AJ Foyt Racing's Takuma Sato ran with the frontrunners all afternoon long to finally claim his first ever IZOD IndyCar victory Sunday in the streets of Long Beach.
The former Formula 1 driver and Honda protégé took the lead on lap 31 and then ran a flawless race, making sure to maintain a good gap between himself and his rivals.
Although he crossed the finish line under a full-course yellow, the Japanese driver had a 5.2-second lead over Graham Rahal who needed to clinch a good result following a disappointing start to the season.
Briton Justin Wilson, another former F1 driver, started the race from the pack of the field because he's been unable to complete a lap during qualifying. He finished the race at an impressive third place for Dale Coyne Racing.
Ganassi’s Dario Franchitti, who took the start from pole position, crossed the line in fourth place, the Scot having lost time during a slow first pit stop.
JR Hilderbrand (Panther Racing) completed the top 5, having been promoted to that position after Oriol Servia was penalised for the incident in which he was involved with Tony Kanaan.
It was a day to forget for Andretti Autosport... James Hinchcliffe was squeezed into the wall and crashing out on a restart - an incident that also damaged the car of teammate EJ Viso – while Ryan Hunter-Reay crashed while trying to pass Ana Beatriz.
Results – 80 laps:
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Takuma Sato Foyt Dallara-Honda 80 laps
2. Graham Rahal Rahal Dallara-Honda + 5.3612s
3. Justin Wilson Coyne Dallara-Honda + 8.2386s
4. Dario Franchitti Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 12.3573s
5. JR Hildebrand Panther Dallara-Chevy + 28.2402s
6. Oriol Servia Panther/DRR Dallara-Chevy + 29.4683s
7. Marco Andretti Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 30.2703s
8. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Dallara-Honda + 31.8674s
9. Simona de Silvestro KV Dallara-Chevy + 33.1224s
10. Helio Castroneves Penske Dallara-Chevy + 33.4118s
11. Scott Dixon Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 33.6278s
12. James Jakes Rahal Dallara-Honda + 35.0645s
13. Josef Newgarden Fisher Dallara-Honda + 35.8945s
14. Ana Beatriz Coyne Dallara-Honda + 36.3442s
15. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon Dallara-Chevy + 36.5936s
16. Will Power Penske Dallara-Chevy + 43.0022s
17. Tristan Vautier Schmidt Dallara-Honda + 51.7961s
18. Ed Carpenter Carpenter Dallara-Chevy + 56.4533s
19. Alex Tagliani Herta Dallara-Honda + 1 laps
20. Tony Kanaan KV Dallara-Chevy + 2 laps
21. Charlie Kimball Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 2 laps
22. EJ Viso Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 27 laps
Retirements:
AJ Allmendinger Penske Dallara-Chevy 51 laps
Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Dallara-Chevy 49 laps
Mike Conway Rahal Dallara-Honda 38 laps
James Hinchcliffe Andretti Dallara-Chevy 34 laps
Sebastian Saavedra Dragon Dallara-Chevy 1 lap
The former Formula 1 driver and Honda protégé took the lead on lap 31 and then ran a flawless race, making sure to maintain a good gap between himself and his rivals.
Although he crossed the finish line under a full-course yellow, the Japanese driver had a 5.2-second lead over Graham Rahal who needed to clinch a good result following a disappointing start to the season.
 |
| Takuma Sato. (Photo: LAT/IndyCar) |
Briton Justin Wilson, another former F1 driver, started the race from the pack of the field because he's been unable to complete a lap during qualifying. He finished the race at an impressive third place for Dale Coyne Racing.
Ganassi’s Dario Franchitti, who took the start from pole position, crossed the line in fourth place, the Scot having lost time during a slow first pit stop.
JR Hilderbrand (Panther Racing) completed the top 5, having been promoted to that position after Oriol Servia was penalised for the incident in which he was involved with Tony Kanaan.
It was a day to forget for Andretti Autosport... James Hinchcliffe was squeezed into the wall and crashing out on a restart - an incident that also damaged the car of teammate EJ Viso – while Ryan Hunter-Reay crashed while trying to pass Ana Beatriz.
 |
| Takuma Sato leading the race in Long Beach. (Photo: LAT/IndyCar) |
Results – 80 laps:
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Takuma Sato Foyt Dallara-Honda 80 laps
2. Graham Rahal Rahal Dallara-Honda + 5.3612s
3. Justin Wilson Coyne Dallara-Honda + 8.2386s
4. Dario Franchitti Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 12.3573s
5. JR Hildebrand Panther Dallara-Chevy + 28.2402s
6. Oriol Servia Panther/DRR Dallara-Chevy + 29.4683s
7. Marco Andretti Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 30.2703s
8. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Dallara-Honda + 31.8674s
9. Simona de Silvestro KV Dallara-Chevy + 33.1224s
10. Helio Castroneves Penske Dallara-Chevy + 33.4118s
11. Scott Dixon Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 33.6278s
12. James Jakes Rahal Dallara-Honda + 35.0645s
13. Josef Newgarden Fisher Dallara-Honda + 35.8945s
14. Ana Beatriz Coyne Dallara-Honda + 36.3442s
15. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon Dallara-Chevy + 36.5936s
16. Will Power Penske Dallara-Chevy + 43.0022s
17. Tristan Vautier Schmidt Dallara-Honda + 51.7961s
18. Ed Carpenter Carpenter Dallara-Chevy + 56.4533s
19. Alex Tagliani Herta Dallara-Honda + 1 laps
20. Tony Kanaan KV Dallara-Chevy + 2 laps
21. Charlie Kimball Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 2 laps
22. EJ Viso Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 27 laps
Retirements:
AJ Allmendinger Penske Dallara-Chevy 51 laps
Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Dallara-Chevy 49 laps
Mike Conway Rahal Dallara-Honda 38 laps
James Hinchcliffe Andretti Dallara-Chevy 34 laps
Sebastian Saavedra Dragon Dallara-Chevy 1 lap