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IndyCar: Takuma Sato to return to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2019

By Asher Fair

SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Takuma Sato, driver of the #30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, on track during pracrtice for the Verizon IndyCar Series Sonoma Grand Prix at Sonoma Raceway on September 15, 2018 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)
SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Takuma Sato, driver of the #30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, on track during pracrtice for the Verizon IndyCar Series Sonoma Grand Prix at Sonoma Raceway on September 15, 2018 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images) /
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Takuma Sato is set to return to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing as the driver of the #30 Honda in the 2019 IndyCar season.

After spending four seasons driving for A.J. Foyt Enterprises from the 2013 IndyCar season through the 2016 season and last season driving for Andretti Autosport, Takuma Sato returned to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for the 2018 season. He previously drove for the team in the 2012 season, which was his third career season in the sport.

Sato drove the #30 Honda this season, and he is set to do so again in the 2019 season, as he is set to return to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for what is set to be his third overall season and his second consecutive season driving for the team.

Here is what the 41-year-old Japanese driver had to say about returning to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing next year, according to RACER.

"“I am really pleased to be back with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for 2019. Bobby, David [Letterman] and Mike [Lanigan] have done a fantastic job at putting together a great team and environment around me. I believe that Graham and I have everything we need to be consistent race winners and compete for the IndyCar championship. I could not be happier.”"

Here is what Bobby Rahal, who is one of the three co-owners of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing along with David Letterman and Mike Lanigan, had to say about Sato returning to the team in 2019, according to RACER.

"“[Takuma] has always been very popular around the team whether he was driving for us or not so therefore it makes it even more special to have him continue with us after this season. We have had some good success with Takuma and the potential was there for even more. The team has really jelled around him. His guys have done a great job as the season has progressed and of course Portland showed that. It allows us to keep the continuity and good spirit going at the team to try to get even more wins and strong results in 2019.”"

Over the course of his nine-year IndyCar career, Sato has secured three victories. He secured his first victory driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing earlier this month in the Grand Prix of Portland at Portland International Raceway.

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Sato’s victory in this race was the team’s only victory of the season, as Graham Rahal, the son of Bobby Rahal who has driven for the team co-owned by his father since the 2013 season, failed to win a race for the first time since the 2014 season.

Sato’s two other career victories came in the 2013 season and the 2017 season. He won the 2013 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on the streets of Long Beach, California in his first season driving for A.J. Foyt Enterprises, and he won the 2017 Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in his first and only season driving for Andretti Autosport.

Before driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in the 2012 season, Sato spent two seasons driving for KV Racing Technology. After recording a career-high finish of eighth place in the 2017 championship standings, he finished in 12th in this year’s standings, which is the second highest finish of his career.

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How will Takuma Sato perform in what is set to be his 10th career IndyCar season and his third season driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing next year? Will he earn any more race victories in his second consecutive season driving for the team? Where will he finish in the championship standings in 2019?