New Zealand's Scott Dixon has regained the lead in the United States Indy car championship after winning the Japan 300.
The fifty points for the win means Dixon will go in to the final race on October 10 with a five point lead over teammate Dario Franchetti, who was second today, and an eight point lead over former leader Ryan Briscoe.
Briscoe went in to the race with a chance to wrap up the championship as he started in fourth place on the grid behind Scott Dixon, Brazilian Mario Morales and Dario Franchitti.
A safety car period left Briscoe in the lead when he entered the pits for new tyres and fuel.
He left the team garage safely but then lost control of the car on new cold tyres and brushed the pit wall.
He also collected a timing cone which he carted around the track with him for several laps.
Briscoe was forced to make a pit stop for a penalty and a longer one to have the left front suspension replaced. Briscoe went in to the race with a 25-point break over Franchitti with Dixon third.
Dixon, Briscoe and Franchetti will now fight out the crown at the season-closing round at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 10.
