Sonoma, CA (My Sportsbook) - Helio Castroneves snapped a 29-race winless streak in the IndyCar Series Sunday with a victory in the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County at the Infineon Raceway. The No.3 Team Penske driver started on the pole and led 51 of 80 laps. He crossed the finish line 5.2926 seconds ahead of teammate Ryan Briscoe for his first victory since April 2007 at St. Petersburg, FL.

Castroneves also rebounded in the championship standings. His victory coupled with a 12th-place finish for Scott Dixon allowed Castroneves to move within 43 points of Dixon with just two races remaining in the season.

"That is what we are looking for," Castroneves said. "We've been close so many times. We never lost faith."

Castroneves and Briscoe recorded first and second-place finishes in backup cars after their primary cars sustained water, smoke and heat damage last Wednesday when a Team Penske transporter caught fire while en route to Sonoma, CA.

"Our cars caught on fire and burned, and we lost a lot of things," Castroneves said. "What a great team effort. Those guys (at Penske) are tight together. That's why this team is what it is."

Team owner Roger Penske also praised his organization's winning efforts.

"These are a great group of guys," Penske said. "It's all about people, and Helio and Briscoe, they really did the job today."

Castroneves quickly pulled away from the field in the opening laps with Briscoe running close behind. The Penske duo opened up a lead of more than more than 1.5 seconds on third-place Will Power after 10 laps were completed.

The first and only full course caution came on Lap 15 when Marty Roth spun in turn seven. Castroneves led the first 16 laps before pitting under caution. Briscoe elected to remain on the track and inherited the lead. Tony Kanaan also stayed out and grabbed the second spot. Castroneves rejoined the field in 16th.

Briscoe built a one-second lead over Kanaan, while Danica Patrick was four seconds behind in third place after 24 laps.

Patrick made her first pit stop on Lap 27. Then, Briscoe and Kanaan pitted the following lap, handing E.J. Viso the lead. Patrick fell all the way back to 22nd in the field, while Briscoe returned in ninth and Kanaan 15th.

Castroneves reclaimed the lead when Viso made his second stop on Lap 37. Briscoe moved into second, but trailed Castroneves by almost 12 seconds.

Castroneves drove 27 circuits before making his second stop on Lap 43. He gave up a 16.5 second lead to Briscoe. Third-place Dixon also pitted but dropped to 18th when he returned. Castroneves fell only to third after he pitted.

Briscoe handed the lead over to Kanaan when he pitted on Lap 54. When Kanaan came in for his stop the next lap, Castroneves was back in front, holding a 14-second advantage over Wheldon.

Castroneves' lead was up to 22 seconds when he came in for his final stop on Lap 57. Viso grabbed the top spot once again, but after a lightning fast stop, Castroneves returned in second place. When Viso pitted the next lap, Castroneves reclaimed the lead and held a four-second advantage over Briscoe.

Briscoe made a late-race charge as he moved to within three seconds of Castroneves with 10 lap remaining. But Castroneves fended off the charge to record his 13th career IndyCar victory.

Castroneves had finished in second place seven times before scoring his first victory of the season.

Tony Kanaan, Dan Wheldon and Danica Patrick completed the top-five.

Dixon's 12th-place run was only his third finish outside the top-10 this year.

"We just did absolutely nothing right," Dixon said. "Everything we did was wrong."

The next race is scheduled for Sunday, August 31st, at Raceway at Belle Isle in Detroit.