Fab four for Sato with Alabama Indy Car win
Last updated on: 08 April,2019 08:57 am
Fab four for Takuma Sato with Alabama Indy Car win.
MIAMI (AFP) - Takuma Sato bagged the fourth IndyCar victory of his career on Sunday after delivering a controlled performance to win the Grand Prix of Alabama.
The 42-year-old Japanese racer dominated throughout at the Barber Motorsports Park to cap a fine weekend for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Sato, who had started on pole, hit the front on lap 58 of the 90-lap race and never relinquished his grip on the lead.
The Japanese veteran came home 2.38sec clear of PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon.
France’s Sebastien Bourdais finished third after a clever two-stop strategy put him on the podium for his Dale Coyne Racing team.
Sato’s best finish at Barber’s twisting, 17-turn layout had been an eighth place.
However the former Formula One driver carried on the sort of mastery which took him to pole position as he claimed his first win since last year’s Portland International victory.
The win saw Sato move up to third place in the points standings after three races.
Josef Newgarden retains the overall lead after a battling fourth place finish.
The Team Penske driver motored through the field steadily after starting on the grid in 16th spot and now has a 27-point lead over second-placed Dixon.