INDY RACING LEAGUE Wheldon gets first win at Indy Japan 300 race

Last year's top rookie started on the pole and led 192 of 200 laps.
MOTEGI, Japan (AP) -- Dan Wheldon won the Indy Japan 300 on Saturday for his first IRL victory and Honda's first Indy-car win on its home track.
Wheldon, the 2003 Indy Racing League rookie of year, started from the pole and led 192 of 200 laps on the 1 1/2-mile Twin Ring Motegi circuit.
"It was an awesome day," he said. "To get my first win is great and it's a great day for Honda, too."
First win for Honda
The Japanese manufacturer was winless in six previous Indy-car races on the track, going 0-for-5 in five CART events and also losing the only other IRL race.
Wheldon averaged 166.114 mph in a race slowed by three cautions. His Andretti Green Racing teammate, Tony Kanaan of Brazil, finished second, 1.4454 seconds back.
"Dan drove a perfect race," Kanaan said. "He's a championship contender. He was a rookie last year but isn't anymore, and we'll treat him as a real driver."
Wheldon is the first driver from England to win an Indy-style event since Mark Blundell in 1997 at California Speedway.
"Having the experience of the first year and being able to work with my engineer was the biggest difference," Wheldon said. "I was 16th fastest on Thursday and talked to Eddie Jones about what we needed to do to make the car faster and everything came together."
Wheldon finished third March 21 in the Copper World Indy 200 in Phoenix, also starting from the pole.
"I didn't win at Phoenix because I wanted to save it for Motegi," said Wheldon, joking. "I thought the Honda people would appreciate it more."
Standings leader
He leads the standings with 123 points, followed by Kanaan (117) and Brazil's Helio Castroneves (106).
"It's huge for the team and for Honda," Andretti Green Racing co-owner Michael Andretti said. "They've been trying so hard and I'm so happy we were able to do it. The way we did it by dominating with Dan and Tony was just a perfect weekend."
Castroneves finished third after starting 15th.
Scott Dixon, the 2003 Indy Racing League champion, finished fifth, while defending champion Scott Sharp was ninth.
Sam Hornish Jr., who won the season-opening race in Homestead, Fla., crashed on the 87th lap and didn't finish.
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