Takagi to Drive for Toyota in CART in 2001

Former Formula One driver Toranosuke Takagi will be competing in CART next year, he announced today.

Takagi will drive a Toyota powered car in the 22 round series, breaking his ties with the Honda-aligned PIAA Nakajima Racing team. "I'm going to drive a car equipped with Toyota's engine in the series. I hope I will be able to make some good results and hopefully I can return to the Formula One Grand Prix in the near future," said Takagi.

Takagi competed in Formula One in 1998 with Tyrrell and 1999 with Arrows, failing to score a point. Returning to Japan this year, Takagi has dominated Formula Nippon, winning eight out of nine races to secure the title, with one race still remaining in the series.

Takagi's decision to drive for Toyota could prove to be significant, with reports Takagi will test Toyota's Formula One car in 2001 alongside Finn Mika Salo, in preparation for Toyota's Formula One debut in 2002, where it will meet its biggest rival, Honda.