It was only a matter of time. When Honda and Toyota started producing engines for the Indy car series back in the mid 1990s, it followed the some talented Japanese drivers were going to come to drive in the race. The first Japanese driver to qualify for the race was Hiro Matsushita. Matsushita drove a car owned and entered by the legendary Dick Simon. This was for the 1991 race, 21 years ago. Matsushita’s family owned the Panasonic Corporation so he had strong financial backing. Matsushita started 24th and finished 16th. In 1995 Matsushita started 10th and finished 10th to show that he was truly a race driver and not a gimmick. His last year at Indianapolis was 1995. He drove three seasons in the CART series.
Hideshi Matsuda was the next Japanese driver to break into the Indy 500 lineup. His first start was in 1994. In 1996, in the first Indy 500 race run under the newly formed Indy Racing League Series sanctioning, Matsuda finished 8th after starting 30th. In the 1997 Indianapolis event, Matsuda started and finished 10th.
As the new millennium arrived, Japanese drivers arrived in greater number and with skill levels that were hard to ignore. In the 2003 Indy 500, rookie Tora Takagi had a background in Formula 1 and had driven two seasons in the CART series.After starting 7th, his drive netted him a 5th place finish and the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Trophy. He would also compete in the 2004 500, finishing 19th.
In 2008, Hideki Mutoh, then 25 years old, was one of the Team Andretti Green drivers. He would qualify for the 9th starting position and finish 7th. He went on to be the series Rookie of the Year. In 2009, again driving for Andretti Racing, Mutoh finished 10th at Indy.
Now we come to 36 year old Takuma Sato. Sato first came to the series and the Indy 500 in 2010, driving for KV Racing Technology. Sato impressed everyone with his skill and his competitiveness. For the 2012 Indy Car racing season, Sato joined the Rahal Letterman Racing Team. At the Sao Paulo Brazil Indy Car race in April Sato charged hard through the field and first third. This was the last race before Indianapolis. At the Motor Speedway he started 19th. During the race itself Sato ran with the leaders and on the last lap he attempted to pass Dario Franchitti for the win and wound up spinning into the grass. He claimed Franchitti forced him into the grass but it was ruled an “incident.” Sato was awarded 17th place. Sato would take a 2nd place finish at Edmonton later in the season.
For 2013 Takuma Sato joined the A. J. Foyt team. It would seem an odd combination, the fiery Texan and a slight built Japanese driver. Foyt liked the fact that Sato was not willing to settle for second place last year and tried to go for the win. Maybe he reminds him just a bit of himself.
So at the Long Beach Indy Grand Prix Takuma Sato was behind the wheel of the Foyt-owned Dallara Honda. Long Beach is one of the most popular races of the season. It’s tight driving and there’s not a lot of room for passing. It was Sato’s day, however. The race was his 52nd Indy Car start, but there were a whole lot of firsts involved. It was Sato’s first win.
It was the first win for a Japanese-born driver, and the first win for team Foyt on a road course. Super Tex was in Houston with sciatic nerve problems but he watched the race on TV and gave the win his seal of approval.
So now we come to the 2013 running of the 500 Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Takuma Sato has just established himself as one of the favorites to win. Dario Franchitti knows that Sato certainly has the skill set to bring home a victory. Could it be that the Land of the Rising Sun will be celebrating the first Indy 500 of one of their home-born racing heroes?
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