The IndyCar way forward for two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato was doubtful Tuesday after Rahal Letterman Lanigan stated the Japanese driver will not return to the workforce subsequent yr.

Sato has raced in IndyCar since 2010 following seven seasons in Components One. The Tokyo native has pushed for Rahal the previous 4 years, successful 4 races, together with the Indy 500 in 2020.

“It has been a good time and so many reminiscences,” Sato stated in a video posted by RLL on twitter.

Sato additionally received the Indy 500 in 2017 driving for Andretti Autosport, his solely season with that workforce.

Sato has six profession victories, however his two Indy 500 wins make him one of many extra fascinating drivers in IndyCar even at 44 years outdated. However sponsorship will play a task in what and the place Sato drives in 2022.

RLL workforce proprietor Bobby Rahal has stated for a number of months that Sato’s future with the workforce was depending on funding. Sato additionally drove for Rahal in 2012.

“It was a privilege and honor to have Takuma with us twice through the years. We recognize the dedication and the vitality he introduced daily to the observe and to every part that we have been doing as a workforce,” Rahal stated in a press release. “I all the time actually loved working with Takuma. His dedication and dedication to not simply his craft, but additionally the workforce was unquestionable.

“I want to assume we are going to all the time stay buddies as a result of we simply loved one another’s firm.”

Sato might attempt to land one other full-time experience — probably with Dale Coyne Racing, which wants to interchange Romain Grosjean after his transfer to Andretti — or focus solely on touchdown a aggressive seat for subsequent yr’s Indy 500.

Sato drove two seasons for Jimmy Vasser when he first moved to the US, and 4 seasons for A.J. Foyt Racing, for which he earned his first profession IndyCar victory in 2013 at Lengthy Seaside.

Sato’s standing in IndyCar was among the many late-season questions as drivers jockeyed for 2022 seats. Rahal is increasing so as to add a 3rd automobile subsequent yr that’s anticipated to go to Jack Harvey, who advised Meyer Shank Racing he was not returning. Harvey has already been changed by Simon Pagenaud.

One other Rahal automobile has not but been introduced, however the workforce tried three totally different drivers over the course of the season and Oliver Askew drove the ultimate three races of the yr. Santino Ferrucci drove the automobile in 5 races, ending with a pair of sixth-place finishes, however advised The Related Press on the Lengthy Seaside season finale final month he is not within the operating for the seat.

Graham Rahal is the anchor of the RLL workforce, which went winless in 2021. He completed seventh within the standings, whereas Sato was eleventh. Solely Graham Rahal scored a podium for the workforce this season.