NEWTON, Iowa — Dario Franchitti has won the Iowa Corn Indy 250 to earn his second victory in two trips to Iowa Speedway.

Franchitti took the lead with 50 laps to go on Sunday and beat Ryan Briscoe by just over five seconds to take his first checkered flag since the Streets of Long Beach in April.

Franchitti won the inaugural Iowa 250 in 2007 before jumping to NASCAR's Sprint Cup series last year.

Briscoe finished second for the third straight race despite leading for 85 laps. Hideki Mutoh took third. Dan Wheldon was fourth, while pole-sitter Helio Castroneves took seventh.

The start of the race was marred by a number of accidents and cautions. By the halfway point, seven cars had been knocked out — including Tony Kanaan, who had led for 48 laps.