Yuki Tsunoda isn’t ruling out the potential for sooner or later operating within the Indianapolis 500, however not anytime quickly.
The 24-year-old, who competes for Crimson Bull’s sister outfit RB in Method 1, drove an Indy automobile for the primary time on Tuesday as a part of a celebration of Honda’s ‘Hybrid Heroes’ forward of this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. The outing, which additionally noticed three-time Method 1 World Champion Max Verstappen drive the Acura ARX-06 GTP entry, got here on an estimated 1.3-mile highway course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
After being coached up by six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, Tsunoda made a few runs that lasted roughly a mixed half-hour, and it was very evident he was pushing the restrict straight away. And the smile from the affable Japanese driver was wider than standard as soon as he climbed out of the cockpit of the No. 93 entry that was ready by Chip Ganassi Racing.
Throughout the occasion, Tsunoda took half in a choose media roundtable, the place Motorsport.com requested if this expertise offered curiosity in moving into an Indycar extra sooner or later if a chance was offered – probably mirroring the trail of ex-F1 castoff and fellow countryman Takuma Sato, a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500.
“If I’ve [an] alternative and I really feel it’s the correct time, for positive I’d like to,” Tsunoda mentioned. “I just like the US itself, so I don’t thoughts dwelling right here as properly.
“However I really feel prefer it’s not the time as a result of I can’t think about I’m driving at [Indianapolis Motor Speedway], greater than a two-hour race and we do greater than 200 mph or no matter each lap. For me, it’s scary. I can’t think about myself driving greater than two hours and being in that automobile. I don’t know. For now, I [am not] actually aiming or serious about IndyCar, however yeah, why not sooner or later?”
Tsunoda offered extra thought concerning his tackle the oval racing that could be a important a part of North America’s premier open-wheel championship.
“Not afraid, however undoubtedly doesn’t really feel totally comfy driving an oval,” Tsunoda mentioned. “I respect the drivers quite a bit. Driving [Indianapolis] the 2 hours, like how can this driver drive in a circle, actually two hours subsequent to the wall each lap. You probably have a collision, it may be actually, actually massive as properly, so these issues I can’t think about proper now. And proper now, I’m not likely serious about the ovals.
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Crew
Photograph by: Honda
“, [the Indy 500] is such a cool competitors and a lot of the drivers will dream about being there, however presently I don’t have that concentrate on [or] something. As soon as I begin getting a bit older and my mentality of issues change, perhaps I’ll strive at that time; drink the milk on the finish of the race, hopefully.”
So far as what it was wish to drive an Indycar, Tsunoda wasn’t fazed by the dearth of energy steering because of the slow-speed corners of the circuit structure, however did work up a sweat after sitting behind the aeroscreen for the primary time, reverse of the Halo in F1.
Moreover, although, the enjoyment he felt behind the wheel reminded him extra of his karting days as he was in a position to assault every nook.
“It simply feels a bit extra like karting – you possibly can mess around extra,” he mentioned. “Method 1 automobiles are managed by the techniques, electronics, however this automobile feels extra direct, so you must nonetheless management the activation section to regulate the sliding of the rear; that feels fairly good, particularly [since] you possibly can drift round just a little bit [and] slide round within the automobile. So, that feels good. Straightaway I felt comfy, so in a position to push just a little bit extra.”
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Crew, Scott Dixon
Photograph by: Honda
One of many distinctive parts, in accordance with Dixon, was Tsunoda’s curiosity in studying each small ingredient of the instruments obtainable within the automobile immediately, significantly the roll bars, engine modes and deployment of the hybrid system.
David Salters, the president of Honda Racing Company, confirmed to Motorsport.com that it didn’t take lengthy to provide Tsunoda the possibility to push the tempo.
“It was fairly spectacular to see, like Flip 3, he was on full push,” Salters mentioned. “After we began off, taking it simple, the automobile was in follow mode – powertrain – after which he got here in, and there was a little bit of a aspect dialogue for brand new boots and race-quali energy. And he fairly loved that, I believe.”
