http://www.yardbarker.com/formula_one/players/takuma_sato/77047 Recent articles about Takuma Sato en-us INDIANAPOLIS- It’s hard to believe the 97th Running Indianapolis 500 has already sprung up on us. The race is the fifth race of the 2013 Izod IndyCar Series season as Takuma Sato leads the points standings by 13 points over Marco Andretti. So far this season Andretti Autosport has won three of the four races with Canadian James Hinchcliffe winning two of them. His teammate and defending series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay won the other race. The only other driver to win this season is Sato as he has finishes of first and second in the two races leading up to Indy. The biggest question is can Sato keep that momentum going with being so close here last year in wrecking going for the lead on the Last Lap in Turn 1? He starts 18th on Sunday. Also, can Andretti Autosport keep their stranglehold on victory trophies and win their fourth race in five races? They have three cars in the top four starting spots and all five cars starting in the top 10. After a month dominated by Andretti Autospor... Sat, 25 May 2013 07:58:25 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/2013_indianapolis_500_preview_and_predictions_for_97th_running_of_indy_500/13691786 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/2013_indianapolis_500_preview_and_predictions_for_97th_running_of_indy_500/13691786 2013 Indianapolis 500: Preview and Predictions for 97th Running of Indy 500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/2013_indianapolis_500_preview_and_predictions_for_97th_running_of_indy_500/13691786 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png (Eds: With AP Photos.) By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer The 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 is Sunday with a wide-open field and a pair of drivers trying to join the elite list of four-time winners. Two Americans start on the front row, along with Carlos Munoz, an unknown Indy 500 newcomer who grew up idolizing Juan Pablo Montoya - a fellow Colombian who won ''The Greatest Spectacle In Racing'' as a rookie. Lurking back in the sixth row are Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti and Takuma Sato, the three drivers who raced for the win last year. Here's 10 things to know about Sunday's race: --- FOUR TIMERS: There are two drivers trying to win their fourth Indianapolis 500 to join an exclusive club that currently only has three members. Rick Mears was the last driver to win a fourth Indy 500, joining A.J. Foyt and Al Unser Sr. in the group in 1991. Now 22 years later, both Franchitti and Helio Castroneves both have a shot Sunday at grabbing win No. 4. Franchitti is the defending rac Fri, 24 May 2013 14:37:49 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/10_things_to_know_about_the_indianapolis_500/13688120 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/10_things_to_know_about_the_indianapolis_500/13688120 10 things to know about the Indianapolis 500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/10_things_to_know_about_the_indianapolis_500/13688120 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Takuma Sato was twice reviewed by IndyCar Race Control in the closing laps of Sunday's Sao Paulo Indy 300 for his rather defensive tactics to protect the lead from both Josef Newgarden and James Hinchcliffe. No action was taken against the A.J. Foyt Racing driver on both counts, who was eventually passed by Hinchcliffe on the final corner and came up second. One would argue that Hinchcliffe's stellar cross-over in Turn 11 to snatch the victory saved the series from a big heap of criticism regarding the rules of blocking (although some drivers, including Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, still put in their two cents on the topic). But race director Beaux Barfield has told The Indianapolis Star that Sato was following the curve of Sao Paulo's mile-long backstretch, where he repelled attacks on the inside from both Newgarden and Hinchcliffe leading up to the climatic conclusion of the race. In addition, The Star's Curt Cavin writes that camera angles were unable... Wed, 08 May 2013 11:58:22 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/indycar_race_director_speaks_on_satos_moves_in_sao_paulo/13575245 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/indycar_race_director_speaks_on_satos_moves_in_sao_paulo/13575245 IndyCar race director speaks on Sato's moves in Sao Paulo http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/indycar_race_director_speaks_on_satos_moves_in_sao_paulo/13575245 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/6/36cde5713c34e76296eba461bd91ec088690446c/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f80520016.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF1931AD2F86D56B5E5A7756BCFA89C89D775.jpg Takuma Sato earned his first career Izod IndyCar Series victory last race in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Sato dominated the 80 Lap race and gave A.J. Foyt Racing their first win in over a decade. Now the series heads to a somewhat similar street circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil in the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300. Both tracks are very high speed and feature 11 tight corners. Most drivers that are good at Long Beach are good in Brazil. Sato enters the race weekend on a high. Most people would agree that once momentum is built, it’s hard to stop. He doesn’t have just coming off of a win to hang his hat on. He’s also very good around the 2.5-mile street circuit. Sato has two straight top 10 finishes in Sao Paulo including a third place finish last year. A.J. Foyt Racing usually fields great cars for Brazil as they finished third in the inaugural race back in 2010 with Vitor Meira. With Foyt producing great cars in Sao Paulo, Sato running well there and coming off of a win it’s a pe... Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:38:01 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/indycar_takuma_sato_should_be_threat_at_brazil/13513289 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/indycar_takuma_sato_should_be_threat_at_brazil/13513289 IndyCar: Takuma Sato should be threat at Brazil http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/indycar_takuma_sato_should_be_threat_at_brazil/13513289 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/5/65965196fb8109e6de740448b409a99c0daf4f83/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f80237239.