5 things you probably didn't know about 2017 Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato

Takuma Sato won the 101st running of the Indy 500 on Sunday after holding off Helio Castroneves in the final laps.

The 40-year-old driver was born in Tokyo, Japan, and became the country's first driver to win the race. This, by the way, was only the second first-place finish of his career. What a place to do it.

Here are five things you probably didn't know about the new victor.

1. Sato initially fueled his racing passion on a bicycle

He was a champion cyclist when he was young. Sato formed a team at his high school in Japan so he could ride for the national track cycling championship.

“Cycling builds your fundamental stamina,” Sato told the OC Register in 2012. “And that really helps you drive these cars.”

Sato did not start racing — cars, that is — until he was 19 years old. He quickly climbed the ranks and made his way into Formula One at the age of 24.

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2. His pass of Fernando Alonso in 2007 earned him 'Overtake of the Year'

In the final laps of the Canadian GP, Sato put the moves on Alonso to bump him to seventh place. F1 Racing Magazine gave him the  'Overtake of the Year' award at the end of the season.

Alonso, of course, didn't finish Sunday's race after his engine blew.

3. He tallied his first IndyCar win in 2013

After switching teams — from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to AJ Foyt Racing — Sato won on the streets of Long Beach in 2013, according to his website. That, too, was a historic day as he became the first Asian driver to win at that level of motor racing.

He came within one corner of making it two wins in a row, only losing the lead at the final turn in Sao Paulo, and led the championship before a disappointing run of mid-season problems.

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4. He has a passion for golf, too

Sato developed a passion for golf after attending several sponsor golf outings. He now has a set of custom clubs.

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5. Sato has started the Indy 500 seven times

This year was by far Sato's best starting position in the 500. He'd previously started only as high as 10th place.

His best finish at IMS was 13th, which he accomplished in both 2013 and '15.