If you had the choice of either winning a Formula One Grand Prix or the Indianapolis 500, which would take? Japanese driver, Takuma Sato, has never won a Formula One Grand Prix although he achieved his only F1 podium at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 2004 US GP with BAR. He now has to his name two Indianapolis 500 wins (2017 and 2020), becoming the 12th driver in all time in achieving two victories at the brickyard.
Previously the 43 year-old had a seven year career in Formula One with three different teams, each powered by Honda, making his F1 debut with Jordan Grand Prix in 2002, the highlight of the year finishing fifth in his home GP at Suzuka.
In 2003 he switched to BAR (British American Racing) as a test driver, but replaced Jacques Villeneuve at the final round of the year, the Japanese Grand Prix, where he finished in the points. This gained him a full-time drive with the team for both the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
He then joined the new Super Aguri F1 team for 2006, run by former Japanese F1 driver Aguri Suzuki. It was a team that through financial struggles, was never destined to stay in F1 and they eventually withdrew from Formula One after the 2008 Spanish Grand Prix, leaving Sato without a drive for the remainder of the season.
Since 2010 he has been competing full-time in the IndyCar Series in the US, but never in contention for a series title. Now with two Indy 500 wins, that doesn’t really matter.
Other interesting facts about Sato is that he won the 2001 Macau Grand Prix with Carlin Motorsport, the same year that he also won the British F3 Championship. He was also a national cycling champion while at high school in Japan.
So to our original question, personally, I would take an Indy 500 win over a F1 Grand Prix any day. There is just something so special about the race, the place and the occasion. And to win it twice, well, Sato has definitely itched his name into both the history of the 500 and Japanese motorsport.
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