Buddy Lazier has the distinction of finishing first and last in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

Making his maiden appearance on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway late in the six-hour practice session May 16, he's chiefly concerned with successfully qualifying for one of the 33 spots for the May 26 race.

"There's a lot to do in a short amount of time," said Lazier, who guided the No. 91 Lazier Partners Racing car for three laps of a systems check on the 2.5-mile oval. "The guys did a great job. We just want to make sure that given the fact we don't have a lot of time we don't make any mistakes. There are no shortcuts."

Lazier, the 1996 Indy 500 winner, will participate in a refresher course before the track opens for all cars at noon (ET) for "Fast Friday" practice. He'll join others in the afternoon session in preparation for Pole Day qualifications May 18 and Bump Day qualifications May 19.

The black and orange Chevrolet-powered car rolled onto pit lane to cheers from spectators with 53 minutes left in track time. Work began almost 12 hours earlier to prepare the chassis for INDYCAR safety and technical inspection.

The entry, which came together less than two weeks ago, is a conglomeration of experience and talent. Mike Colliver, formerly of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing among other teams, is the engineer. Dennis LaCava, whose relationship with Lazier dates to their days running with Hemelgarn Racing in the '90s, is the crew chief.

Conquest Racing owner Eric Bachelart provided the pit equipment and is overseeing the project. The setup pad came from Hemelgarn Racing. Jaques Lazier, Buddy's brother who was seeking to enter the race, too, is working the phone.

Lazier Partners Racing purchased from Lotus the 2012 Dallara chassis that Jean Alesi drove for Fan Force United in the Indianapolis 500. Lazier, who has logged more than 2,600 race laps on the 2.5-mile oval, served as Alesi’s driver coach for the month.

“I have so many miles around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that I feel comfortable with the racetrack," he said. "I haven’t driven this new rules package (twin-turbocharged V-6 Chevrolet engine and new chassis) but I was around with turbo-charged engines before the Indy Racing League was formed. I’m looking forward to it. I know the car will be fast."

Lazier is the 33rd driver to log laps at the Speedway this month. He won the 500 Mile Race in the No. 91 Hemelgarn Racing-Delta Faucet-Montana car, leading 43 laps, after starting fifth. Dario Franchitti and Helio Castroneves, both with three victories, and 2008 winner Scott Dixon are the others entered who have drank the milk in Victory Circle.

Lazier has five top-five finishes (including the victory and runner-up finishes in 1998 and 2000) at the Speedway. He last qualified for the 33-car field on Bump Day in 2008 in a Hemelgarn Johnson Racing-prepared car, starting 32nd and finishing 17th. He did not make the field in '09.

Lazier also was the 2000 IZOD IndyCar Series champion (two victories, three second-place finishes in nine races) and 2001 runner-up to Sam Hornish Jr.

"Buddy has always wanted to be back, but the recession really hurt (our ski business) and he had to go to work to help," said Bob Lazier, Buddy's father, who is listed as the team's owner. "He never retired. He just had to go to work.

"Each person that came on board brought an expertise. We have a small crew but a really good crew. We got more than lucky."