Past winner Lazier, Roth survive Indy racing battle

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (AFP) — Canada's Marty Roth and Buddy Lazier, the 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner, withstood the last hectic minutes of final qualifying Sunday to secure starting spots in the 92nd Indianapolis 500.

Mexico's Mario Dominguez crashed in a final attempt to claim a berth in the 33-car field for next Sunday's race, leaving Roth in the back of the lineup as the slowest qualifier, the "man on the bubble", at 218.965 mph (350.344 km/h).

"I preferred to do it on lap times," Roth said. "Being on the bubble gets worse and worse. It's just fantastic it's over and we're in the show."

Dominguez was unharmed but disappointed to fall short of a berth which had been in his hands briefly.

"I really feel terrible I could not qualify for this race,"...