Race Report.(Motorsports)

The sun finally came out Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, allowing the Firestone Indy 400 to run after a lengthy rain delay.

Helio Castroneves was the one basking in its warmth.

Yes, the Brazilian climbed the fence after holding off Vitor Meira, as is his practice after wins, but Castroneves' biggest climb was in the point standings. He vaulted from third to first in what is shaping up to be one of the best points bat-tles in Indy Racing League history.

Castroneves' win, coupled with the last-place finish of Sam Hornish Jr. and Scott Dixon's misfortune of running out of fuel early on, allowed for a big shakeup in the standings. With three races to go, Castroneves leads Hornish by eight points, third-place finisher Dan Wheldon by 17, Dixon by 31 and Meira by 56.

The spread from first to fifth is the closest ever for the league at this point, five fewer than when Castroneves led the five-car pack in 2003. Castroneves doesn't want to be reminded he lost that title to Dixon in a thriller at Texas.

Hornish's trouble in the race came in the form of an overheating engine that started on the 50th lap. Eleven laps later he was out of the car in 19th place.

Dixon's team tried to stretch his fuel on the first stop, and it cost him dearly. He and Wheldon were the only two front-runners that had not pitted when the caution came out for Marty Roth's stalled car, and Wheldon was able to make it to his pit box before running out.