Motegi, Japan ? Dan Wheldon’s first IndyCar Series win came last year in Japan — and it was a great relief for host Honda.

The victory by Wheldon at the 2004 Indy Japan 300 in a Honda-powered car was also the first win for the Japanese manufacturer on its home track after six unsuccessful tries — a win by Scott Sharp in a Toyota-powered car in 2003 in the inaugural Indy Racing League event at the Twin Ring Motegi track, and a Toyota victory and four by Fords in the five preceding CART races.

Wheldon, a 26-year-old Englishman, will be among the favorites for Saturday’s IRL race at the track Honda built north of Tokyo.

The Indy Japan 300 is the fourth event of the 17-race IndyCar series. In addition to overcoming jet lag, Wheldon said he also will have to overcome the unique challenge of the 1.5-mile Motegi oval.

“What makes it challenging is that one end is open, and one end is pretty tight,” Wheldon said. “It’s one of those tracks where to be quick, you have to be on the edge. It’s a facility where you also have to have the power and every time we’ve been here, we’ve had good power with Honda.”

Wheldon, the 2003 IRL rookie of the year, is coming off a victory at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on April 4. He also won the season-opening Toyota Indy 300 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway and leads the 2005 standings.

Last year was a big step for Wheldon. He won three races and finished second to friend and Andretti Green teammate Tony Kanaan in the points.

In St. Petersburg, Wheldon led an unprecedented 1-2-3-4 sweep by the AGR team that included Kanaan, Dario Franchitti and Bryan Herta following behind.

Kanaan, second in the standings, 24 points behind Wheldon, will be looking to keep the pressure on his teammate in Saturday’s 200-lap race.

Sam Hornish Jr., who won the XM Satellite Radio Indy 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 19, also will be among the favorites.

Local fans, meanwhile, will be hoping for a strong performance by Japanese driver Kosuke Matsuura, who finished eighth here last year.

“I’m very excited,” said Matsuura. “Last year before the race it was crazy as I had to meet with someone every three or four minutes. I’ll be more used to it this year.”

For Saturday’s race, the Motegi track has been revamped with the installation of 4,184 feet of SAFER Barrier. Motegi is the first track outside the United States to install the energy-absorbing Steel and Foam Energy Reduction System that now lines most U.S. ovals.