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Japanese driver Takuma Sato (C) is greeted on the starting grid of the 101st Indy 500 by former US driver Johnny Rutherford, who won the race three times. (AFP/Marc Antoine BAUDOUX) |
Sato passed three-time winner Helio Castroneves in the waning laps and held on to triumph, laying the ghost of a heartbreaking defeat in 2012.
"Unbelievable feeling!" a beaming Sato declared as he accepted a bear-hug of congratulations from Andretti Autosport team boss Michael Andretti.
"He drove unbelieveable," Andretti said of Sato's performance in an eventful race that saw pole-sitter Scott Dixon of New Zealand escape serious injury in a spectacular crash and Formula One star Fernando Alonso's race ended by engine failure.
What the stars mean:
★ Poor ★ ★ Promising ★★★ Good ★★★★ Very good ★★★★★ Exceptional