Taki Inoue

Taki Inoue
Born (1963-09-05) 5 September 1963
Kobe. Hyōgo
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality Japan Japanese
Active years 1994–1995
Teams Simtek, Footwork
Entries 18
Championships 0
Wins 0
Podiums 0
Career points 0
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
First entry 1994 Japanese Grand Prix
Last entry 1995 Australian Grand Prix

Takachiho "Taki" Inoue (井上 隆智穂 Inoue Takachiho,[1] born 5 September 1963) is a Japanese racing driver.

Biography

Inoue was born in Kobe. He competed in the British Formula Ford Championship in 1988, followed by a spell in All-Japan Formula Three from 1989 to 1993 and a season in the International Formula 3000 championship in 1994.

Formula One

Inoue's damaged car is towed back to the pits after his bizarre practice accident at the 1995 Monaco Grand Prix.

He participated in 18 Formula One Grand Prix races, making his first appearance on 6 November 1994 at the Japanese Grand Prix for Simtek. He scored no championship points, was considered a pay driver, and is perhaps best remembered for two bizarre incidents while driving for Footwork in 1995. The first occurred after a practice session at Monaco, when his stalled car was being towed back to the pits when it was hit by a course car, driven by Jean Ragnotti, causing it to roll into the barriers, although Inoue was fit to race the next day. The second happened in Hungary on live TV worldwide – attempting to assist the marshals in putting out the engine fire which had forced him out of the race, a vehicle driven to the scene by a marshal hit him, injuring his leg, although he recovered for the next race.[2]

Inoue driving for Footwork at the 1995 British Grand Prix.

For most of the season his team-mate was Gianni Morbidelli, but late in the season Max Papis replaced Morbidelli, and was sometimes outpaced by Inoue.

Entering the 1996 season, Inoue lobbied Tyrrell for a drive, but the team chose Ukyo Katayama with his Mild Seven sponsorship money from Japan Tobacco.[3] Instead, he was announced in January to drive for the Minardi team.[1] However, one of his personal sponsors pulled out at the last minute and Inoue withdrew from F1. Minardi took on Giancarlo Fisichella instead.[4] Fisichella, the team's test driver in 1995, had backing from Marlboro Italy.[5]

With his sponsorship reduced, Inoue was out of a drive in Formula One. After a brief switch to sportscars, he retired from racing at the end of 1999 and now manages drivers in his own country.

Racing record

Complete International Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DC Points
1994 Super Nova Racing SIL
15		 PAU
Ret		 CAT
13		 PER
13		 HOC
12		 SPA
14		 EST
9		 MAG
Ret		 NC 0

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Points
1994 MTV Simtek Ford Simtek S941 Ford V8 BRA PAC SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR EUR JPN
Ret		 AUS NC 0
1995 Footwork Hart Footwork FA16 Hart V8 BRA
Ret		 ARG
Ret		 SMR
Ret		 ESP
Ret		 MON
Ret		 CAN
9		 FRA
Ret		 GBR
Ret		 GER
Ret		 HUN
Ret		 BEL
12		 ITA
8		 POR
15		 EUR
Ret		 PAC
Ret		 JPN
12		 AUS
Ret		 NC 0

References

  1. 1 2 Grand Prix.com - Inoue joins Minardi http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00478.html
  2. ↑ "Taki Inoue - Biography". F1 Rejects. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  3. ↑ Grand Prix.com, Katayama at Tyrrell again - http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00507.html
  4. ↑ "F1 News > Minardi to get Fisichella?".
  5. ↑ Grand Prix.com, Five drivers bidding for Minardi - http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00435.html
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