Honda Car Forum

During Honda's successful 14-year run in American open-wheel racing, the
company has given several Japanese drivers an
opportunity to shine. And, while there have been some
highlights, a real star has yet to emerge.

But that could be changing.

Because Hideki Mutoh looks like the real deal.

This 25-year-old native of Tokyo got everyone's
attention last season by winning a pair of Indy
Lights Series races (one on the road course at
Indianapolis and one on the oval at
Kentucky) while finishing second in the
championship standings of the Indy
Racing League's ladder series.

Then, in the 2007 IRL season finale at
Chicagoland, Mutoh made a dazzling
debut - running among the leaders,
setting the fastest lap of the race and
finishing eighth.

"That showed me a lot about Hideki, to be that
quick and that aggressive in his first start," praised
Michael Andretti, co-owner of the IndyCar
Mutoh drives for Andretti Green Racing. "I
think he's got huge potential."

Mutoh's reward was taking Dario Franchitti's
seat next to Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti
and Danica Patrick in the 2008 AGR driver
lineup. He has responded with an
outstanding rookie season to date,
highlighted by a runner-up finish at Iowa in
late June.

As of this writing, Mutoh stood sixth in the
IndyCar drivers' championship and was
leading a robust field of a dozen drivers in the
chase for the Bombardier Learjet Rookie of the Year award.

"Mario Andretti is one of my racing heroes, along with Aguri Suzuki and
Satoru Nakajima, and driving for AGR and Michael is more than I could have
ever expected," Mutoh says.

"All of my teammates have been very helpful and given me lots of good
advice. It's a great team."

A late starter by American standards, Hideki didn't begin racing go-karts
until he was 12. He quickly moved through Honda's "Formula Dream"
driver
development program. He ran Formula Vauxhall and Formula Fords in
Europe before heading back to Asia for competition in Formula 2000 and
Formula Dream, where he captured the title in 2003.

From there, the natural progression would have seemed to follow the path
of Suzuki and Nakajima into Formula One, but Mutoh wanted a career in
Indy Cars.

"Obviously, IndyCar is the top open-wheel category in the United States,
and I wanted to race in the top category," he said. "I like ovals
and road
courses, because each have their own difficulty and attractive points.

"I love racing the Indy Cars. I know that."

Asked how a road racer adapted to quickly to turning left, Mutoh replied:

"I really don't know what the key is, but the Panther Team [for whom
Mutoh drove in Chicago last season] prepared a great car for me. The
car was great, and that race in Chicago [where he set fastest race lap
and finished 8th] was the turning point.

"It made me realize how much I wanted to be in the IndyCar Series and how exciting
it is."

HIDEKI MUTOH AT A GLANCE:

Nationality: Japanese

Date of Birth: October 6, 1982 (age 25)

Place of Birth: Tokyo

2008 INDYCAR SERIES

Debut season: 2007

Current team: Andretti Green Racing

Car No.: 27

Former teams: Super Aguri Panther

Racing

Starts: 13 (through July)

Wins: 0

Poles: 0

Best finish: 2nd at Iowa

PREVIOUS SERIES

1998-1999: European Formula Vauxhall

2000-2001: British Formula Ford

2002-2003: Japanese Formula Dream

2004-2005: Japanese Formula Three

2006: Japanese Formula Nippon

2006: Japanese Super GT

2007: Indy Racing League Indy Pro Series

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2001: 3rd, UK Formula Ford Festival

2002: 2nd Japanese Formula Dream

2003: Formula Dream Champion

2005: 3rd Japanese Formula Three

2007: 2nd Indy Pro Series