Indianapolis ? Buddy Rice was released Thursday from the hospital, one day after a hard crash during practice ended his hopes for a second straight start from the pole in the Indianapolis 500.

Rice, the defending Indy winner, was hospitalized overnight because of a severe bruise to his back and a concussion from the crash just 16 minutes into practice Wednesday.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials said several hours later that Rice wouldn’t be cleared to drive until at least next week — meaning he cannot qualify this weekend.

“He’s frustrated, and I know he’s angry,” said team co-owner Bobby Rahal, the 1986 Indy winner. “But you’ve got to make sure he’s right. You don’t want a problem on the track.”

Rahal’s most immediate concern is getting Rice healthy in time for the second qualifying weekend and then the race May 29. Qualifying resumes May 21. Bump Day, the last of four qualifying days, is scheduled for May 22.

Rice will be the fourth defending champion since 2000 to miss a pole-qualifying attempt.

Kenny Brack won the race in 1999 and Juan Pablo Montoya in 2000, but neither returned to defend his title. Gil de Ferran won it in 2003 and retired after the season.

Rice ran into bad luck quickly Wednesday. On the second day veterans could drive, Rice’s No. 15 car spun in the second turn, and the back end slammed into the outside wall, scattering debris across the track. The car spun several times as it slid down the track before rolling to a stop.

Rice remained in the smoking car for several minutes before track workers helped him out. He walked away from the wreck, but was sent to the hospital for further examination.

Now, he probably will have to defend his Indy victory from near the back of the 33-car field. The top 22 spots are expected to be filled in this weekend’s qualifying.

“Unfortunately, this stuff happens,” Rahal said. “But he’s healthy. Where he starts, I think, is irrelevant.”

Track workers also repaired the damage to the SAFER barrier, a device Rahal credited for preventing more serious injuries. Rahal said onboard computers indicated the car hit with a force of 75 Gs — although Rahal believed it was even harder than that.

“He’s in good shape, but he’s hurting,” Rahal said. “It was a big wallop but nothing is broken, fortunately.”

It was a big blow for the Rahal team.

Through rookie orientation and the first two days of practice, Rahal’s stable of drivers had been among the fastest on the 21/2-mile oval. Danica Patrick was the fastest driver Sunday and Monday in rookie orientation, topping 222 mph on the second day. Brazil’s Vitor Meira was 10th fastest Tuesday with a speed of 224.172.

Patrick and Meira finished among the top 10 Wednesday. Patrick was second-fastest at 226.944. The only driver who was faster was IRL champ Tony Kanaan of Brazil at 227.453. Meira was ninth at 225.714.

But the crash dampened the mood in Rahal’s garage.

“That’s awful,” Patrick said. “I know what it’s like to crash. It took me almost two weeks to recover from the one in Homestead.”

Rice won a rain-shortened Indianapolis 500 last year. He also won last year at Kansas and Michigan, and finished third in the points behind Kanaan and England’s Dan Wheldon.