Newman OK after huge smash.

NASCAR passed its first major safety exam of the 2003 season with flying colours as Penske Racing's Ryan Newman walked away from a spectacular flip in front of the main grandstand at the 2.5-mile Superspeedway.

Running in heavy traffic on lap 57, Newman made contact with veteran Ken Schrader's BAM Racing Dodge and, after being pitched into the outsde wall, was sent into a series of frightening rolls.

Landing on the grass adjacent to the front grandstand upside down, sans three wheels and the entire rear axle assembly it took Newman several seonds to manouver himself out of his crumpled wreck.

But with NASCAR safety teams on the scene within seconds, Newman was quickly out and, with a thumbs up to the crowd, whisked away to the infield care centre.

The crash brought about the second caution flag of the day with Dale Earnhardt Jr leading Michael Waltrip.