Tom Pennington / Getty Images

Safety workers try to extinguish a fire from a jet dryer after being hit by Juan Pablo Montoya, driver of the #42 under caution on Monday night at Daytona 500.

Rob Sweeten / AP

Juan Pablo Montoya, of Colombia, walks from his car after it collided with a track-drying truck on Monday night at Daytona.

Jonathan Ferrey / Getty Images

A jet dryer bursts into flames after being hit by Juan Pablo Montoya on Monday night at Daytona.

Bill Friel / AP

Emergency workers put out a fire on a jet dryer during the Daytona 500.

Bill Friel / AP

Race leader Dave Blaney, second from left, talks with Landon Cassill, left, as other drivers gather during a red flag on Monday night.

AP reports: The Daytona 500 has been halted by a fiery explosion caused when Juan Pablo Montoya slammed into a jet drier under caution. Montoya was driving well behind the rest of the field when something on his car broke and he started sliding out of control toward the jet drier, which holds 200 gallons of jet kerosene.

 Montoya's No. 42 Chevrolet hammered the truck, setting off an explosion and sending fuel pouring onto the famed track. Montoya got out unharmed. The driver of the jet drier had to be helped out of his truck.

• See more images from Daytona 500 in PhotoBlog.

See NBCSports.com coverage of the race.

·        Follow along as driver compete in the season-opening Daytona 500

·        TV sportscaster apologizes for Danica remarks

·        Romney takes campaign detour to Daytona

·        Patrick steamed after second crash in three days

·        Buescher dodges wreck to win Nationwide race

·        Why Danica doesn't drive her Lamborghini anymore

·        Slideshow: Top images of Danica's life, career

·        Castrodale: Danica can't be just image anymore

·        NASCAR spotlight shines bright on Danica Patrick

·        Economy brighter in NASCAR, teams searching

·        Junior's confidence on the rise at Daytona

Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP

Danica Patrick (10), Kurt Busch (51), David Ragan (34) and Jimmie Johnson (48) crash during the NASCAR Daytona 500 on Monday night.

Terry Renna / AP

Crew members repair Danica Patrick's car on Monday night.

AP reports: Danica Patrick is back on the track after being involved in an accident just two laps into her Daytona 500 debut.

 After her crew made extensive repairs to her battered race car, Patrick finally returned to the race down 62 laps to the leaders — earning cheers from the grandstands as she pulled out of the garage area.

 The accident just minutes after the green flag dropped Monday night began when Elliott Sadler turned five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. He shot into the wall, then rolled back down the track. Patrick was coming along behind the accident and was caught in the chaos.

See NBCSports.com coverage of the race.

·        Follow along as driver compete in the season-opening Daytona 500

·        TV sportscaster apologizes for Danica remarks

·        Romney takes campaign detour to Daytona

·        Patrick steamed after second crash in three days

·        Buescher dodges wreck to win Nationwide race

·        Why Danica doesn't drive her Lamborghini anymore

·        Slideshow: Top images of Danica's life, career

·        Castrodale: Danica can't be just image anymore

·        NASCAR spotlight shines bright on Danica Patrick

·        Economy brighter in NASCAR, teams searching

·        Junior's confidence on the rise at Daytona

Streeter Lecka / Getty Images

Kyle Busch drives the #18 M&M's Brown Toyota during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 22, 2012 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Related content: The Week in Sports Pictures