INDIANAPOLIS 500 : Luyendyk Quickest on Practice Day I

Former Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk, who couldn’t land a ride for the Indy-car season, displayed a remarkable burst of speed Saturday with a lap of 233.281 m.p.h. on the opening day of practice for the May 28 race.

Luyendyk, driving a Lola-Menard V6 for this race only, bettered the official one-lap record of 232.618, set by Roberto Guerrero in a Lola-Buick in 1992. But Luyendyk’s time is considered unofficial because only speeds during qualifying time trials are official at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The unofficial track record is 233.433 by Jim Crawford in another Buick, during practice in 1992.

Scott Brayton, trying to make the field for his 13th consecutive 500, also had a quick lap, 232.408. Like Luyendyk, Brayton is contracted for the 500 only.

The Menard-Buick engines are made only for the Indianapolis race and are the latest models in the evolution of the Buick engines used by Guerrero and Crawford three years ago.

Pole qualifying is Saturday.