29 May, 2017
On a powerhouse Andretti Autosport team that included twice Formula One world champion Alonso, last year's victor Alexander Rossi, 2014 victor Ryan Hunter-Reay, Briton Jack Harvey and Marco Andretti, it was easy to overlook the soft-spoken Sato. Without their support, obviously I can not be here today.
Kerber, who replaced Williams atop the WTA rankings this month, was gone from Roland Garros by lunchtime on Day 1, putting up little resistance while being beaten 6-2, 6-2 by 40th-ranked Ekaterina Makarova of Russian Federation. "I'm really trying, I will not give up this dream and I know it is going to happen".
"It's attractive, you know.I grabbed something I left over in 2012 and thanks everyone I can't thank you enough for everyone's support". Hunter-Reay led 28 laps and was a strong contender late. "But he's just such a gentleman and such a fair player". I believe in him. "I just can not thank enough everyone who supported".
Sato follows Alexander Rossi, the rookie who won a year ago for Andretti Autosport, to earn the traditional milk bath in victory circle.
"I can not imagine how it's going to be". The fans very appreciate.
"I'm a little beaten up there, it was a bit of a rough ride", said Dixon, a four-time IndyCar series champion. I didn't know if I could be as quick as anyone in Indy Car. Many, many people came.
Dixon, a four-time IndyCar Series champion and the 2008 Indy 500 victor, had started the race on the pole, and was the heavy favorite to win. Despite already having three wins in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, Castroneves was painfully aware of just how close he was to tying history. But then when he had to go, he went.
Another driver, Jay Howard, hit the wall, lost control and ran into the path of Dixon who ran over the top of him and flipped into a barrier wall before spinning down the track. "Takuma was a great help coming here to race from Formula One". I won two world championships. "I'm not American of course, but I'm proud to be here". It's a mixed feeling, yes, I'm upset. "We only needed one to come through".
"To say I'm unhappy is an understatement". "We had gotten a little loose but they had dialed it in". I know how big this news is going to be tomorrow when they wake up in Japan. I feel gutted for Fernando and Ryan, who were front-runners today and could have easily won the race.
An Andretti driver has now won the 500 three times in the last four years. He's got a lot of experience, very technical.
"I know I can be as quick as anyone in Formula One". He didn't let us down in qualifying, and he definitely didn't let us down in the race.
While Howard appeared to blame Hunter-Reay for the accident, team owner Chip Ganassi wasn't happy with Howard. "The race was trouble free and the yellow flags didn't really break any momentum we had". "We had a great shot".
"At the middle point of the race, we had a pit issue, dropped us back. That was a good one". The guys did a phenomenal job and I drove my heart out.
Harcus also praised the #26 car's race engineer Garrett Mothersead for setting up a vehicle that needed very little adjustment through the race.
"I want to get the fourth, but it was too hard with the power", Castroneves said. "We were confident on Carb Day, with the vehicle, we adjusted there".
