Crashes mar Indy 500 motor racing practice

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INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (AFP) - Three drivers, including front-row qualifier Ryan Briscoe, hit the wall Friday in practice for the Indianapolis 500.

Luckily for Australia's Briscoe, it was his backup car that he slammed into the outside wall in the first turn about four hours into the six-hour practice session.

"It felt big - I hope it looked big," Briscoe said.

As Briscoe entered the first turn, he got low on the track and the rear-end of his Dallara snapped loose, sending the car into the barrier in turn one. "I'm putting it down to some pickup on the tires," Briscoe said. "The tires were getting down to the end of their life. The lap before I slowed down on the front straight to let Helio Castroneves by and I was up in the dusty part of the track. Marco Andretti went by me in turn three and I had to go a little wide there.

"The following lap in turn one, I turned in and wasn't even at full speed. I had no grip turning into the corner and around she went. It really took me by surprise. It doesn't take much around here. It's a bit of a shame."

Briscoe has already qualified his primary car on the outside of the front row in last Saturday's Pole Day qualifying for the May 25 race.

Team owner Roger Penske said a variety of circumstances contributed to the crash.

"They had trimmed the car out before he went out on that last run. When he got into traffic it was a little freer than he thought," Penske said. "He ran 15 or 16 laps. It's warmer and you lose the adhesion.

"He was probably closer to the edge than he probably realizes."

Indy 500 pole winner Scott Dixon of New Zealand was once again the fastest driver of the day at 223.713 mph followed by Brazil's Castroneves at 223.411, also in a backup car.

E.J. Viso of Venezuela was the first to hit the wall, the driver new to the Indy Racing League slamming into the third turn wall just 11 minutes after the track opened.

"We still don't know the reason, it was our first day out in full fuel and we still don't know the exact reason," said Viso, whose HVM racing has just one IndyCar. "I was smooth like I needed to be. The car probably bottomed out."

Thirty-minutes later, another Australian driver, Will Power, crashed in the first turn and made impact with the left side of the car with the wall. The car then slid into turn two, where it again made contact.

"There was a lot of blustery wind out there, and I just got caught out," Power said. "I wasn't even up to speed yet, and the car came around on me, sending me into the wall.

"I am OK," he said. "I just have a few bumps and bruises on my knees and an ankle. Other than that, I feel fine. This is obviously a setback for KV Racing because of the track time we are going to lose, but I know the team will do what needs to be done and we will be ready to qualify tomorrow."

Third day qualifying was to start at noon on Saturday, with drivers vying for the remaining 22 spots in the 33-car field.

The first 11 places were filled on Pole Day, and the second scheduled day of qualifying last Sunday was washed out by rain.