Franchitti wins crash filled Indy 500

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) - Dario Franchitti won the 2010 Indianapolis 500, a race marked by numerous crashes, including a last lap crash that sent Mike Conway’s #24 IndyCar airborne.

Franchitti’s win made his second win in the Indy 500 and made his car owner, Chip Ganassi the first to win both the Daytona 500 and the Indy 500 in the same year.

“This tastes just as good the second time. Up until 10 laps ago, I was pretty relaxed. Then all hell broke loose with fuel savings and all,” Franchitti said from victory lane.

Franchitti led the first lap after starting in the 3rd position.

Pole sitter Helio Castroneves finished 9th place after he stalled the Penske Racing #3 car leaving his pit stall.

The caution flag flew early and often during the race starting with Davey Hamilton’s first lap crash. Hamilton emerged from the infield medical center certain about what caused him to crash.

“This is the start of the Indy 500 right, we have 200 laps to complete. Tom Scheckter thinks he can win it in the 1st lap. He's an idiot, he does it all the time. He appeared out of no where," Hamilton said as he described what sent him spinning down the back stretch.

Tony Kanaan’s second pre-qualifying crash made headlines when it became unclear if the 2005 pole sitter would even get a chance to qualify in 2010. But, the Andretti Autosport team assembled a “Franken car” using parts from each of the team’s four cars.

Kanaan qualified 32nd fastest but started 33rd after deciding to switch to his primary car, forcing the former IndyCar Series champion to the back of the pack. He made his way to second place before a last minute pit stop landed him an 11th place finish.

There were high hopes going into Sunday’s Indy 500 that history would be made with the race’s first female winner. Sarah Fisher’s day, however, ended early when she made contact with the wall on Lap 112.

"It was on the re-start when it happened and we tried to drive around people on the outside and we got in the marbles and got shouved up a little bit,” Fisher said, “And you tag the wall and bent some suspension and you're done."

Danica Patrick was the highest finishing female driver at 6th place. Rookie Simona de Silvestro finished 13th and fellow rookie Ana Beatriz finished 21st.

Mike Conway was flown to Methodist hospital following the crash. Track officials report the decision to transport Conway by air was due mainly to the amount of traffic.