Piquet wins Nationwide Race at Road America

By The Associated Press

CREATED Jun. 24, 2012

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  • NASCAR24, SPT, PORTER, 4. - Nelson Piquet Jr. holds the Brazil flag high in the winners circle after coming in first in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Sargento 200 race at Road America near Elkhart Lake Saturday. June 23, 2012. GARY PORTER/GPORTER@JOURNALSENTINEL.COM Image by Gary Porter

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (AP) -- Nelson Piquet Jr. held the lead on a late restart, then pulled away from the rest of the field Saturday to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America.
  
The Brazilian, a former Formula One driver and the son of three-time F1 champion Nelson Sr., became a winner in his third career Nationwide start after starting the race from pole position. Piquet's extensive road racing experience paid off at the four-mile, 14-turn road course that winds through the hills of central Wisconsin.
  
Michael McDowell was second, followed by Ron Fellows, Max Papis and Sam Hornish Jr.
  
Jacques Villeneuve spun out Danica Patrick on the last lap as the two drivers were battling for fourth. Villeneuve finished sixth, while Patrick recovered and finished 12th.