Scott Dixon has survived a horrific crash at Indianapolis 500, ending a traumatic week for the New Zealand driver who only days earlier was held at gun-point.
Dixon amazingly walked away injury-free from Sunday's wreck after slamming his car into the back of another driver Jay Howard, sending his car hurtling into the air before bouncing off the barriers.
Flames momentarily spewed from the flying car as it disintegrated on impact.
The car lost three wheels and what looked like much of its rear section but the safety tub remained intact and Dixon was able to climb out, to the roar of the crowd.
Commentators described Dixon's crash as "bizarre" and said he was "incredibly lucky" to survive the collision on turn two during lap 54.
Dixon, the 2008 Indycar champion, described it as a "wild ride".
"It's tough," Dixon said. "You're hoping Jay is going to stay against the wall. I already had picked that way to go. There was nowhere else to go to avoid him. It's just a wild ride. You hold on and believe in the safety progress we've made."
Dixon, 36, said he was "just a little beaten up".
"It was definitely a rough ride," he said."I'm just bummed for the team, man. We had a great shot."
The speedway is less than a mile away from fast food outlet Taco Bell, where a few days ago he endured an even more terrifying experience.
The Kiwi and former Indy driver Dario Ganassi were in the drive-through line when robbers held a gun to his head.
The robbers took a wallet belonging to his Dixon's wife Emma but nobody was injured in the incident.
"It was definitely an odd situation, an emotional swing" Dixon said shortly after the incident.
"It gives you a bit of a reality check. You feel pretty big for one minute, then pretty small for another."
Sunday's race was won by Takuma Sato, who became the first Japanese driver to win the Indianapolis 500.
