INDIANAPOLIS 500 / UPDATE : Mansell Shows Up, Then Shows Off After Rookie Test

After taking a look at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time late Tuesday afternoon from the air, Formula One champion Nigel Mansell wasted little time Wednesday getting to know the place.

“Even from 5,000 feet up, looking down at this place is a daunting--or as you say it--an awesome place,” he said. “There is nothing like it in the world.”

Mansell first appeared on the track at 11:24 a.m. in his Lola-Ford, then quickly handled the four phases of his rookie test. The final phase--10 laps at faster than 200 m.p.h.--was attested to by veteran drivers Eddie Cheever, John Andretti, Tero Palmroth and A.J. Foyt. Each observed Mansell in a different corner of the 2 1/2-mile rectangular oval.

“He looked real good,” Foyt said after observing the first turn.

Once United States Auto Club officials turned him loose, Mansell quietly moved up past 210, 214, 220 until he reached 222.855 m.p.h., the fourth fastest lap of the day among 46 drivers.

*

Only Raul Boesel (224.461), Paul Tracy (224.137) and Mario Andretti (222.905), Mansell’s Newman-Haas teammate, were faster Wednesday than the English driver who only 14 days ago underwent back surgery in Florida to repair injuries sustained in a crash April 3 at Phoenix.

“I approached the day quietly, and when it was over, I was gratified at all the help I had received in attaining the 220-m.p.h. barrier,” said Mansell, obviously in pain as he climbed from his car after having run 94 laps during his first day.

“Historically, I am sure I have never driven through a corner at such speeds. According to the computers, the quickest corner in a Formula One race would not be above 190, so I had no experience at cornering at the speeds I ran today. It was quite a thrill.

“I would be quite happy to have this same speed in qualifying. My goal is to qualify in the top 15 on Saturday, go home and rest and then come back and finish the 500 miles. I would like to win the race, but it is not realistic to think about winning until I have completed 400 miles. Then, if I am on the same lap with the leader with 10, 20 or 50 laps remaining, then I might try to win, but my first priority race day is to finish 500 miles.”

*

The concrete walls of Indy took their first bite when rookie Robbie Buhl of Detroit got too high going through the second turn and rapped the wall with first his left front and then the left rear before sliding to a stop in the infield grass. Buhl was taken to Methodist Hospital for treatment of a concussion and observation.

Davy Jones and Ross Bentley also made enough contact to damage their cars, but neither was injured.

*

“We were just pedaling along, not worrying,” Boesel said after the day’s fastest run in one of Dick Simon’s Chevy-powered Lolas. “I was quicker in my mind, so did a quicker lap time.”