2006 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX – RACE
TAKUMA SATO - Car No: 22 (SA06-03)
Position 15 No: of Laps 52 Fastest Lap Time 1:35.082
SAKON YAMAMOTO - Car No: 23 (SA06-04)
Position 17 No: of Laps 50 Fastest Lap Time 1:35.594
T-Car SA05-02
Weather Warm and sunny, with a blustery wind Air Temperature
23-25°C Track Temperature 22-29°C
Over one hundred and twenty thousand fans at the Suzuka Circuit
today were able to cheer the SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM drivers’
home as both Takuma Sato and Sakon Yamamoto took the chequered
flag at the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix. It is a fantastic result
for the young, small team who worked so hard to make the dream
of a new F1 team become a reality at the end of 2005. The
combination of exceptional team work, at the races and back
home at the SAF1 Team factory in Leafield, and close relationships
with both engine supplier Honda and Bridgestone tyres, has
ensured that the team is now truly competing with nearest
rivals Spyker MF1 and Scuderia Toro Rosso.
Takuma Sato
“This is an absolutely fantastic result for the team
– we could not have asked for anything more. Our performance
at the beginning of the weekend was not as it should have
been, but I believe that we have done everything that we could
for the race. The start was very exciting. I overtook a few
cars into turn one, but then I got held up and re-overtaken,
but then at the Esses I re-overtook Scott Speed, which was
an exciting moment. Unfortunately my pace then was not enough
and I was overtaken by Speed again. But after I settled into
the race the car worked very well and the Bridgestone tyres
gave superb performance, so I was able to run competitively.
The boys in the team did a tremendous job - I think that the
pitstops were the best we have done all season - very quick
and very accurate. And the fans were incredible! We had great
support and at the end I could see all of the flags shining
through the sunlight. For me, counting down the laps to the
last lap at Suzuka is a very special feeling, but also very
sad as the race is ending, and especially as this may be our
last race here for a while. I think that the team is really
satisfied with our two-car finish today.”
Sakon Yamamoto
“I really appreciate the support from everyone who
has come to the race this weekend. Their support gave me the
extra power to finish the race. I would like to thank the
team, sponsors and everyone who has supported me through my
career. It is a fantastic feeling to finish my home grand
prix at the Suzuka Circuit, but on the other hand I am a racer,
and I always want to go faster, so I will review my race and
prepare myself for the next grand prix in Brazil.”
Aguri Suzuki, Team Principal
“I would like to say ‘thank you’ to everybody
– my team, the fans, everybody who has been supporting
us. It is a great result for us to have a two-car finish here
and both drivers have done a great job today. At the moment,
however, it is a perfect result for us whilst we are still
a small and new team. So I am very happy that we have achieved
this result here at Suzuka today, especially as it may be
the circuit’s last grand prix.”
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