Ten years after DNQ, Rahal gives Honda Indy win.

In 1994, Bobby Rahal brought the Honda engine to Indianapolis for the first time, but couldn't find enough speed to qualify for the race, opting to race a car leased from Roger Penske and powered by Mercedes/Ilmor. Ten years later the Rahal/Honda combo drove to Indianapolis Victory Lane thanks to 'substitute' driver Buddy Rice.

"I am more so pleased for Scott and Dave and the entire team, and of course Buddy, a guy that people wouldn't give a chance to, and here he is," said Rahal, who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1986. "I believe that he dominated the race. I don't know how many laps he led, but he certainly drove around everybody when he had to. You know, just a fantastic performance."

The win completes a long journey for Rice, who first caught Rahal's eye when he raced in the Toyota Atlantic Series, but found himself with limited open-wheel racing opportunities after parting ways with Red Bull Cheever Racing at the end of the 2003 season.

"You don't win the Atlantic championship and not have talent," Rahal said. "You don't win as many races as he did in other categories and not have talent. And it's just like anything for a driver, you want to be in the right environment, the right team. If you're in the right environment, you can really grow and blossom and achieve, and you can fulfil your destiny and the capabilities that you have.

"I've got to tell you, I can't imagine a better guy for that than Buddy. We have been very, very pleased with how he has come into this team and really become the leader that we needed."

Rice's victory also continued Honda's dominance of the IRL IndyCar(R) Series this season. A Honda-powered car has captured the pole for each of the series' four races this season and won the last three events, including their first ever event at the Honda-owned Motegi oval.

"They always said when the timing is right, things will come together, and we'll make something happen," said Rice, the first American to win the Indianapolis 500 since Cheever himself did it in 1998. "I guess this was the right time. We've had two good other runs at other facilities, and Honda finally got their first win at Motegi, and for us to come here, the long history Bob has with Honda and for to us get the pole for them for the first time and the first win is huge at the biggest race in the world."

But though Rice has finally found victory lane in the IndyCar Series, his focus is clear. He stands third in the standings behind Andretti Green Racing teammates Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan and feels that he can be as successful as his car owner, who was recently inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

"I'm on equal footing with Bob to a certain degree, because I've won the Indianapolis 500 now, but he still has got championships and a lot more wins under his belt," Rice said. "I've got to keep trying to chase that."