IndyCar: Pagenaud, Honda dominate Houston Race 2

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It was tough to think about topping Saturday's all-Colombian podium in the opening race of the Shell-Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston but Sunday's second half of the double-header just may have done it.

Simon Pagenaud captured his second victory of 2014 and roared back into the championship chase while teammate Mikhail Aleshin finished second to give Schmidt-Peterson-Hamilton Motorsports its first-ever sweep in the Verizon IndyCar series.

And, not to be out-done in a weekend where rookies and little teams excelled, newcomer Jack Hawksworth completed the podium for Bryan Herta Autosports.

But this day belonged to Pagenaud. Starting third, he stalked polesitter Helio Castroneves for the first 30 laps before making a great pass on the three-time Indy 500 winner going into Turn 6 and led 43 of the final 44 laps in his Dallara-Honda to cruise to a 7-second win.

"It's the best car I've ever driven," said the 30-year-old Frenchman after scoring the fourth win of his career and pulling to within 59 points of leader Will Power with eight races remaining.

"I made a good pass on Helio to get the lead and it was a perfect day with Mikhail finishing second and giving Sam (Schmidt), Ric (Peterson) and Davey (Hamilton) a 1-2 finish." (Watch Robin's full interview with the winner below. -Ed.)

The polesitter on Saturday, Pagenaud's day was ruined with brake problems and he wound up 16th but it was obvious he was going to be a factor from the start Sunday as engineer Ben Bretzman gave him a "perfect" car and the friendly frog never put a wheel wrong.

"We went testing at Sebring a few days ago and found something that made this car suit me better than it ever has," said Pagenaud.

Aleshin qualified a career-best second, lost a front wing halfway through the race and then stormed back to take his first-ever podium.

"I just put Saturday out of my mind and came back today prepared to fight and my crew had the same attitude," he said. "I knew I had a good car and then when I lost my front wing I got a little concerned but I just focused on getting back to the front and I drove as hard as I could. Fantastic day for this team and they deserve all the credit."

Hawksworth has been quick all season but has little to show for it because of some bad luck but he parlayed speed and good strategy into his best result.

"We've started up front several times this year and it's not happened for us so I just feel so good for my team," said the Englishman, who started last (23rd) in the Integrity Energy Drink Dallara-Honda and won a stirring duel with Juan Montoya. "It's been a rough year and this team deserved this."

Will Power was poised to turn a terrible weekend into a great rally before being denied just before the checkered flag. Charging from 18th (where he also qualified Saturday) to third, the Aussie had his suspension break on the last lap and he limped around to finish 11th.

Seeking his first title, Power still leads Castroneves by 39 points, Ryan Hunter-Reay by 41 and Pagenaud by 59 heading to Pocono.

"I had a great car and we fought hard all day but we have nothing to show for it," said Power. "I've still got the point lead but we need to get back on track at Pocono."

Charlie Kimball salvaged a disastrous weekend for Chip Ganassi's 4-car armada as he charged from 19th to fourth in the Levemir Flex-Touch Dallara-Chevrolet and Sebastien Bourdais soldiered home fifth after recovering from a broken front wing Mistic Dallara-Chevrolet.

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