Firestone 550 2013 Results: Reaction, Leaders and Post-Race Analysis

IndyCar points leader Helio Castroneves has finally found the winner's circle this season, coming out the winner at the famed Texas Motor Speedway at the 2013 Firestone 550.

As IndyCar PR tweeted out, it was a razor-sharp finish for the Brazilian driver:

Though the majority of the field was blown out by the top five, the race wasn't short on dramatic moments. IndyCar PR had the breakdown for some of the early lead changes:

Marco Andretti commanded the early lead.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was right behind him, though, and eventually took over the lead on Lap 70.

But a pit stop to replace four tires would set up a showdown between Andretti and Castroneves—a showdown that Castroneves would use as his opportunity to take the lead and never give it up.

Castroneves has been close several times in this young IndyCar season. He had three top-five finishes in seven starts coming into the race and was already atop the leaderboard.

With the win, Castroneves became the first driver in history to win the marquee race four times. Andretti, who had been tied with Castroneves in the points standings, finished fifth.

Here's a look at the complete results from Texas.

Pos.	Driver	Laps	Running / Reason Out
1	Helio Castroneves	228	Running
2	Ryan Hunter-Reay	228	Running
3	Tony Kanaan	228	Running
4	Ed Carpenter	228	Running
5	Marco Andretti	228	Running
6	Dario Franchitti	227	Running
7	Will Power	227	Running
8	Josef Newgarden	227	Running
9	James Hinchcliffe	227	Running
10	E.J. Viso	227	Running
11	Takuma Sato	227	Running
12	James Jakes	227	Running
13	Simon Pagenaud	226	Running
14	Sebastian Saavedra	226	Running
15	Justin Wilson	226	Running
16	Simona De Silvestro	226	Running
17	Charlie Kimball	226	Running
18	Tristan Vautier	225	Running
19	Oriol Servia	225	Running
20	Sebastien Bourdais	224	Running
21	Graham Rahal	223	Running
22	Alex Tagliani	223	Running
23	Scott Dixon	61	Mechanical
24	Pippa Mann	2	Mechanical

This was a huge win for Castroneves. It should create some separation between him and the rest of the pack just eight races into the season.