Takuma Sato and the A.J. Foyt Racing team celebrate the victory Sunday in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Photo by Chris Jones
Takuma Sato became the first driver from Japan to win an Indy car race, prevailing in the 39th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Sato, who started fourth in the 80-lap race on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn street circuit, provided A.J. Foyt Racing its first victory since July 7, 2002, at Kansas Speedway with Airton Dare behind the wheel. The last win for the team on a road/street course was by A.J. Foyt on Oct. 1, 1978, at Silverstone. Overall, A.J. Foyt Racing has 44th victories.
“Takuma made it look too easy,” team director and race strategist Larry Foyt said. “It made me so nervous watching it out there. He just drove a flawless race.”
Sato, making his 52nd IZOD IndyCar Series start, overtook Ryan Hunter-Reay for second on lap 23 and assumed the point on lap 30 when race leader Will Power pitted under yellow. The remainder of the race Sato’s No. 14 ABC Supply car was strong on both the Firestone primary and alternate tires.
“It was just a perfect weekend to be honest,” said Sato, whose previous best finish was second at Edmonton in 2012. “The team did a tremendous job. It is great news for the Japanese. Japan has had such a tough time after the earthquake. I’m really happy to give everybody some good news.”
Sato led Graham Rahal across the finish line under caution. It was the best finish for Rahal since finishing second at Texas last June. Justin Wilson, who won that race at Texas Motor Speedway, advanced from the 24th starting position to finish third.
Sato is the third winner in as many IZOD IndyCar Series races this season and climbed to second in the championship standings. Helio Castroneves, who finished 10th, has a six-point lead heading into the May 5 race on the street circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Honda-powered teams swept the podium for the first time this season.
Izod IndyCar Series
Streets of Long Beach – Long Beach, CA
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach – April 21, 2013
1. Takuma Sato
2. Graham Rahal
3. Justin Wilson
4. Dario Franchitti
5. J.R. Hildebrand
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7. Marco Andretti
8. Simon Pagenaud
9. Simona de Silvestro
10. Helio Castroneves
11. Scott Dixon
12. James Jakes
13. Josef Newgarden
14. Ana Beatriz
15. Sebastien Bourdais
16. Will Power
17. Tristan Vautier
18. Ed Carpenter
19. Alex Tagliani
20. Tony Kanaan
21. Charlie Kimball
22. E.J. Viso
23. A.J. Allmendinger
24. Ryan Hunter-Reay
25. Mike Conway
26. James Hinchcliffe
27. Sebastian Saavedra
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