FINGER LAKE, Alaska -- Martin Buser of Big Lake grabbed the lead in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday morning.

The three-time Iditarod champion was the first musher to leave the Finger Lake checkpoint, 194 miles from Anchorage. Ten minutes after arriving, Buser departed with his 16 dogs at 7:16 a.m. for the 30-mile trek to the checkpoint at Rainy Pass.

Next out of Finger Lake was perennial favorite DeeDee Jonrowe of Willow, who left at 7:37 a.m., followed by Charlie Boulding of Manley at 7:57 a.m.

Jeff King of Denali Park pulled out a minute later. A three-time Iditarod champion, King won the Kuskokwim 300, one of Alaska's premier mid-distances races, for an unprecedented sixth time in January. He finished third in last year's Iditarod.

Norwegian musher Harald Tunheim was in fifth place, despite a badly sprained ankle that forced him out of Saturday's ceremonial start in Anchorage while one of his handlers ran his team. Tunheim, who wrenched his ankle Thursday night at the pre-race banquet, left Finger Lake at 8:02 a.m., followed by John Baker of Kotzebue at 8:07 a.m. and 1976 Iditarod champion Jerry Riley of Nenana at 8:30 a.m.

Fairbanks musher Sonny Lindner pulled out 15 minutes after Riley, trailed 12 minutes later by Two Rivers musher Rick Swenson, the only five-time Iditarod champion.

In 10th place was early leader Linwood Fiedler of Willow. Fiedler, last year's runner-up, was the first musher to reach Finger Lake, arriving at 2:39 a.m. Monday.

At last report, defending champion Doug Swingley of Lincoln, Mont., was in 33rd place in the field of 64 mushers. Swingley, a four-time winner who is seeking his fourth consecutive championship, reached the Skwentna checkpoint at 12:33 a.m. Monday.

Swingley was in no hurry, he told KNOM radio.

"Patience has always been my greatest virtue," he said just before leaving Skwentna as the sun rose Monday.

Swingley said some drivers have tried to get a jump on him early in previous races.

"I say they've been trying to do that for a long time and it doesn't work," he said, laughing.