Takuma Sato (佐藤 琢磨, Satō Takuma, born 28 January 1977) is a Japanese professional racing driver. Sato has raced full-time in the IndyCar Series since 2010 for the Honda-powered KV, Rahal, Foyt, Andretti, and again starting from 2018, the Rahal teams. Sato won the 2017 Indianapolis 500, becoming the first Asian driver to win the Indy 500. He also became the first Japanese driver to win an IndyCar race when he won the 2013 Grand Prix of Long Beach. He competed in Formula One from 2002 to 2008 for the Honda-powered Jordan, BAR and Super Aguri teams, scoring a single podium at the 2004 United States Grand Prix. His 8th-place finish in the 2004 Formula One World Drivers' Championship is the best-ever result for a Japanese driver in the series.

Racing career

Formula One

= Jordan (2002)

= In 2002 Sato graduated to Formula One with the Honda-powered Jordan team, and was paired with Giancarlo Fisichella. 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. 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. = BAR (2003–2005)

= With Honda's focus shifting solely to British American Racing for 2003 Sato joined the Brackley-based outfit as a test driver.