Dan Wheldon Claims 2nd Straight Kansas Victory

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (April 27, 2008) – Dan Wheldon ended a year-long victory drought Sunday at Kansas Speedway, taking a 2.1778-second win over Tony Kanaan in the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300.

"It has been a little frustrating at times and to get the (No.) 10 car back to victory lane just shows that we could be back and we certainly mean a lot of business," Wheldon said. "It was a real strong day."

That was the case for Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon, who led a field-high 145 laps, as well. But it was Dixon's misfortune that, in part, allowed Wheldon to record his 14th IndyCar Series victory.

Wheldon, who has finished third, fourth and first on the ovals this season, became the first repeat winner in eight races at the 1.52-mile Kansas Speedway. The victory, in part, came at the expense of Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dixon's timing.

Wheldon was 0.2960 second behind the leader a lap before Dixon pitted on lap 152. He got caught by a yellow flag when Buddy Rice's car hit the second turn SAFER Barrier, and Wheldon couldn't be caught after the lap 172 restart.

"I was able to sit behind (Dixon) and save a bit more fuel," said Wheldon, who was allowed by IndyCar Series rules to pit for a splash of 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol and then returned for full service on lap 155. "He was doing everything he could. We were running the same fuel position and I could hear him lifting. When you're behind a car, you can save a little bit more and that might have made the difference."

Dixon, who charged from seventh after the restart to finish third, closed to within six points of standings' leader and fourth-place finisher Helio Castroneves. Marco Andretti rebounded from two consecutive DNFs to finish fifth, and Andretti Green Racing rookie teammate Hideki Mutoh was sixth.

"That's two weeks in a row," said Dixon, who has led 246 laps at Twin Ring Motegi and Kansas without a victory. "We definitely lost the race ourselves. It's just something we have to work on. At least a Target car won this weekend. (Wheldon) was just sitting back smartly and saving a bit of fuel. It's something we need to work on strategy-wise. We came away with good points and are still in the championship and that's what counts."

Danica Patrick, who last week became the first woman to win a major closed-course auto race, started third and was among the leaders early. But a mechanical failure on the right-rear wheel mount on lap 156 ended her day.

"I came on the radio earlier in the race saying there was some movement in the car, but we had no idea that it was that serious," said Patrick, who dropped from third to fifth in the standings.

Ryan Briscoe finished a season-high seventh in the No. 6 Team Penske car, while Vision Racing's A.J. Foyt was eighth. Justin Wilson, who started 22nd in the No. 02 McDonald's car for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, climbed to ninth and Vision Racing's Ed Carpenter placed 10th after running as high as third early in the event.

"We had a solid car and I'm fairly happy with our result," Briscoe said. "The final laps were a little frustrating, because I think I had better than a seventh-place car. I was just trying to play it safe, looking for a solid finish. I thought it was a good day for me and I feel like I learned a lot out there."

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Courtesy of the Indy Racing League