MAY 30, 2005

Dan Wheldon wins Indy 500, Johnson takes third straight Coca-Cola 600

Dan Wheldon won the 89th Indianapolis 500 for Andretti Green Racing on Sunday, with Brazilian Vitor Meira finishing second and Brian Herta finishing third.

Danica Patrick made a fuel gamble by attempting to stretch a 41 lap final fuel stint. On lapÊ172 she inherited the lead when the other front-runners pitted and battled for the top spot until Wheldon was able to take the lead for good on lap 194 - Patrick finished fourth, and is the first women to ever lead the event.

Dan Wheldon became the first British driver to win the Indy 500 since Graham Hill in 1966.

In the other big motorsport event of the Memorial Day holiday, Jimmie Johnson won the Nascar Nextel Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte by passing Bobby Labonte on the final lap.

The race lasted over five hours and broke a Nascar record with 22 caution periods during the race - the previous record being 20.

Johnson has won the race for three consecutive years, and currently leads the drivers standings by 71 points over Greg Biffle