A six-car accident has occurred early in the Daytona 500 with contenders Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick among those involved in the incident.

Just as they crossed the start/finish line to complete lap 32, Kyle Busch hit Kasey Kahne from behind and turned him sideways. Mark Martin, trying to avoid Kahne's car, lost control and took out several others running in a tight pack.

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing teammates Jamie McMurray, who won the Daytona 500 in 2010, and Juan Pablo Montoya, as well as Kahne joined Harvick and Stewart in the garage area. Brad Keselowski, the 2012 Sprint Cup Series champion, also was involved in the accident but continued on with slight damage to the front end of his car.

"Martin got me by just a touch when I lifted off of the throttle," Harvick said. "That's just part of this game."

Stewart has yet to win the Daytona 500 in 15 attempts. Harvick, the 2007 winner of NASCAR's most prestigious race, had won the Feb. 16 preseason event at Daytona and last Thursday's twin qualifiers.

"I was right in the middle of the racetrack and didn't know exactly where to go," Stewart said. "It's just one of those things you can't control."

Danica Patrick, who started on the pole, was not involved. Patrick was running among the top-five at the time of the wreck.