Dan Wheldon has celebrated his 30th birthday by winning the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer at Iowa Speedway this morning (AEST).

The win is his second victory of the 2008 IndyCar Series season – of which Australia’s own Gold Coast Indy 300 is a part - following on from his visit to Kansas Speedway’s victory lane in April.

Wheldon held off Andretti Green Racing drivers Hideki Mutoh and Marco Andretti after taking the lead from a caution flag 60 laps out from the finish, while his Target Chip Ganassi team-mate Scott Dixon was fourth and Vision Racing's A.J. Foyt IV rounded out the top five.

Mutoh’s result sees the Bombardier Rookie of the Year standings leader take his first top-five finish while Andretti’s result is his best since taking third in the Indy 500 which Brisbane-born Kiwi Dixon so famously won.

Dixon’s result in Iowa sees him remain as the IndyCar Series points leader with a 48 point advantage over Team Penske’s Helio Castroneves – who led a race-high 92 laps before a pit stop to replace a cut tyre late in the race cost him two laps and resulted in a 14th place finish.

Dixon’s ‘Down Under’ comrades, Sydney’s Ryan Briscoe and Queensland’s Will Power, finished seventh and ninth respectively – with Power’s result a breakthrough for the rookie seeing him move to ninth in the championship standings and better his previous best oval result of 13th.

Wheldon's win gave Target Chip Ganassi Racing its fifth win in nine IndyCar Series events this season and he and Dixon plan to donate their combined Iowa winnings (approximately $60,000) to the victims of Iowa's recent floods and tornados.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY…

Dan Wheldon - #10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda/Dallara/Firestone – Finished First
“What a great day for Target Chip Ganassi Racing and a great birthday present for myself,” said Wheldon.

(About decision to stay out and not pit): "It was a good call not to do it, but Chip's (Ganassi) not here, so if they had called me in, I don't think I would have come in anyway.

(About donating winnings to charity): "My wife and I drove from Chicago to here and we saw the flooding and it was just heartbreaking. I thought it was something that Scott (Dixon) and I should do and fortunately, we were able to.”

Hideki Mutoh - #27 Formula Dream Honda/Dallara/Firestone – Finished Second
“I am very happy to finish second. I am almost there so maybe next time,” said Mutoh.

Marco Andretti - #26 Blockbuster Honda/Dallara/Firestone– Finished Third
“It was good clean racing. It had to be good for the fans. It was good fun out there. I am very proud of the Blockbuster boys,” said Andretti.

“We were towards the front all day and Hideki (Mutoh) is on it this year for sure.

(On traffic) “It is tough, the track was pretty good. It was kind of what we set up for. We matched the setup with the conditions and how we thought the race would play out. It was completely different from last year. That made it pretty fun.

(On the restart) “I knew I could trust my teammate. Danica (Patrick) was looking out for me, and she could have made it very tough for me and put me below the line. When you get a good run, you got go with it, and I had a good run.”

Scott Dixon - #9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda/Dallara/Firestone – Finished Fourth
“Early on, the car was definitely not working the way I wanted. It was very loose, especially on the low line,” said Dixon.

“I started using the high line and it came together better. The high line was definitely the choice of the day. When you had three or four guys in front on you trying to do the same thing, it was difficult to pass.

“I think strategy played out in the end and that’s the way it goes. It’s hard work to pass here. It’s good to see Dan (Wheldon) get a break; he’s had a tough year so far.”

Ryan Briscoe - #6 Team Penske Honda/Dallara/Firestone – Finished Seventh
“It was challenging out there today. I think we just didn't have enough downforce and we struggled to find grip,” said Briscoe.

“We made adjustments throughout the day, and towards the end of the race we had a solid car. The good news is that we were able to salvage a fairly decent result with a seventh-place finish.

“Plus, the Team Penske guys did a great job in the pits all day, so I really have to hand it to them. Now we just have to maintain our focus and look ahead to next week's race in Richmond.”

Will Power - #8 Aussie Vineyards – Team Australia Honda/Dallara/Firestone – Finished Ninth
“That was a really good race for the KVRT Aussie Vineyards–Team Australia car, I was able to get really good restarts, but just lacked some speed towards the end,” said Power.

“I am extremely happy with a top-10 finish. It’s good for us and about as good as we can get on this type of oval, so I am very happy. The Aussie Vineyards–Team Australia crew have done a great job all weekend, and I am looking forward to continuing to make progress next weekend in Richmond.”

RESULTS: IndyCar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer
Results of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 Presented by Pioneer IndyCar Series event at the .875-mile Iowa Speedway, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps completed and reason out (if any):
1. (3) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 250, Running
2. (7) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 250, Running
3. (8) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 250, Running
4. (1) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 250, Running
5. (18) A.J. Foyt IV, Dallara-Honda, 250, Running
6. (6) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 250, Running
7. (5) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 250, Running
8. (14) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 250, Running
9. (11) Will Power, Dallara-Honda, 250, Running
10. (16) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 250, Running
11. (23) John Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 250, Running
12. (20) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 250, Running
13. (13) EJ Viso, Dallara-Honda, 250, Running
14. (2) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 248, Running
15. (12) Vitor Meira, Dallara-Honda, 248, Running
16. (10) Oriol Servia, Dallara-Honda, 247, Running
17. (17) Enrique Bernoldi, Dallara-Honda, 242, Running
18. (4) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 211, Contact
19. (24) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 192, Contact
20. (21) Jaime Camara, Dallara-Honda, 133, Mechanical
21. (19) Darren Manning, Dallara-Honda, 94, Mechanical
22. (15) Buddy Rice, Dallara-Honda, 78, Mechanical
23. (9) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 38, Contact
24. (22) Milka Duno, Dallara-Honda, 26, Handling
25. (25) Bruno Junqueira, Dallara-Honda, Did not start
26. (26) Marty Roth, Dallara-Honda, Did not start

RACE STATISTICS
- Winner's average speed: 136.007 mph
- Time of race: 1:38:35.8923
- Margin of victory: 0.1430 of a second
- Cautions: 6 caution flags for 57 laps
- Lead changes: 9 among 4 drivers
- Lap leaders: Castroneves 1-12, Kanaan 13, Castroneves 14-15, Kanaan 16-51, Castroneves 52-106, Kanaan 107-134, M. Andretti 135-160, Kanaan 161-166, Castroneves 167-189, Wheldon 190-250.
- Point standings: Dixon 316, Castroneves 268, Wheldon 267, Kanaan 216, Mutoh 199, Briscoe 195, Patrick 192, Andretti 189, Power 169, Carpenter 166.

INDYCAR SERIES POINTS STANDINGS – POST RACE 8 – TOP TEN
1. #9 Scott Dixon 316
2. #3 Helio Castroneves 268
3. #10 Dan Wheldon 267
4. #11 Tony Kanaan 216
5. #27 Hideki Mutoh 199
5. #6 Ryan Briscoe 195
6. #7 Danica Patrick 192
8. #26 Marco Andretti 189
9. #8 Will Power 169
10. #20 Ed Carpenter 166

BOMBARDIER ROOKIE OF THE YEAR POINTS STANDINGS – POST RACE 8
1. #27 Hideki Mutoh 199
2. #8 Will Power 169
3. #33 EJ Viso 150
4. #06 Graham Rahal 147
5. #36 Enrique Bernoldi 138
6. #02 Justin Wilson 135
7. #19 Mario Moraes 101
8. #24 Jay Howard 62
9. #34 Jaime Camara 58
10. #96 Mario Dominguez 57

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