MOTEGI, Tochigi Pref. — Pole-sitter Helio Castroneves of Brazil won the Indy Japan 300 on Sunday to ensure the IndyCar series championship will come down to the final race of the year.
Castroneves gained the lead from Team Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe on a lap 118 pit stop and held on through 200 laps to earn his third win this season.
"It's always a tough race here," said Castroneves who won at Motegi in 2006. "I trusted my car and trusted my team which did a great job in the pit stops."