Takuma Sato became the first Japanese driver to win the Indianapolis 500, pulling away in the final laps at the 101st running of the race Sunday. “Unfortunately it was just a little bit short.”

Advertisement

The 42-year-old Castroneves then warmly congratulated Sato and, after noting Sato’s age, quipped that “we get better when we get old.”

Castroneves finished second, rookie Ed Jones was third and Britain’s Max Chilton finished fourth. But with an Indy 500 victory, “I know how big this news is going to be tomorrow when they wake up in Japan,” Sato’s team owner Michael Andretti said.
Takuma Sato of Japan wins the 2017 Indianapolis 500 ahead of Helio Castroneves of Brazil. Sato is the first Japanese driver to win the event.