INDIANAPOLIS 500 / UPDATE : Unser: Buhl Saved by Lengthened Car

Robbie Buhl was released from Methodist Hospital on Thursday after being treated overnight for a concussion following a head-on crash with the wall Wednesday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and drivers and officials alike applauded the effects of the new safety designs of Indy cars.

“It looks like the extension to the front end really helped,” defending champion Al Unser Jr. said. “It looked to me the way Buhl hit was much the way (Nelson) Piquet hit last year and shattered his feet. This time, Buhl had no feet injuries. That’s very reassuring.”

The length of Indy cars was increased at least five inches this year, moving the driver’s feet farther from the impact area in that kind of crash.

The bulkheads in the driver’s compartment also were made wider and higher to enable a driver to pull back his feet, legs and knees when an impact is imminent.

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Arie Luyendyk continued as the fastest driver during practice. The 1990 winner increased his top speed to 226.182 m.p.h.

“I’m real hesitant to think we’re a favorite for the pole, because we’ve discovered that small adjustments make a big difference in the racetrack,” Luyendyk said. “You try to keep good records of the conditions--wind, temperature, etc.--and try to tune the car to the conditions.”

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Dick Simon says the reduced speeds--Roberto Guerrero qualified last year at more than 232 m.p.h.--are not caused by changes in the cars, but changes in the track.

“Speeds are not slower, the track is longer,” he said. “Everybody was running on a shorter track last year, but the new ripple strips have made it 2 1/2 miles again. The shortcuts have been eliminated.”

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The makers of Slo Poke candy on a stick have posted a $10,000 award to the driver with the slowest qualifying speed in the 500 field. If that driver were to win, he would collect another $1 million.