今はアラバマにいます。

皆さん今日は。日本での滞在もあっと言う間に終わってしまい、今はアラバマ州にあるバーバーモータースポーツパークに来ています。今年はUS Racingのウェブサイトの仕事でIRLのレースを全戦回る事になったので、早速オープンテストにも来ています。現場にいる事によって、チームオーナーとの交渉もできますし、生の情報が入って来るので個人的には助かっています。

My trip to Japan went by real fast and I am back in US now. Actually...I am in Alabama as we speaking watching the IRL Open Test at Barber Motorsports Park. I am going to work with US Racing through out the season attending all the races which helps me to be at the track in order to talk to the team owners to get all the recent information as well as negotiation for the future races.

アラバマ州は異常気象で、今朝の温度はマイナス４℃・・・。日本より寒いので驚きです。

It is freezing cold here in Alabama. The temp was about 27 this morning...that is colder than when it was snowing in Tokyo last week!?!

今回のテストでは琢磨選手が初の合同テストに参加。ヒデキは移籍先のニューマンハースでのテストが開始します。今日はテスト２日目でまだ数時間残っていますが、琢磨は３位。ヒデキは５位につけていて、両日本人選手が活躍しています！

The test is going real well for both Japanese drivers. It is the first big test for Takuma and for Hideki with Newman Haas team. Although there is some time left in the session, Takuma is currently placed 3rd and Hideki is 5th.

インディカーシリーズは今年は日本でも盛り上がりそうですね！自分も何とか５００とモテギには参戦できるように頑張ります！応援して下さいね！！

Looks like these two drivers will raise the awareness of Indy Car Series in Japan this year by performing well which also helps me obtain sponsors. Never the less...whatching car is painful and hope I can get something lined up for the 500 and Motegi realX2 soon!!

滞在もあとちょっと

今週末はなんだか春を感じさせる天気でしたね。ちょっとだけ暖かくなってきて、ホッとしています。とは言っても、日本滞在もあと２日ですが・・・。今回はちょっと長めの滞在ですがあっと言う間に時間が経ってしまいました。

It was a pretty nice week end here in Japan. Definitely seems as if the Spring is approaching and I am relieved to see that since I don't like cold weather. Having said that, I am only here for another two days...and looking forward to heading home since it was a pretty lengthy stay.

先週は挨拶回りでかなり、ドタバタしていました。そして、金曜日に久しぶりに紅月に行ってきました。いや〜久しぶりに食べれてメチャ美味しかったです。しかも、裏メニューで頂いたサバの干物が絶品でした！

Last week was pretty busy visiting my sponsors. I finally had time on Friday to visit my favorite restaurant Kougetsu in Tokyo. The meal was astonishing especially the Dried Mackeral!!

土曜はお世話になっている富士見ラジエターへご挨拶。デイトナの報告と、今期のレース活動の予定をお伝えしに行ってきました。毎年１戦〜２戦しか参戦していないにも関わらず、僕をずっと支援し続けてくれているスポンサーの皆さんには、心から感謝です！もちろん、ファンの皆さんにも感謝しています！だからこそ、早く今年のインディ５００とインディジャパンの話も何とか決めたい所です。

On Saturday, I visited Fujimi Radiator, who is one of my personal sponsor to report what happened at Daytona and also to talk about my future plans. I have to thank all my supporters on being so kind to me even if I only race once or twice a year. I also appreciate the support from my fans as well!! Therefore, I better work really hard on getting a sponsorship deal lined up to race at the 500 or Indy Japan again this season!

明後日にロスに戻り、一泊だけして翌朝アラバマ州に飛んでバーバーで行われるテスとをレポートしに行きます！琢磨選手がどんな走りをするかが楽しみですね！

Well, I'm here for another two days, and back to LA for a day...and off to Alabama to watch the open test at Barber Motorsports Park. It will be interesting to see ho well Takuma Sato would do during the first test with all other drivers.

日本は寒いですね。

日本は寒いですね〜。カリフォルニア育ちの僕としては、寒さに弱いです・・・。と言うか、冬服あまりもっていません・・・。（泣）

Wow...it's freezing out here in Tokyo. Being a Californian... It's hard to handle this cold temperature. I also have to get more winter clothing to keep me warm...lol

日本では連日大忙しです。着いてすぐに鈴鹿に行き、フェデラルタイヤのテストを行いました。初めて鈴鹿のフルコースを走ったのですが、めちゃめちゃ面白いですね。天気は残念ながら雨でしたが。今度はぜひドライで走ってみたいです。

I have been real busy during the stay here. During the first couple of days, I went to Suzuka to test some tires for Federal Tire Company. It was the first time I ever drove at the Suzuka Circuit and that track is wicked! Unfortunately it was raining so I wasn't able to run at full speed but would love to have another try in the future when it's dry.

