DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato is returning to the team that most recently gave him his ride into victory lane at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Sato will rejoin Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 this May. It reunites the driver and team that won the 2020 Indy 500 during the COVID year when the race was held without spectators.
“We’re very pleased to welcome back Takuma to the team,” RLL co-owner Bobby Rahal said. “We obviously had a great deal of success together and as I’ve said many times, Takuma’s spirit is something that motivates not only me and the entire team, but also his fans. We’re looking forward to his contributions and having a successful Indy 500.”
Sato’s first Indy 500 win came in 2017 with what is now known as Andretti Global.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to make my return to the 108th Indy 500 with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing,” Sato said. “A heartfelt thank you to Bobby, Mike, and David and the entire organization for this incredible opportunity. Gratitude overflows as I am driving the No. 75 entry with primary sponsorship from AMADA.
“My journey with RLL spans over a decade marked by shared successes and rejoining the team fills me with immense excitement. Here’s to reconnecting with familiar faces and forging new alliances. I just can’t wait to get to work.”
AMADA AMERICA, Inc. a leading global machine tool manufacturer and supplier in the sheet metal industry, will be the primary sponsor for Sato’s No. 75 Honda-powered entry in the May 26 event.
“We are incredibly excited to partner with the renowned Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team at the 108th running of the Indy 500,” said AMADA Executive Vice President of Sales and Key Accounts Stephen Keating. “Our partnership signifies a joint commitment to engineering excellence and innovation. We eagerly anticipate that this iconic race will demonstrate the strong collaboration between our two technology-driven organizations.”
Rahal recalled how a search for a machining partner led him to the sponsor.
“We were actively looking for a machine tool company a few years ago that could give us a competitive advantage, and we got to know AMADA and learn more about the tremendous machines and the technology services they provide,” Rahal said.
“And, of course, our facility is a showcase for some of their technology in our production area. After having them with us as a primary sponsor in 2023, we’re thrilled that the relationship continues to grow. I can’t imagine a better match than AMADA, Takuma and our team.”
Sato competed for RLL in 2012 and from 2018-2021. He has earned six NTT IndyCar Series wins — four of which have come with RLL, including the team’s second Indy 500 win in 2020. Most recently, Sato competed in oval races with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2023.
The 2024 Indy 500 will mark his 15th time to participate in the Indianapolis 500 and sixth with RLL.
AMADA was the primary sponsor of the team’s No. 30 entry at the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park on April 30, 2023, and this will be their first time to participate in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
They will also be a major associate sponsor of the No. 30 entry driven by Pietro Fittipaldi for the 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, near their Buena Park, Calif., headquarters.
Sato, a native of Tokyo, Japan, has made 220 starts in the IndyCar Series since his rookie season in 2010, which is sixth among active drivers and 22nd all-time.
His Indy car highlights include wins in the 2017 and 2020 Indianapolis 500, 2013 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, 2018 Portland Grand Prix, 2019 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama and Bommarito 500 at WWT Raceway, with four of the six coming with RLL.
Of his 14 podium finishes to date, 10 have come with RLL as have three of his 10 Indy car poles.
Prior to joining the IndyCar Series, he competed in 90 Formula One races between 2002-2008 with his highest finish of third at the 2004 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season opens Sunday, March 10, on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., for the 20th Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. North America’s premier open-wheel series will crisscross the United States, including a stop for the 108th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 26, before culminating in Nashville for the championship finale Sunday, Sept. 15.