Former Indy car driver Randy Lanier issues statement following release from prison

Randy Lanier, the 1986 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, was released from prison on Wednesday. Lanier, 60, had been incarcerated for 27 years and was serving life without parole for marijuana trafficking.

The U.S. government issued his release from Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Coleman, Fla., but details surrounding his release and the motion to reduce his sentence are now sealed court documents and unavailable to the media.

The former IMSA GTP sports-car champion and IndyCar driver, who bankrolled his career with illegal drug proceeds, will spend the next six months in a halfway house. It is all part of a strict three-year supervised release program designed to ease his re-entry into society. Any violations of the terms of release could land Lanier back in prison.

"Greetings Friends,

I hope this finds you all well, and enjoying the moments of your day.

For the last 27 years I have lived in prison cells with a Natural Death Sentence hanging over my neck like a hangman's noose. Life Without Parole. Throughout these years I felt truly blessed by the love, and support of family, and friends.

This morning Oct 15 I walked out of federal prison a Free Man.

Yes! All of your love, prayers, support, and positive energy has caused the Universal Life Force to guide the justice system to reduce my sentence to time served.

This is truly an amazing event in my life, and I am very thankful to have so many friends to share it with.

Thank God! Thank You All!

Sincerely,

Randy" AutoWeek