Franchitti grateful to Dallara

The championship leader's car was flipped into the air after he made contact with Dan Wheldon while battling for the lead, but Franchitti was able to walk away from the accident, which involved five other cars.

"I guess I owe that car a lot," said Franchitti. "The car absorbed all the impact. I have to stay that it did its job, it really saved me."

Franchitti's came to rest upside down after the accident, and despite making contact with Scott Dixon's car while upside down, the roll hoop of the car remained in tact.

"Mr Dallara is a personal friend of mine, and I've always been a fan of his," the Andretti Green driver added. "He has given us fast car that are very strong as well.

"It is because of that car that I'm sitting here with just a bruise on my nose. It's incredible."

Franchitti remains in the lead of the IndyCar Series despite his retirement last weekend, as Dixon could only recover to finish 10th.