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF1938380E4175F6A5AF4A98B0694EA95860C.jpg Takuma Sato says joining AJ Foyt Racing put him in position to become the first Japanese driver to win an IndyCar race. Sato returned to Japan on Friday to speak about his historic win last Sunday in the Grand Prix of Long Beach, just his third race with the team. Sato says ''motorsports is a team sport and you can't win without complete effort from the team.'' The win at Long Beach came in Sato's 52nd career start in IndyCar, but was the first for AJ Foyt Racing since Airton Dare won Kansas in 2002. On the last lap of last year's Indianapolis 500, Sato wrecked while trying to pass winner Dario Francitti. Sato entered IndyCar in 2010 after seven seasons in Formula One. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:31:18 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/formula_one/article_external/sato_credits_aj_foyt_racing_for_1st_indycar_win/13488472 http://network.yardbarker.com/formula_one/article_external/sato_credits_aj_foyt_racing_for_1st_indycar_win/13488472 Sato credits AJ Foyt Racing for 1st IndyCar win http://www.yardbarker.com/formula_one/articles/sato_credits_aj_foyt_racing_for_1st_indycar_win/13488472 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/5/65965196fb8109e6de740448b409a99c0daf4f83/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f80237239.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF1938380E4175F6A5AF4A98B0694EA95860C.jpg Back in his racing days, four-time Indianapolis 500 champion and current IZOD IndyCar Series team owner A.J. Foyt was always a hard charger. One can argue that his newest driver is the same way. The aggressive Takuma Sato, who raced with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing last season, has officially joined the A.J. Foyt Racing team for this year's championship. Sato will drive the No. 14 ABC Supply Co. Honda after collecting two podiums (Sao Paulo and Edmonton) for RLL in 2012. However, the former Formula One pilot also found lots of trouble in the campaign and suffered eight DNFs in 15 races. “While I do not know A.J. well yet, it is unbelievable what he did in his career," said Sato in a team release. "A.J. has achieved so many wins in every type of car, at every type of circuit, and in every type of situation.  That experience can only help in trying to win races this year.  I think with A.J. and the team helping me this year, we can be very successful.” ... Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:58:12 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/formula_one/article_external/official_takuma_sato_joins_aj_foyt_racing/12630799 http://network.yardbarker.com/formula_one/article_external/official_takuma_sato_joins_aj_foyt_racing/12630799 OFFICIAL: Takuma Sato joins A.J. Foyt Racing http://www.yardbarker.com/formula_one/articles/official_takuma_sato_joins_aj_foyt_racing/12630799 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has confirmed via Twitter that Takuma Sato will be the fourth driver to be penalized 10 spots on the starting grid for tomorrow night's Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway (8 pm ET, NBC Sports Network).The penalty is due to an unapproved engine change after Sato's Honda powerplant appeared to let go in the final minutes of tonight's practice session, causing him to come to a stop just off the frontstretch. He had qualified 10th earlier on Friday, but will now have to start 20th in the race.Also sustaining 10-spot engine penalties for Texas are Mike Conway, Simona de Silvestro and Josef Newgarden. Conway had qualified 8th but will start 18th as a result. Fri, 08 Jun 2012 21:51:42 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/takuma_sato_suffers_engine_penalty/10973357 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/takuma_sato_suffers_engine_penalty/10973357 Takuma Sato suffers engine penalty http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/takuma_sato_suffers_engine_penalty/10973357 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png To some, auto racing is just a bunch of left turns. To others, it consists of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. These Japanese television announcers definitely fall into the second category. Japanese driver Takuma Sato had a chance to win it as he trailed eventual-winner Dario Franchitti on the race’s final lap. Sato, known by wheelheads (cool new nickname for racing fans), to be an aggressive nature not afraid of making daring passes, needed a sneaky move to pass Franchitti. We now know what happened, but they obviously didn’t as Sato got put his big boy pants on and tried to take the lead. FRanchitti is in the red/white car that’s in the lead. Sato is driving the blue and white ride. As I said, the highest of highs and the lowest of lows… [Here Is The Incredibly Emotional Japanese TV Reaction To Their Driver Passing — And Crashing — In The Indy 500] Business Insider Wed, 30 May 2012 09:02:19 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/japanese_tv_reaction_to_takuma_satos_driving_in_indianapolis_500/10901531 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/japanese_tv_reaction_to_takuma_satos_driving_in_indianapolis_500/10901531 Japanese announcers excitedly call Indy 500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/japanese_tv_reaction_to_takuma_satos_driving_in_indianapolis_500/10901531 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/1/417b61f8926b07c134e4506e935ed3bdc63e4a2b/mini/indy-500.jpg Japanese pilot notches first IndyCar podium at Sao PauloOne figures that a bit of relief came over Takuma Sato as he raced across the Sambadromo and past the checkered flag in Sunday's Sao Paulo Indy 300.Two weeks after losing out on his first podium finish in the IZOD IndyCar Series thanks to a last-lap incident with Ryan Hunter-Reay, the former Formula One standout was staring at a long race in Sao Paulo when he was forced to start 25th due to an engine change that forced him