INDIANAPOLIS - Dan Wheldon has four victories this year - including a win in the Indianapolis 500 that earned him the winner's share of $1.53 million.

He's still the junior member of his team, however, and that point was made quite clearly Monday night.

"Now that he's won the Indy 500," Andretti-Green teammate Bryan Herta said, "absolutely nothing is going to change."

Wheldon took a pie in the face from teammate Tony Kanaan after collecting his portion of the $10.3 million purse, which broke last year's record of $10.25 million.

"It's a real privilege driving for Andretti-Green with the team I have," Wheldon said as whipped cream covered his face.

The 26-year-old native of England captured his first 500 victory in three starts at the 21/2-mile oval Sunday. He overtook Danica Patrick on lap 194 after her team told her to slow down because she began running out of fuel.

"I'd like to think that I could've held them off," Patrick said. "But I ended up coming in with one gallon of gas."

Patrick, who drives for Rahal Letterman Racing, was chosen as Rookie of the Year.

She came in fourth, the best finish by a woman in the 89-year history of the race. Patrick also was the first woman to lead a lap of the race - and she was in front for 19 of the 200.

Patrick brought tremendous attention to this year's race and is being credited for creating the most excitement the open-wheel Indy Racing League has seen in years. ABC generated the best TV ratings for the Indy 500 in nearly a decade.

Patrick received a $25,000 bonus for the Rookie of the Year award as part of her overall winnings of $378,855.

Wheldon, who lives in St. Petersburg, Fla., averaged 157.603 mph and covered the 500 miles in just over 3 hours, 10 minutes. He was the first driver to win from the 16th starting position and the first victor from England since Graham Hill in 1966.

"This is definitely the proudest moment in my career and the best race in the world," Wheldon said at the victory celebration at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "My teammates are truly great, and you've helped me get to this spot."

Wheldon also helped break a 35-year drought for the Andrettis, who were plagued by bad luck at Indy since Michael's father, Mario, won in 1969.

"It's been a long time," Michael Andretti said. "Indy has always been special, and maybe a bit cruel at times."

Michael started 14 races and led more laps than all but 10 drivers, all of whom won Indy titles. His last race in 2003 ended in typical fashion - with him riding on a golf cart to the garage after an obscure engine part broke.

"It's very special to finally come up here and be considered part of a winning team," he said.

Vitor Meira earned $656,955 for finishing an Indy career-best second for the Rahal Letterman team.

Herta earned $457,505 for finishing third, also a career best.

Kenny Brack won the Scott Brayton Driver's Trophy, presented since 1997 to the driver who best exemplifies the character and racing spirit of the late Scott Brayton. Brack made his first Indy 500 start since 2003, completing a comeback from serious injuries suffered in an accident at an October 2003 race in Texas.

One ankle was crushed, the other broken. He also broke his thigh, back and ribs. He was hospitalized for three months while doctors pieced him back together.

The 39-year-old Swede was called on few days notice to replace last year's winner Buddy Rice, who was injured in a crash. He put up a faster qualifying speed (227.598 mph) than anyone in the 33-car field.

Because Brack didn't qualify until the second weekend, he had to settle for the 23rd starting position instead of the pole.

Just being back was satisfaction enough.

"It's been a dream of mine ever since I had the crash," he said.