A redemption story: Bold move rewarded as Takuma Sato wins Indy 500

INDIANAPOLIS –To some, he was Takuma the brave, Takuma the bold. But to others, he was Takuma the reckless.

Indianapolis 500 fans around the world took notice of Takuma Sato in 2012 after the Japanese driver made a daring yet ill-fated pass attempt to the inside of eventual winner Dario Franchitti on Turn 1 of the final lap of the race. When the passing maneuver failed, the world watched in incredulity as Sato went spinning into the wall.

Some said he threw away his best chance to win. Others credited him for the courage it took to take the chance.

At the end, though, he was the driver who risked it all and lost. That was his legacy, his chapter in the 500 chronicles. And it would be forever, unless he changed it.

On Sunday, that’s precisely what he did.

Sato erased that legacy and etched a new one in 500 lore by holding off three-time champion Helio Castroneves to win a chaotic and wreck-marred 101st running of the Indianapolis 500. He became Takuma, the champion.

“After 2012, I really need(ed) to correct something I left over,” a still somewhat shell-shocked Sato said during his post-race news conference. “Today I was so happy that I made it and won in a good move.”

And what a move it was. Floating around the top 10 since near the halfway point, Sato’s signature pass of the race came with 22 laps to go when he maneuvered around the outside of runner-up Castroneves and third-place finisher Ed Jones, setting himself up for triumph.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2017/05/28/redemption-story-takuma-sato-wins-indianapolis-500/345968001/