東京に戻ってきてからは、スポンサーへのご挨拶や、今年のインディジャパンと５００の営業活動でドタバタしています。今が修羅場ですからね！

Since when I got back from Tokyo, I have been busy visiting the sponsors as well as trying to put things together for the Indy 500 and Indy Japan race this year. This is the most crucial time because we are approaching the decision time for most companies who may be interested.

さて、昨日インディカーシリーズにとっては、ビッグなニュースがありましたね。なんと琢磨選手がKVレーシングからフル参戦する事になりました！どんな走りをするか、楽しみですね。

You all probably know already but there was a huge news yesterday here in Japan for the motorsports enthusiasts. Takuma Sato has announced that he will be driving for KV racing. It will be interesting to see how well he is going to run. I'm sure he will be strong on road coarses.

ちなみに、僕も全戦レースに行く事になりました（フル参戦？！？）。残念ながらドライバーとしてではなく、メディアとしての立場ですが・・・。しかしながら、引き続きインディ５００とインディジャパン参戦へ向けての活動は続けておりますので、応援宜しくお願い致します！

BTW. I will be attending all the Indy Car races this year. Unfortunately not as a driver...but will be there as a media. At the same time, I'm still trying to get things worked out for the Indy Japan and Indy 500 so that will be a wicked busy week end for me, talking, writing, and racing!lol... But as I said, it's good to be busy!!

これから日本です。

これから久しぶりに日本に戻ります。日本はめちゃんこ寒いみたいなので、ちょっとブルーですが・・・。今回はデイトナ２４時間のお礼はインディー参戦の為の活動等で大忙しになりそうです。

Getting ready to fly back to Japan this afternoon. Apparently it is freezing out there so I am not looking forward to that. I am going back there to thank the guys for all the support for the Daytona 24hr race as well as work on some prospects deal to run more Indy Car races this year.

着いたら翌日は、鈴鹿にメディアの仕事で行ってきます。冬場の日本行きのフライトは向かい風だから長いんですよね〜・・・。ん〜面白い映画がやってるといいけど。では、行ってきます！

When I land, I will need to head to Suzuka to do some media work for couple of days...it will probably be another busy trip. Well, the flights are long during the winter since we are going against the jet stream so I'll be able to watch quite a few movies. Hopefully something good is on to see!

ロスに戻ってきました。

デイトナ２４時間のレースも終わり、ロスに戻ってきました。既に結果はご存知だと思われますが、デイトナ２４時間レースは色々とあって、決勝に進出する事はできませんでした。レースに参戦するのは楽しみだったので、本当に残念です。

Just got back from Daytona. I'm sure most of you are aware of the results from the Daytona 24hr race but my race never even started. I was very upset about not being able to make the race since I was really looking forward to it.

今回フェラーリ４３０チャレンジでレースに参戦する事になったのですが、フェラーリのマシンがデイトナ２４時間のGTクラスに参戦するには、ルール上に適合する為に色々と改造をしなくてはいけません。どちらかと言うと、クルマをダウングレードする感じです。

We were due to race the Ferrari 430 Challenge car and to comply with the Grand Am GT rules, the team had to make several modification to the car in order to be eligible. More or less, it was about downgrading the car to level the playing field for all the manufactures that are involved in that series.

が、もはやそれが原因で今回は色んな改造パーツにトラブルに見舞われてしまいました。チームとしては、一生懸命頑張っていましたが、実際に走行テストをした上でレースに挑まないと危ないと、チームは判断したので今回はレースを棄権する事になってしまいました。

However, those modification that the team needed to do have created a huge complication and issue on the car when we hit the track. Unfortunately we needed to withdraw from the race since there was not a immediate solution to fix the car in time for the race.I would say it was the right decision from the team to keep the safety of the drivers and vehicle.

本当に泣きたくなるくらい、残念でした・・・。ま〜人生は経験ですね〜。今回の経験は来年のデイトナに活かせるように、またリベンジしにくるぞっ！！

Having said that, I was real gutted when I learnt that we we were not going to race. I suppose you live and learn but this was one of the toughest decision that the team had to make and hopefully we will come back much stronger for next year's race.

チームに支援をしてくれたスポンサーや、結果を楽しみにしていたファンの皆様には決勝に参戦できなくて本当に申し訳ないと思っています。今は次のレースに向けて、また色々と交渉活動を再開しています！ネバーギブアップ精神で今後も頑張りますので引き続き応援して下さい！！

I felt real bad for the team's sponsor and all my fans who were looking forward to the race results since we let all of you down. Nevertheless, I am already working on possibility to participate in the future race, whether in Indy Car or Sports Cars and hope to have something put together real soon. I'm not going to give up! That's for sure!!