," Ron Hemelgarn said. "We dug ourselves in a big hole after crashing our primary car but the guys did a fantastic job getting the backup prepared for the race. Buddy drove a heck of a race and the podium was possible but drafting put it out of our grasp."

Earning 26 points, Lazier moved up a few spots and is tied for ninth place with Al Unser Jr. in the point standings.

The next Indy Racing League event is the Firestone Indy 225 on April 21 at Nazareth Speedway.