47 Facts About Takuma Sato

Takuma "Taku" Sato is a Japanese racing driver, who competes part-time in the IndyCar Series for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

Takuma Sato signed for Jordan in 2002, making his Formula One debut at the Australian Grand Prix, under Honda power.

Takuma Sato moved with Honda to join BAR in 2003 as a reserve driver, replacing Jacques Villeneuve at his home Grand Prix in Japan and returning as a full-time driver in 2004.

Takuma Sato achieved his only podium finish at the United States Grand Prix as he finished a career-best eighth in the World Drivers' Championship.

Takuma Sato took his maiden pole position at the Iowa Corn Indy 250 in 2011, and became the first Asian driver to win an IndyCar race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2013 with Foyt.

Takuma Sato signed for Andretti in 2017, winning the Indianapolis 500 for the first time.

Takuma Sato took several further wins across his 2018 and 2019 seasons with RLL, before again winning at Indianapolis in 2020.

Takuma Sato competed for Dale Coyne Racing in 2022, before moving into part-time roles from 2023 onwards.

Takuma Sato is a widely popular figure amongst fans and media worldwide, renowned for his aggressive driving style and motto "No Attack, No Chance".

Takuma Sato briefly raced in Vauxhall Junior and Formula Opel, before debuting in Class B of the British Formula 3 Championship mid-way through 1999 British Formula Three Championship with class wins at the British Grand Prix and Spa for Diamond Racing.

Takuma Sato moved to the top class of the championship with Carlin Motorsport in 2000, taking four wins and third place in the championship.

In 2002 Takuma Sato graduated to Formula One with the Honda-powered Jordan team, and was paired with Giancarlo Fisichella.

Takuma Sato's low point was a tremendous crash in Austria, caused when Nick Heidfeld lost control of his Sauber under braking and hit the side of Sato's car, punching a hole in the side of the cockpit.

Takuma Sato's aggressive driving style paid dividends at the United States Grand Prix, where, after the team did not pit under safety car conditions, Takuma Sato fought back with some daring overtaking moves to score his first podium finish and the first for a Japanese driver since Aguri Suzuki at the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix.

Takuma Sato's efforts helped BAR-Honda to finish second in the Constructors' Championship.

Takuma Sato was retained by BAR-Honda for the 2005 season, but the 2005 car was not as close to the front of the pack as the previous year's design.

Takuma Sato missed the Malaysian Grand Prix with illness, and both drivers were disqualified from the San Marino Grand Prix and the entire team banned from the two subsequent races for using cars that were underweight when all fuel was removed.

Takuma Sato was not re-signed for 2006, despite Honda taking full control of the team.

Takuma Sato joined the new Super Aguri F1 team for 2006, run by Japanese former driver Aguri Suzuki.

Nevertheless, Takuma Sato's reputation improved thanks to his professional attitude and competitive spirit.

At the season finale in Brazil Takuma Sato finished tenth just two places short of a points finish and comfortably ahead of both Toro Rossos and the Spyker MF1s.

Takuma Sato then scored the first point for the team at the Spanish Grand Prix.

At the Canadian Grand Prix, Takuma Sato finished sixth after having a race that had seen him move from the middle of the grid to a high of fifth, passing Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen before a pit-stop error dropped him back to eleventh.

Takuma Sato moved up five places in the last 15 laps, passing Toyota's Ralf Schumacher and then on lap 67 the McLaren-Mercedes of Fernando Alonso; the latter pass was met with cheers around the track and received him the "Overtake of the Year" award from F1 Racing magazine.

In late 2008, Takuma Sato took part in tests at Jerez with Scuderia Toro Rosso, to become a candidate to fill the seat vacated by Sebastian Vettel.

Takuma Sato was competing against former Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Bourdais and Red Bull Racing test and reserve driver Sebastien Buemi for one of the two race seats.

Takuma Sato signed with KV Racing Technology to drive in the 2010 IndyCar Series season finishing in 21st place.

Takuma Sato signed for the same team for 2011 and improved his form, scoring three top-five finishes and two pole positions during the season to finish 13th.

At the 2012 Indianapolis 500, driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Takuma Sato chased Dario Franchitti to the finish making a move for the lead and the race win at the first turn of the last lap.

Takuma Sato then scored six top-five finishes, including two podiums and two pole positions, until he left the team at the end of 2016.

Takuma Sato went on to become the first Asian driver to win the Indianapolis 500.

On 26 August 2017, it was reported that in 2018, Takuma Sato would rejoin RLL to drive the 30 car with Graham Rahal as his teammate as Andretti Autosport considered a move to Chevrolet in 2018.

Takuma Sato started his 2019 season with a win in the third race at Barber Motorsports Park; he started the race from pole position and ran away to the finish.

Takuma Sato won later in the season at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

On 23 August 2020, after qualifying on the outside of the front row for the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500, Takuma Sato won the race for a second time.

On 9 December 2021, it was announced that Takuma Sato had signed with Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing for the 2022 season, replacing Romain Grosjean, who had signed with Andretti Autosport.

Chip Ganassi Racing signed Takuma Sato to run in the oval rounds for the 2023 season, making it the first time the Japanese driver does not have a full-time IndyCar seat since 2010.

On 11 March 2025, Takuma Sato announced that he will contest in the 2025 Indy 500 with RLL once more.

Takuma Sato raced with Team Mugen in the opening round of the renamed 2013 Super Formula season, and later in the year returned to the team to compete in the last three races of the season; he scored his first points with an eighth-place finish in the season finale.

In November 2013, Takuma Sato became a test and development driver for the FIA Formula E Championship.

In September 2014, Takuma Sato joined his former Formula One team Amlin Aguri to race in the first-ever Formula E race, the 2014 Beijing ePrix, replacing the team's regular driver Antonio Felix da Costa as he could not participate due to other commitments.

Takuma Sato scored two points after he set the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:45.101, but had to retire from the race with mechanical issues.

Takuma Sato is a widely popular figure amongst fans and media, renowned for his aggressive driving style and motto "No Attack, No Chance".

In 2024, Takuma Sato became the first Japanese-born driver to be inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame.

Takuma Sato is married to Chiharu Takuma Sato, with whom he has two children.

The eldest, Rintaro Takuma Sato, made his racing debut in 2024 F4 Japanese Championship.

Takuma Sato was a national cycling champion in high school, and still uses cycling as part of his physical training for his racing career.