Fifty laps were added to the SunTrust Indy Challenge this year, and it seemed every one of them was run behind the pace car. The IndyCar Series’ streak of generally clean oval races in 2008 came to a resounding end Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway. There were nine caution periods totaling 102 laps, more than one-third of the expanded 300-lap total, and only 13 of the 26 starters were running at the finish.

Ironically, the driver who has endured more bad luck than anyone else in the series this year managed to steer clear of misfortune on a night when carnage ruled. Tony Kanaan won his first race of the season, leading 166 laps and crossing the line for the final time with a comfortable 4.77-second margin over runner-up Helio Castroneves.

A third-place finish served as damage control for championship leader Scott Dixon on a weekend when the New Zealander was not the ultimate pacesetter. Dixon gained a position on the last lap when his Ganassi Racing teammate Dan Wheldon apparently ran out of fuel; his championship lead now stands at 43 points ahead of Castroneves and 52 points ahead of Wheldon.