2016 IndyCar Preseason Power Rankings

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Jul 17, 2015; Newton, IA, USA; IndyCar Series driver Takuma Sato (14) during practice for the Iowa Corn 300 at Iowa Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

19. Takuma Sato

Takuma Sato is an IndyCar mainstay. IndyCar’s only Japanese driver has found a new home for himself since coming over from Formula 1 six years ago, and is the established face of A.J. Foyt Enterprises. But Sato also is well known around IndyCar for his tendency to crash into things, often other drivers.

In 2015, he posted just one result within the Top 5 – a second place finish in the second race of the Dual in Detroit. Otherwise, the year was a bit of a struggle. He had a run-in with Will Power at the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama that spoiled the races of both drivers, collided with Karam at the Indy 500 and Power again in Fontana, and finished outside the Top 15 a whopping eight times. And even with those numbers, he still nearly tied his best-ever finish in the overall IndyCar championship standings – which only serves to point out how Sato has never really been able to crack through into the next level.

During his six seasons in IndyCar, Sato has never finished higher than 13th overall. There’s nothing that would seem to indicate that will change in 2016. He’s with the same team, in the same car, and so far seems to be the same driver. Therefore, expect the same result.

Next: 18. Jack Hawksworth