Sato soaking up post-Indy accolades

LOS ANGELES, California: Takuma Sato says a little sleep deprivation is a small price to pay for the thrill of becoming Japan’s first winner of the Indianapolis 500.

The one-time Formula One misfit etched his name in history on Sunday, when he passed Helio Castroneves with five laps to go and held off the three-time winner to capture America’s fabled race.

“It’s been crazy,” he said of his life since then as he visited the Dallas Cowboys at the NFL team’s practice facility on Wednesday.

His appearance in Texas followed a whirlwind trip to New York, where he took in the Empire State Building, Wall Street and Times Square on Tuesday.

“My life has changed the last 72 hours,” Sato said. “I’ve gotten only three hours of sleep every single night.

“It’s been an absolute privilege to go through all the media tour and meet people. It’s just a great experience.”

Sato met with Cowboys players and coaches on Wednesday, as well as chatting with reporters.

“This is my first time to visit an NFL team in practice, so it’s just exciting and incomparable,” he said.