Sato 1st Japanese to win Indy 500

— When the moment came, Takuma Sato seized it, and was rewarded with one of auto racing’s grandest prizes.

Sato became the first Japanese driver to win the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, holding off three-time winner Helio Castroneves of Brazil to do it.

Sato had toiled for two weeks at Indianapolis in the shadow of temporary Andretti Autosport teammate Fernando Alonso — the two-time Formula One world champion taking time out from the Grand Prix circuit to try his luck at Indy.

But he emerged with a fearless finish made all the more impressive by the memory of 2012, when his last-lap attempt to grab the lead from Dario Franchitti ended with the Japanese driver in the wall.

“I knew I could do it but I was waiting for the moment and the last few laps there was a moment,” said Sato, who snatched the lead from Castroneves with five laps remaining after both had worked their way past Briton Max Chilton.

Then it was up to Sato — winner of just one prior IndyCar race — to keep Castroneves behind him.

“I know Helio is always coming on charge,” Sato said. “But he’s just such a gentleman, such a fair player. I believe in him.

“We go side-by-side turn one. It was job done.

“The last two laps, the car worked beautifully. I just cannot thank enough everyone who supported me.”