2012 Indy 500: Dario Franchitti Wins As Takumo Sato Crashes In Wild Finish : VIDEO

Dario Franchitti is just the ninth driver in history to have won the Indy 500 three times.

Before the start of Sunday's 96th Indianapolis 500, Dario Franchitti stood under an umbrella held by his wife -- actress Ashley Judd.Who said to her husband were, "I'll see you in Victory Lane."And he kept his date with his wife.

The 2012 Indy 500 certainly had an incredible finish as Japanese driver Takuma Sato, who was running neck-and-neck with with Franchitti, ended up wrecking at the end of the race as he tried to pass to take over as the leader.

With 20 laps left, the field had already broken the record for most lead changes in the 96 years of Indianapolis 500 history, which could have been helped by the hot and humid conditions that made things extra difficult for the drivers today.

In the end, it appeared to be a two-man race between Franchitti and Target/Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon. The two traded the lead several times over the final six laps before Japan's Takuma Sato passed Dixon for second place. Sato went for the lead on the final lap, attempting to dive beneath Franchitti during the first turn, but his move didn't work. He lost control on the apron and crashed into the outside wall in Turn 1.

Franchitti's New Zealand team mate , Scott Dixon, finished second. Tony Kanaan, who had the lead off the last restart with six laps to go, settled for third on a blistering day. The official race temperature was 91F (32C), one degree shy of the record set in 1937.

Sunday's race was preceeded by an emotional tribute to the 2011 Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon , who was killed in a crash last October at Las Vegas.. After the race, Franchitti embraced Wheldon's widown, Susie, who watched the race with her two sons.