Motegi, Japan ? Tony Kanaan saw what was happening, and his strategy was perfect.

After trailing the leaders for much of the race, the Brazilian took the lead with four laps remaining and won the Indy Japan 300 on Saturday.

Kanaan started from the second row and crossed the finish line at the 1.5-mile Motegi oval 0.4828 seconds ahead of England’s Dan Wheldon, giving Andretti Green Racing its first victory of the Indy Racing League season.

“It was a very fast race,” Kanaan said. “I knew the leaders were burning a lot of fuel, so I was content just to stay behind them, save fuel and then wait for the right moment.”

Wheldon was leading when he went in for his final pit stop on the 186th lap. Kanaan headed to the pits on the 190th lap and then assumed the lead for good on the 196th lap when Scott Dixon went to pit.

“This was a race where I had to be patient,” Kanaan said. “When I started, the car wasn’t that good, but I knew the track would get better. By the last stop, I was convinced I could pit and come out and go ahead of Dan, and that’s what happened.”

Wheldon, who won in Japan in 2004 and 2005, passed pole-sitter and defending champion Helio Castroneves on the 44th lap of the 200-lap race and looked set for his third win at Motegi. But a communication gear problem made it difficult for the Target Chip Ganassi driver.

“We were the fastest car, but we lost radio contact early on, and that cost us,” said Wheldon, who led for 126 laps.