SPARTA, Ky. – Helio Castroneves crossed the finish line in front.

This time it counted.

The IndyCar star won the Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night, squeezing the last 53 laps out of one tank of fuel and then taking advantage when the leaders were forced to make last-second pit stops to fill up.

It was the second victory of the season for Castroneves, at least officially.

Unofficially, he considers it his third. He led the field to the wire at Edmonton in July, but was dropped back to 10th after officials penalized him for blocking with a couple of laps to go.

Castroneves was fined $60,000 and placed on probation. He’s over it. Almost.

When he was introduced to the media after getting a fist-bump from Cincinnati Bengals star Terrell Owens in Victory Lane, Castroneves couldn’t help but tweak the moderator.

“Just a little correction, it was the third win,” he said, laughing.

He also considers it a bit of redemption. Castroneves was yards away from winning at the 1.5-mile oval two years ago only to run out of fuel exiting Turn 4, allowing Scott Dixon to steal the win.

Not this time. While the leaders zipped around the track at 220 mph, Castroneves slowed down after pitting on lap 147 when race strategist Tim Cindric said he could win if he went easy on the throttle.

Castroneves was skeptical at first, but with 20 laps to go the math started to get easier. When the leaders took turns heading down pit road with a handful of laps left, Castroneves steadily made up ground.

In the end, he had more than enough to ease past pole-sitter Ed Carpenter, who matched a career-best second place finish. Dan Wheldon was third, followed by Tony Kannan and Dario Franchitti.

Points leader Will Power led 83 laps but slipped to eighth after a late-race slip. The bobble allowed Franchitti to draw within 17 points with two races remaining. The series races in Japan on Sept. 19.