WJBK-TV reports Saturday that he escaped injury and his vehicle suffered little damage, but the gas pump was destroyed.
The motorist can be heard on the surveillance video at the Center Line station asking: "Is that a spider in there?"
The video then shows flames erupting along the car's side, the pump and the pavement.
The man darts to safety and later uses a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. A spider is not seen.
The clerk, Susan Adams, says he apologised the next day.
"He was sorry," she said.
"He was sorry, he said he didn't know. It is just one of those things that happen - stupidity."
- AP

