A dominant performance by Dario Franchitti has given the Scotsman his second straight win in America’s biggest motor race, the Indianapolis 500.

Franchitti started from position three but by the end of lap one he had already passed both Will Power and pole man Helio Castroneves for the lead.

Second place went to England’s Dan Wheldon. Wheldon came on strong late in the race to overhaul Marco Andretti who was the first American driver home in third.

Alex Lloyd, drove from 26th to finish fourth. Initially credited with third place, Lloyd was relegated to fourth after stewards determined that he had passed under the yellow flag following the huge accident that took out Mike Conway and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Conway and Hunter-Reay made contact catapulting Conway into the air. His car hit the catch fencing, shredding the car, sending debris flying and leaving Conway with injuries to his left leg.

The in-car footage from Hunter-Reay’s car shows just how lucky he was to avoid any serious injury.

Fifth place went to New Zealand driver Scott Dixon. Dixon’s chances at a second race win ended after a rare mistake by the normally smooth Ganassi pit crew.

Dixon lost the left hand front wheel after his second stop dropping him all the way back to 22nd place.

Danica Patrick worked her way steadily through the field to finish sixth. It was a good recovery by Patrick at a time when many were questioning her desire and ability in Indycar Racing.

Britain’s Justin Wilson was seventh just ahead of Will Power who had a terrible race.

Power’s chance ended after his Team Penske pit crew waved him out of the pits while the refuelling probe was still connected.

The Queenslander was pushed back to have the probe removed and to serve a penalty for the incident. He drove well to recover to eighth but it was a opportunity lost.

Australia’s other entrant in the race Ryan Briscoe also had a race to forget.

Pressing too hard on cold tyres after a pitstop the Sydney driver hit the wall hard at T4 ending his challenge on lap 147.

It was a bad day for all the Penske team drivers. Polesitter Helio Castroneves saw his quest for a record-tying fourth Indy victory come to an end with an uncharacteristic mistake — stalling while leaving the pits on the 146th lap, he recovered to finish ninth.

The top ten was rounded out by popular Canadian driver Alex Tagliani.