Bumping confirmed for Indy 500 as Takuma Sato becomes the 34th entry

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Takuma Sato may be 48 years old, but the two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 isn’t quite done yet. The veteran racer has announced plans to attempt the 109th running of the Indy 500, becoming the 34th driver to confirm their plans to do so. This means that bumping is guaranteed to happen in qualifying for this year’s race with only 33 drivers ultimately allowed to start the event.

Sato will again drive for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in the No. 75 Honda, attempting to be part of the Indy 500 for the 16th time in his career. He drank the milk in both 2017 and 2020, winning his second 500 with RLL machinery. The Japanese driver also drove an RLL Honda in last year’s Indy 500, placing 14th.

Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda

Photo by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Images

Sato’s career includes 221 IndyCar races, six wins, 14 podiums and 10 pole positions. He’s also an ex-F1 driver, running 90 races between 2002 and 2008 with a best finish of third in the 2004 United States Grand Prix.

“I’m very excited to return to the 109th Indy 500 with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing,” said Sato in a release from the team. “Once again, a heartfelt thank you to Bobby [Rahal], Mike [Lanigan], David [Letterman], and the entire organization for this incredible opportunity. I’m also deeply grateful for the continued support from AMADA as the primary sponsor [who also backed Sato’s 2024 efforts] alongside Panasonic Automotive Systems, Niterra, Deloitte Tohmatsu, NAC, Honda, HRC, and all our loyal sponsors.

“The new No. 75 car carries over RLL’s historic design with a refreshed and dynamic new livery – it looks absolutely stunning. Last year was an incredible experience, reconnecting with the team, and this year, even more familiar faces have joined the effort, which makes this moment even more special and gives me great confidence. I can’t wait to get to work.”

Sato will be part of a four-car effort for RLL alongside teammates Louis Foster in the No. 45, Devlin Defrancesco in the No. 30, and Graham Rahal in the No. 15.

He is also among a group of one-off drivers who are only attempting the 500. They include NASCAR star Kyle Larson, fellow Indy 500 winners Helio Castroneves and Ryan Hunter-Reay, as well as Marco Andretti, Ed Carpenter, and Jack Harvey.