Wheldon wins Indy Japan 300

MOTEGI, Japan, April 17 (UPI) -- England's Dan Wheldon made Honda a winner on its home track Saturday, taking the Indy Japan 300 from the pole for his first Indy Racing League victory.

The 2003 IRL Rookie of the Year, Wheldon beat Andretti Green Racing teammate Tony Kanaan to the finish line by 1.445 seconds.

Wheldon's previous best finish was third, which he accomplished three times, most recently in Phoenix in March. He led for all but eight of the 200 laps, recorded his ninth straight top-10 finish and fifth in a row in the top five.

The 192 laps led were the second-most ever in a 200-lap race, trailing only the 193 Tony Stewart recorded at Pikes Peak in 1999.

Wheldon took over the points lead with 123, six more than Kanaan.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves of Brazil finished third, with Target Chip Ganassi teammates Darren Manning and Scott Dixon rounding out the top five.