Castroneves wins IRL race at Sonoma

SONOMA, Calif., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Helio Castroneves captured Sunday's IndyCar of Sonoma County in Sonoma, Calif., 5.2926 seconds ahead of Penske Racing teammate Ryan Briscoe.

The victory at the Infineon Raceway was the 13th in Catroneves' IRL career and snapped a personal 29-race winless streak.

The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and pole-sitter had not won an IRL race in his Penske Honda-powered Dallara since the 2007 race in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The former winner in the "Dancing with the Stars" television event was mobbed by spectators at in the main grandstand after he scaled the 9-foot fence at the finish line.

He moved within 35 of IRL points' leader Scott Dixon with two races left in the season and earned three bonus points by leading the most laps (51 of the 80).

"It's a fantastic opportunity," he said about his battle with Dixon for the title.

Tony Kanaan finished third and Dixon finished 12th, the third time this season he finished outside the top 10.