Sports

Early test leaves Indy 500 drivers confident cars are safer

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE - In this Sunday, May 17, 2015, file photo, James Hinchcliffe, of Canada, waits for his turn to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Ed Carpenter and James Hinchcliffe left Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, more confident about the cars they’ll race in May. A new rear-wing flap should prevent cars from going airborne, as Carpenter experienced 11 months ago. New suspension parts should prevent drivers from getting gouged, which happened to Hinchcliffe last year at Indy. And as everyone tries to figure out what impact the new aerodynamic package might make, Carpenter and Hinchcliffe believe the racing will be safer.. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this May 17, 2015, file photo, Ed Carpenter hits the wall in the second turn during practice before qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Ed Carpenter and James Hinchcliffe left Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, more confident about the cars they’ll race in May. A new rear-wing flap should prevent cars from going airborne, as Carpenter experienced 11 months ago. New suspension parts should prevent drivers from getting gouged, which happened to Hinchcliffe last year at Indy. And as everyone tries to figure out what impact the new aerodynamic package might make, Carpenter and Hinchcliffe believe the racing will be safer. (AP Photo/Greg Huey, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this July 18, 2015, file photo, Ed Carpenter puts on his helmet during qualifying for the IndyCar Series auto race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. Ed Carpenter and James Hinchcliffe left Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, more confident about the cars they’ll race in May. A new rear-wing flap should prevent cars from going airborne, as Carpenter experienced 11 months ago. New suspension parts should prevent drivers from getting gouged, which happened to Hinchcliffe last year at Indy. And as everyone tries to figure out what impact the new aerodynamic package might make, Carpenter and Hinchcliffe believe the racing will be safer.(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File) (The Associated Press)

Ed Carpenter and James Hinchcliffe left Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday more confident about the cars they'll race in May.

A new rear-wing flap should prevent cars from going airborne, as Carpenter experienced 11 months ago. New suspension parts should prevent drivers from getting gouged, which happened to Hinchcliffe last year at Indy and left him with a life-threatening injury. And as everyone tries to figure out what impact the new aerodynamic package might make, Carpenter and Hinchcliffe believe the racing will be safer.

Hinchcliffe was on the track for the first time since his frightening crash last May. A quick-acting medical team saved his life after a broken part pierced his upper leg.