Wheldon wins first IndyCar road race

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 3 (UPI) -- Dan Wheldon won the first IndyCar road course event Sunday -- the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Wheldon finished 1.4577 seconds ahead of second place Tony Kanaan.

Ryan Briscoe, a 23-year-old former Formula One Toyota test driver, had to lead with 10 laps to go.

When the race was resumed on lap 91 after being held up bcause of an accident, Briscoe was in a battle for the lad with Kanaan. The two collided and Briscoe spun out.

Kanaan's teammate Wheldon took advantage of the contact to pass the two previous front runners and lead the final nine laps.

It was Wheldon's second win this the season and fifth of his career.

Dario Franchitti, Bryan Herta and Vitor Meira wound up in the third, fourth and fifth spots respectively.