1975 to 86 - Raced motorcycles. Won Japanese motocross title in 1980. Began
auto racing career in rally cars in early 1980s.
Racing Career:
1975 to 86 - Raced motorcycles. Won Japanese motocross title in 1980. Began
auto racing career in rally cars in early 1980s.
1987 - Entered first US race, Formula Ford event at Riverside.
1988 - Began professional racing career in earnest, entering IMSA GT Camel
Lights series with veteran Jim Downing. Finished impressive second at Daytona 24 Hours
and third at Sebring 12 Hours.
1989 - Won Toyota Atlantic championship by largest point margin in series
history winning four out of nine events entered. Entered Formula Pacific series in New
Zealand. First Japanese driver to win prestigious Lady Wigram Trophy Race. Drove for
factory Spice IMSA GTP team in Daytona 24 Hours.
1990 - Entered ten races with Panasonic sponsored Dick Simon Team. First
Japanese driver in history of IndyCar Racing. Best finish was twelfth at Portland. Finished
nineteenth in IndyCar debut at Long Beach. Completed rookie test but did not enter
Indianapolis 500.
1991 - Became first Japanese driver in the Indy 500 starting twenty fourth in
Paragon Motorsports Panasonic Lola-Buick finishing sixteenth. Starting seventeen events,
his best finish was tenth at Milwaukee.
1992 - Started eight events. Missed Australia because of a broken leg. Crashed in
Indy practice broke leg and sat out until Cleveland.
1993 - Scored three point-paying finishes. Tenth place at Phoenix tied IndyCar
career-best finish. Led running-at-finish category completing fifteen of sixteen events.
1994 - Returned to Dick Simon Racing to start thirteen races. Scored a career
best finish of sixth at Michigan. Survived a frightening crash at Phoenix where his car was
cut in half and completely destroyed.
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