Sato Excited By Indy Debut

[Mark H]

Takuma Sato has already stepped somewhere where most drivers have never been at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but the coming weeks will provide an altogether different thrill for the Japanese ace.

 

The 33-year old IndyCar Series rookie has visited the famed podium at the world's most famous racing facility, having finished third in the 2004 United States Grand Prix on Indianapolis' 2.6-mile road circuit, and that trip is his goal again this year as he comes to the Indianapolis 500 with KV Racing Technology.

 

His first Indianapolis action will come in this Saturday's rookie orientation session as, despite having driven the #5 Lotus-backed Dallara-Honda in five rounds this season, Sato's sixth start in the IZOD IndyCar Series will be just his second on an oval track. Two weeks ago at Kansas Speedway, he made a sensational debut in the specialised discipline, when he raced through the field and battled for fifth with three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves.

 

Unfortunately, Sato's day ended prematurely when his car was forced into the wall with 14 laps remaining, but his impressive first oval performance caught the eye of many in the paddock, and KVRT co-owner Jimmy Vasser believes the personable Japanese could be very competitive in his first Indy 500, particularly with the advantage of a strong engineering staff - based around the likes of John Dick, Garrett Motherseed, Iain Watt and Bill Pappas - and Indy 500 veterans Paul Tracy, EJ Viso and Mario Moraes as his team-mates in the four-strong team.

 

"Indianapolis is going to be a very special weekend," Sato admitted, "I have a lot of new things to experience and the track will be a whole new challenge - a very exciting one.

 

"After working together with Jimmy when learning the Kansas Speedway oval for the last race, we have developed a great understanding, so I am really looking forward to getting onto the Indianapolis Motor Speedway next week and finding out all about it.

 

"I have great memories of Indianapolis, having raced there four times in F1 and got my first podium in 2004. The place holds a special place in my heart but, then, I drove only a part of the famous banking in the opposite direction...."

 

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