![]() ![]() Sato was not re-signed for 2006, despite Honda taking full control of the team. Sato's season never recovered from that point, and he ended the season with eighth-place at the Hungarian Grand Prix as his only points finish, despite qualifying seven times in the top ten. The Court did not find that this was deliberate. 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. 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. His efforts helped BAR-Honda to finish second in the Constructors' Championship. Reliability issues caused him to retire six times, but he scored points in nine of the 11 races he completed to finish eighth in the championship with 34 points, the best-ever result for a Japanese driver in Formula One. Sato's aggressive driving style paid dividends at the United States Grand Prix, where, after the team did not pit under safety car conditions, 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. During the 2004 season, Sato qualified four times in the top-three, including a front row start and an overall lap record at the European Grand Prix. For the final round in Japan, Sato replaced Jacques Villeneuve and scored the second points finish of his career with sixth place, after a battle with Michael Schumacher. With Honda's focus shifting solely to British American Racing for 2003, Sato joined the Brackley-based outfit as a test driver. Sato celebrates his only Formula One podium finish, at the 2004 United States Grand Prix. Throughout he showed flashes of speed but also wild driving, nevertheless the team's faith in Sato was repaid by a fine drive to fifth at his home Grand Prix in Suzuka. His 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. In 2002 Sato graduated to Formula One with the Honda-powered Jordan team, and was paired with Giancarlo Fisichella. In 2001 he also won the prestigious Macau Grand Prix and Masters of Formula 3 non-championship F3 races. In 2001, he won 12 out 13 of races to take a dominant championship win, the first for a Japanese driver in the series. He moved to the top class of the championship with Carlin Motorsport in 2000, taking four wins and third place in the championship. He briefly raced in Vauxhall Junior and Formula Opel, before debuting in Class B of the British Formula 3 Championship mid-way through 1999. After winning the national karting title in 1997, he moved to Europe with backing from Honda. 6.5 Complete Formula Nippon / Super Formula resultsīorn in Tokyo, Sato began karting in Japan at the age of 19.6.4 Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results.3.5 Return to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (2018–2021).3.2 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (2012).Sato has become known among fans and media for his motto " no attack, no chance" with regards to his racing style. His 8th-place finish in the 2004 Formula One World Drivers' Championship is the best-ever result for a Japanese driver in the series. He competed in Formula One from 2002 to 2008 for the Honda-powered Jordan, BAR and Super Aguri teams, scoring 44 points overall, and a single podium which was at the 2004 United States Grand Prix. Foyt Enterprises, and Andretti Autosport, all with Honda engines. Sato has raced full-time in the Ind圜ar Series since 2010 for KV Racing Technology, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, A. He currently drives for Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing. ![]() Before winning the Indianapolis 500, Sato became the first Japanese-born driver to win an Ind圜ar Series race when he won the 2013 Grand Prix of Long Beach. He was the first Asian driver to win the Indianapolis 500, and the twentieth driver to win the race more than once. Sato is a two time winner of the Indianapolis 500, having won the event in 20. Takuma Sato ( 佐藤 琢磨, Satō Takuma, born 28 January 1977), nicknamed " Taku", is a Japanese professional racing driver. ![]() Sato at the 2021 Grand Prix of Long BeachĢ013 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach ( Long Beach) ![]()
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