Takuma Sato has been passionate about helping those affected by the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged Japan in 2011 and now, days away from the Indianapolis 500, he has another idea on how to help.
Sato, who famously came close to winning the Indy 500 in 2012, feels that winning on Sunday what he considers the pinnacle of racing would give some measure of cheer to the tens of thousands left homeless after the disaster.
“I was very passionate to help, but how can I help? Not just financially, but also to bring some energy to this cause,” the A.J. Foyt Racing driver told reporters on Tuesday.
Photo: AP
“So if I can win the 500, it would be massive and of course it’s a great personal goal, so I’d love to take it,” he said.
The 39-year-old driver, who founded the “With you Japan” program in 2011 to help children affected by the disaster move forward with their lives, qualified 12th for Sunday’s race in Indiana and is to start in the fourth row.
The Japanese sensation got off to a fast start after joining A.J. Foyt Racing in 2013, needing only three races under his new boss to become the first Japanese driver to claim an IndyCar win, but he has been unable to replicate the feat as opportunities passed him by.
His most notable near-miss came during the final lap of the 2012 Indianapolis 500 when he spun out while attempting an inside pass on race leader Dario Franchitti going into turn 1.
Sato, who recounts with great detail the closing laps of that race as if it happened yesterday, challenged Franchitti low in the turn, but lost control as the cars touched and was swiftly sent into the wall.
He has great respect for Franchitti and said that at the time his first priority was to avoid a crash, an approach he has since changed.
“I have to secure myself to be in my best position,” Sato said. “If people come down for the defense, well, end of the day by all means.”
The Japanese recorded a four-lap average of 366kph at the 4km Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in qualifying for Sunday.
“I’m very happy to [be] in 12th place and fourth row,” he said. “From there we can work on it bit-by-bit, and what’s most important is lap 200 on Sunday evening.”
“I’m ready for the challenge,” he said.
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