Although it will be Japanese driver Takuma Sato first participation in the Indianapolis 500 this month, the veteran Formula 1 driver will be back on a circuit where he earned, in 2004, his only podium ever in F1.
Sato, one of the drivers of the KV Racing stable, impressed in his first race on an oval at Kansas a couple of weeks ago, qualifying 11th and running inside the top 10 before crashing out in an incident with Hideki Mutoh while battling for fifth place with just 14 of the 200 laps to go.
The 33-year-old former Grand Prix driver says he is looking forward to making his Indianapolis 500 debut later this month and is eager to return to the venue for IndyCar's biggest event when first practice kicks off this weekend.
"I have great memories of Indianapolis, having raced there four times in Formula 1 and got my first podium in 2004. The place holds a special place in my heart, but then I drove only a part of the famous banking in the opposite direction.
Sato, one of the drivers of the KV Racing stable, impressed in his first race on an oval at Kansas a couple of weeks ago, qualifying 11th and running inside the top 10 before crashing out in an incident with Hideki Mutoh while battling for fifth place with just 14 of the 200 laps to go.
The 33-year-old former Grand Prix driver says he is looking forward to making his Indianapolis 500 debut later this month and is eager to return to the venue for IndyCar's biggest event when first practice kicks off this weekend.
"I have great memories of Indianapolis, having raced there four times in Formula 1 and got my first podium in 2004. The place holds a special place in my heart, but then I drove only a part of the famous banking in the opposite direction.