Kakunoshin “Kaku” Ohta was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May to see countryman Takuma Sato lead 51 laps in this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. That made Japan’s latest rising star even further motivated to earn a spot in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

“One day I really want to become an INDYCAR driver,” he said.

Ohta took a strong first step toward that goal Oct. 1, testing with Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Ohta isn’t ready to predict when he will earn an opportunity in this series, but at least he now knows what driving the car feels like.

And it’s a lot, he said with a smile.

“I heard this car is so physical, especially with the steering wheel, it is really heavy,” he said. “I’ve been preparing for this … and I’m happy to say that my body is still walking at the end of the day. So, I’m happy with that.”

Kakunoshin Ohta

Ohta (photo, above), 26, is considered one of Japan’s best drivers, and it has been his desire in recent years to compare his talent up against some of the best in the world. This is his first season of racing in the U.S., and he made his North American racing debut with MSR in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, one of three endurance sports car races with the team.

Ohta also competed in the six-hour races at Watkins Glen International and Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the No. 93 Acura ARX-06 alongside Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly. For additional experience, he competed with Indianapolis-based Era Motorsports in LMP2 at Sebring International Raceway and Road America.

Two-thirds of the way through this year’s Japanese Super Formula Championship, Ohta stands third in the standings with three race wins. The series has proven to be worthy preparation for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. That’s where Alex Palou raced before getting an opportunity with Dale Coyne Racing in 2020, and Palou has gone on to win 19 races and four series championships with Chip Ganassi Racing, including the past three season titles consecutively. Like Sato, Palou is also a “500” winner.

Ohta was among five drivers at the Mid-Ohio test, which included 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone champion Dennis Hauger (Dale Coyne Racing), Caio Collet (A.J. Foyt Enterprises), Niels Koolen (Chip Ganassi Racing) and Felipe Nasr (Team Penske). Of the group, Ohta was the only driver with no prior experience on the 13-turn, 2.258-mile road course. Collet and Hauger won the last two INDY NXT by Firestone races held there. Koolen competed against both in July, while Nasr raced previously there in sports cars.

"My first INDYCAR test was not only about learning the car but also about understanding the track, the tires and the setups, which made it an incredibly valuable experience,” Ohta said. “I'm truly grateful to Mike (Shank) and Meyer Shank Racing for giving me this amazing opportunity. It was a challenging day, but I'm very satisfied with many aspects and confident that I can do even better the next time I get behind the wheel.”

Ohta said there are “a lot of steps I have to clear (before that happens), and I just need to focus on what I’m doing now.”

While a 2026 seat at MSR might not be available with Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Armstrong under contract, Ohta’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES aspirations remain strong, especially with Honda’s backing. A full-time opportunity in 2027 could be realistic if a seat opens and Honda chooses to place him there.

“It would be fantastic to compete in this series in the future, and I truly hope it will become a reality,” Ohta said. “INDYCAR is one of my biggest dreams in my whole racing career. In the future one day, I really want to become an INDYCAR driver.”

David Salters, president of Honda Racing Corporation USA, expressed strong confidence in Ohta’s future.

"We have been really impressed with the performance Kaku has shown with HRC and the Acura Meyer Shank Racing team this year and the way he has integrated seamlessly into the team and raced pinnacle prototype sportscars,” Salters said. “I'm delighted for him to have this opportunity to test the Indy car with Mike Shank and Jim Meyer.

“Kaku is very disciplined, has great racecraft, and, of course, is incredibly fast. We've known that since he was part of the Honda Formula Dream Project, and it has only been proven time and time (and time) again. He's been very impressive in Super Formula this year and in the ARX-06 and I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next."

Kakunoshin Ohta