Monday, August 13, 2001
Lazier repeats win in IRL thriller
Average speed 2nd highest in series history
By By Tom Groeschen
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Buddy Lazier celebrates.
(Jeff Swinger photos)
| ZOOM |
|
SPARTA, Ky. — The Indy Racing Northern Light Series (IRL) drew 47,323 fans to Kentucky Speedway on Sunday, and it is doubtful any demanded their money back.
Buddy Lazier won a thrilling Belterra Casino Indy 300 race on a sunny afternoon, surviving a pitched battle with Robbie Buhl when Buhl ran out of fuel with one lap remaining.
“We love this place,” Lazier said. “We feel like we own it.”
Lazier also won the inaugural IRL event at Kentucky in August 2000. But this one, with plenty of side-by-side racing at over 200 mph, was perhaps the most exciting race of the speedway's two seasons.
“Isn't this great?” speedway chairman Jerry Carroll said as he watched the race. “The IRL really puts on a show.”
Buddy Lazier (front) holds off Robbie Buhl.
| ZOOM |
|
“That was one of the better IRL races we've had this year,” veteran ABC-TV announcer Bob Jenkins said.
The action was hot from the start, when Sharp steamed to the front at nearly 215 mph. Sharp led the first 105 laps, fending off several spirited challenges. He ended up second.
Lazier and IRL season points leader Sam Hornish Jr., both flooring the gas along with Sharp, darted in and out of traffic as the fans cheered. Early challengers such as Buhl, Billy Boat and Eddie Cheever also were involved.
The cars often cut in front of each other, roared past lapped cars in a three-wide pack and generally kept the fans standing all day.
“That was the hardest IRL race I've ever run,” said Sharp, who has run most every IRL event since 1996. “We went with the hammer down on every lap. If you lifted, guys would drive away from you.”
The average speed of the race was 174.910 mph, the second-fastest in the IRL's six-year history. The fastest average was 175.276 at Texas Motor Speedway last October.
The 1.5-mile Kentucky oval, after a week of repairs on several bumpy spots, did not become an issue. There were no major accidents.
“I got sideways a few times from the bumps, but that's what makes it exciting,” said Hornish. “We were able to run two-wide, side by side, most of the day out there.”
“It was a little bumpy,” Sharp said. “Buddy had the best car over the bumps.”
Lazier, the 1996 Indy 500 champion, took the lead just after the race's halfway point as Sharp couldn't find the same speed he had early.
“I'm not sure what happened,” Sharp said.
Lazier and Buhl, a Cleveland resident, waged a tight battle for first place down the stretch.
Buhl grabbed the lead with 11 laps left, but was then passed by Lazier with seven laps left. Buhl turned on the jets in an attempt to keep up, but ran out of gas. He had to coast into the pits and officially finished ninth.
“Robbie Buhl made it hard on me,” said Lazier. “We were running hard, and this makes two (wins) in a row at this racetrack. I've never done that before.”
What he has done is win. This was Lazier's fourth victory in the last five IRL races, and he closed Hornish's season points lead to 25 points (374-349). Lazier is the defending IRL champion, and has three races remaining to overtake Hornish for the 2001 title.
The IRL fights an uphill battle against NASCAR, which has won the majority of racing fans' hearts and wallets over the past decade. But races such as Sunday's cannot hurt.
“I think the fans are catching on,” Lazier said. “We're picking up some momentum wherever we go. The reason it's such a great show is that the cars are so close, like you saw today.”
Kentucky Speedway Notebook
IRL-Belterra 300 Results
Special Kentucky Speedway coverage
Sports Stories
Rijo's return on deck
Rockies 7, Reds 6
Soto says thanks
Davis keeps ball over the plate
Riedling rejoins bullpen
Rockies leave hoarse, happy
Reds-Cardinals Scoutign Report
Reds box, runs
Moore picks UC before other visits
Bengals' line struggles with new protection
Bengals release Carlton Gray
Coach: 'Audition' led to return TDs
Lazier repeats win in IRL thriller
