Franchitti won the Indy 500 in May 2007

Franchitti's car was sent hurtling through the air and landed upside down on Scott Dixon's car.

The Indy 500 winner initially made contact with fellow Briton Dan Wheldon in the seven-car pile-up.

"When I opened my eyes and was 30 feet in the air I said to myself, 'This isn't good'", said Franchitti.

This year is the last time the two-mile oval track in Michigan will be used for a race.

"It looks like he bobbed and I weaved at the same time and we got together "I said to Dixie it was a pretty soft landing. Dixon said, 'It's because you landed on me.'

"I told him we have to quit meeting like that.

"It is a great show but there is no margin for error.

"A lot of it is how brave you are going to be, how stupid you are going to be and how fast the car is.

"I prefer the shorter tracks and road courses. It's difficult to get an advantage here so that is why crazy things happen."

Franchitti leads the title race by 24 points heading into next Saturday's race in Kentucky.