In the high-demand, fast-paced, high-stress world of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, when a driver hits 43, he starts to consider life outside of the race car.
Not Takuma Sato. At 43, he is just getting warmed up.
The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver proved his continued excellence last year with the most successful season of his NTT INDYCAR SERIES career. He had two race victories, including a dominating win in the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park in April. Sato won again in August with a dramatic, come-from-behind win in the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
The popular driver from Japan also had two poles and finished ninth in points. He is ready to improve on those accomplishments in 2020.
In Sato’s mind, age is irrelevant.
“Bear in mind, when I arrived here there were so many veteran drivers,” Sato said. “Dario Franchitti was the target and then Helio Castroneves was the target. Now, it’s Tony Kanaan and I in terms of age. I think Tony has such a great body to continue to race but for whatever reasons sometimes it doesn’t match the environment.
“I want to look at 2020 to perform at the best ever.”
Kanaan is competing in the five oval races on the schedule, including the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge before he steps back in his career. Sato looks to challenge for a championship and keep the momentum going.
“Momentum is a keyword, actually,” Sato said. “We continue working at Rahal. Last year, we showed the strengths and the speed. Graham Rahal and I work very well together. Engineering did an outstanding job over the course of the winter. Of course, the other teams have the same scenario. We will see how we perform against them.
“I’m happy I am where I am. It looks like the team had a really good winter. I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car.”
When Sato arrived in INDYCAR after a career driving for Honda in Formula One, he was already fast. In some ways, Sato was born fast. What he needed to learn, however, was when to use his speed and when to find the right pace.
In many ways, he discovered that secret later in his career. His big moment came in 2017 when he won the 101st Indianapolis 500 for Andretti Autosport.
Sato returned to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2018 and drove to victory in the Portland Grand Prix that season.
Sato doubled that effort with two wins last year and the potential for even more in 2020.
“I would like to say I’m smarter,” he said. “I don’t know the specifics why my performance is better; I’m just trying to be the best of the best all of the time.
“When you have that kind of determination after 35 and closer to 40, you see some degradation of the body. But as a total package, I feel that I’m moving forward. I have experienced so much and the relationship with the team and the environment. In motor racing, it’s not just about the driver; it’s about the team, too. You have to have the right equipment for the people for the right circumstance and then the driver puts everything together.”
Add it all up, and it’s a formula for success, according to Sato.
“I think I have the best environment I’ve ever had,” he said. “Over the winter, the engineers did a fantastic job. Now, it’s up to Graham and me to perform. Where I feel the weakness in my body to improve, I work on through physical fitness. All of the reactions and things, you have to judge by the numbers and those haven’t gone down yet. I hope I’m still moving forward.
“But why? How? I honestly don’t know. I feel comfortable where I am.”
The 17-race NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins March 13-15 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the city streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. The race is Sunday, March 15. The pre-race show begins at 2:30 p.m. ET with the green flag scheduled for 3:30 p.m.