and always wondered, but how come in all the years that Youtube has existed I have never found an interview with Tora Takagi?
About once every year I find myself searching for one and I always come up short.
I remember back in 1999 reading an F1 Racing mag that mentioned he was taking english lessons
(I still have it somewhere), and ever since then I have wanted to hear him speak.
It remains one of the big secrets in motorsport for me.
I have never seen/found a Formula One interview, a CART interview or an
Indycar interview. Heck, I have never even been able to find a Japanese language interview!
I guess I must suck at using a search box, for now a fellow member will probably throw up a link
and in 15 seconds end my 15-year quest for Takagi's voice?
lol
Edit:
I know for a fact Tora was at least interviewed once on camera.
Back then when he finished 3rd at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2003.
Transcript from the press conference:
Q: We've got a translator translating each of the questions, but Tora, give us your general impression of
racing on a big track like in Texas and your third-place run in the Pioneer Mo Nunn Racing machine.
TORA TAKAGI: I have to avoid the crash. I have to go down. I have to go down. My team did a good job.
MODERATOR: The third-place finish, are you happy with the third-place finish?
TAKAGI: Yeah, I think so.
MODERATOR: Go ahead and hop with questions from the media. Once again wait for a microphone.
Let us know who you are addressing the question to, please.
Q: To Tora. Before the meeting, they made it clear to the drivers not to go below the white line.
Can you just explain more about what happened that led up to the accident and what you feel you
are involved with. Did you go under the white line before you got pushed down at all?
TRANSLATOR: He was already inside within the track, and he was trying to come down because he
was hit by Scott. That's why he was cutting inside of the white line.
Q: So there was actually contact?
TRANSLATOR: Yes. He pushed him off to the right.
Q: How important is having someone spot for you that's comfortable with this racing from before?
TAKAGI: Very good.
This must be on film somewhere.