Formula One news
Sato looks back at 'one of my best races'
11 June 2007 / Results / PhotosTakuma Sato finished Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix in sixth position. The Japanese rider scored three points in Super Aguri's only 25th Formula 1 Grand Prix - something the team could not even dream about just over a year ago.
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After the celebrations Takuma Sato said: "You could argue that 2002 at Suzuka (in which Sato finished fifth) or 2004 Indy (when he was third) were outstanding, but today was such a dramatic race and this was for sure one of my best races. It's just a beautiful day!"
Sato started the race from 11th position and managed to overtake Jarno Trulli. He overtook the Italian already in Turn 1 to grab 10th position.
Then halfway into the Canadian Grand Prix Robert Kubica crashed out of the race in a horrifying crash. "It was a shocking accident for Kubica and I was really scared at that moment," said Sato. "I was worried about him, and when I heard he had escaped it was a big relief. I had two concerns: not to touch debris and that I was very worried about him. Thank God he escaped."
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From the next restart, Sato was chasing Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari. Then he got ahead when the Finn slipped up at the hairpin. "That was a really weird situation, and what was really surprising and really made me happy is that my pace was so strong. I had some understeer and graining in the first stint, so we increased the front flap at the stop, and Kimi couldn't catch me. More surprising was that I was catching Giancarlo in front of me."
Around the end of the race Sato got behind Toyota driver Ralf Schumacher. "I took three laps to work out how to overtake him. I tried the chicane - it failed, Turn 1 - it failed. But finally I managed it down the back straight and braking into the last corner on the outside. That was great satisfaction. Now what?"
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| Sato chasing Alonso |
At that point Takuma Sato was chasing double world champion Fernando Alonso. "I thought, 'OK, a great moment is coming'. The McLaren was superfast down the straight - about three quarters of the way down the straight in his tow, I'm hitting the limiter! - But he suffered a lot on his soft tyres. Within a few laps I had the same opportunity as with Ralf. I was much stronger under braking and was committed enough to overtake on the outside into the chicane. That was so exciting! The mechanics holding the pit board were very excited too and I could see the whole grandstand cheering - just like Suzuka!"
It was amazing. You could say it was lucky, but you have to put yourself in the right position to make it happen. The team did a super job - I'm very proud of them. Such a beautiful day!"
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