out of Saturday qualifying. And with the notorious Brazilian rains somehow managing to stay away from Anhembi Park, Sato would have to make up all those spots without the help of Mother Nature's great equalizer.But the Rahal Letterman Lanigan pilot was more than up to the challenge. Thanks to a gutsy inside pass of Dario Franchitti on a restart with eight laps to go, Sato put the finishing touches on an awesome run from the back to P3 at the finish.After 37 starts, "Taku" finally had hit the... Tue, 01 May 2012 15:10:32 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/takuma_sato_on_the_rise_as_500_looms/10697162 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/takuma_sato_on_the_rise_as_500_looms/10697162 Takuma Sato on the rise as '500' looms http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/takuma_sato_on_the_rise_as_500_looms/10697162 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/5/65965196fb8109e6de740448b409a99c0daf4f83/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f80237239.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF1938380E4175F6A5AF4A98B0694EA95860C.jpg Japan's Takuma Sato had almost everything go wrong in the Sao Paulo 300. He just kept pressing, though, and somehow found a way to his first podium finish in IndyCar on Sunday. Sato had a remarkable drive on the streets of Sao Paulo, being aggressive and taking advantage of pit strategy after starting in the last row and overcoming a drive-thru penalty early in the race. He crossed the line just a few seconds behind winner Will Power and Ryan Hunter-Reay. ''It is a fantastic feeling to finish third. It was an eventful race starting from the back of the grid. I needed to fight back so hard to get the positions back,'' Sato said. A podium finish was the last thing Sato expected to get considering the way his weekend started. He got only a few laps of practice because of a gear box problem on Saturday, and couldn't post a time in qualifying after having to change his engine. He was penalized 10 spots on the grid and started 25th. ''After a difficult weekend, it is a relief to Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:35:42 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/sato_finds_a_way_to_podium_finish_at_sao_paulo_300/10679600 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/sato_finds_a_way_to_podium_finish_at_sao_paulo_300/10679600 Sato finds a way to podium finish at Sao Paulo 300 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/sato_finds_a_way_to_podium_finish_at_sao_paulo_300/10679600 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s Takuma Sato led the seven drivers present at Sebring, while suspected ECU glitches sees Honda suffer multiple engine losses. Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:20:33 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/indycar_sato_paces_two_day_sebring_test/10104961 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/indycar_sato_paces_two_day_sebring_test/10104961 INDYCAR: Sato Paces Two-Day Sebring Test http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/indycar_sato_paces_two_day_sebring_test/10104961 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/6/36cde5713c34e76296eba461bd91ec088690446c/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f80520016.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF1931AD2F86D56B5E5A7756BCFA89C89D775.jpg Japanese driver Takuma Sato, who competed in Formula One from 2002-08 before moving to IndyCar in 2010, signed Friday with IndyCar team Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Sato spent one season with Jordan, three with British American Racing and three with Super Aguri F1. He drove for KV Racing Technology the last two seasons in IndyCar. ''Rahal Letterman Racing has a proud tradition and I look forward to driving for them,'' Sato said at a news conference. ''I wasn't able to get a win last season but look forward to winning this year with this new team.'' Although he went winless, he won two poles in 2011, at Edmonton and Iowa, and finished the season ranked 13th in the Izod IndyCar points standings. Team owner Bobby Rahal has teamed with Honda as he tries to return to a full-time IndyCar schedule for the first time since 2008. The team focused on the ALMS Series the last three seasons and ran only four IndyCar races last year. Rahal won the ALMS championship the last two y Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:54:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/japans_sato_signs_with_team_owner_bobby_rahal/9745012 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/japans_sato_signs_with_team_owner_bobby_rahal/9745012 Japan's Sato signs with team owner Bobby Rahal http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/japans_sato_signs_with_team_owner_bobby_rahal/9745012 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/d/1d82341a1d9c47ca3de6c59261dafc1248d82752/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f56897790.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193B07CCDF00DC06F577331213068DB1F8EA55A1E4F32AD3138.jpg Takuma Sato's move to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series championship is now official, with Honda Motorsports announcing the deal this morning according to the Associated Press.The former Formula One racer will enter his third season in IndyCar after spending the last two with KV Racing Technology, where he earned two poles, three top-5s and eight top-10s. He claimed 13th place in the 2011 standings.Credit goes to Matt Archuleta for the heads-up. Follow him. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:04:45 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/takuma_sato_official_at_rahal_letterman_lanigan/9742984 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/takuma_sato_official_at_rahal_letterman_lanigan/9742984 Takuma Sato official at Rahal Letterman Lanigan http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/takuma_sato_official_at_rahal_letterman_lanigan/9742984 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/d/1d82341a1d9c47ca3de6c59261dafc1248d82752/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f56897790.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193B07CCDF00DC06F577331213068DB1F8EA55A1E4F32AD3138.jpg