INDYCAR

At 42 years, Takuma Sato surprised once more

After clinching pole position in qualifying for the Indy Formula Alabama stage, Takuma Sato was the big winner of last Sunday's race, the third of the 2019 season. Rahal Letterman's Lanigan Racing's Japanese still had a scare in the crowd, escaping the track four laps from the end, but returned to the track to confirm the triumph after dominating the race.
He was ahead of New Zealander Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi. Former Formula One driver, Dale Coyne's Sébastien Bourdais of France closed the podium, which only had cars powered by Honda engines. Double demonstration of the strength of Japan in the maximum category of the North American motoring.
Brazilian AJ Foyt's Matheus Leist finished the race in 20th after dropping five places ahead. His teammate and compatriot Tony Kanaan, winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 2003 and Indy champion in 2004, finished 18th, earning a spot in the starting grid.
The most well-positioned Chevrolet engine was Josef Newgarden, from the United States. The Penske driver, who won the stage last year, crossed the finish line in fourth place. Also American and another with a Formula 1 run, Alexander Rossi completed the top five with Andretti.
Canadian James Hinchcliffe of Arrow Schmidt Peterson was the sixth. His Swedish teammate Marcus Ericsson, another former member of the F-1 grid, was in seventh position. Andretti's American Ryan Hunter-Reay finished eighth, ahead of Penske's Frenchman Simon Pagenaud. Another Swedish rider completed the Top 10: newcomer Felix Rosenqvist of Chip Ganassi.
With the result of this Sunday, Josef Newgarden, who won the opening of the championship, is in the lead, with 125 points. Second is Scott Dixon with 98. With victory in Alabama, Sato jumps to third place with 91. Kanaan is 18th with 45. Leist is 23rd with 31. The next stage of Formula Indy will be in Long Beach, in the United States, on April 14. Source: Indy Formula