Shinji Nakano

Former F1 driver
Name = Shinji Nakano
Nationality = flagicon|Japan Japanese
Years = F1|1997-F1|1998
Team(s) = Prost, Minardi
Races = 33
Championships = 0 | Wins = 0
Podiums = 0
Poles = 0
Fastest laps = 0
Points = 2
First race = 1997 Australian Grand Prix
First win =
Last win =
Last race = 1998 Japanese Grand Prix

:"Not to be confused with Japanese Moto GP rider Shinya Nakano.

Shinji Nakano (中野 信治, born April 1, 1971cite web |url=http://www.oldracingcars.com/bydriver/watn.asp?letter=N |title= The World Championship drivers - Where are they now? |accessdate=2007-07-29 |last=Jenkins |first=Richard |publisher=OldRacingCars.com] ) is a racing driver from Japan.

Pre Formula One Career

Formula One Career

Nakano made his debut at the 1997 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne for the Prost Grand Prix team, owned by legendary four times Formula One World Champion Alain Prost. The F1|1997 season saw him score two world championship points with a pair of 6th places.

With his place at Prost heavily reliant on their engine partners Mugen-Honda it came as no surprise when a switch to Peugeot power saw the French outfit drop Nakano in favour of the young Jarno Trulli and the fit again Olivier Panis. However Nakano was able to pick up a ride at perennial backmarkers Minardi for the F1|1998 season.

Unsurprisingly, Nakano struggled in the under-powered, under-financed Italian team. He failed to score any points in 1998 and bowed out of F1 racing for good at his home Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan, having contested a total of 33 Grands Prix. He spent F1|1999 as an occasional test driver for the Jordan team, which also used Mugen-Honda engines. [cite web |url=http://www.crash.net/gpa/driver~driver_id~11936.htm |title=Shinji Nakano |accessdate=2008-06-05 |publisher=crash.net ]

After Formula One

After F1 Nakano went to race in Champ Car for Walker Racing and Fernandez Racing. He made 56 starts from 2000 to 2002 with a best points finish of 17th in 2002 and a best race result of 4th at the 2002 Molson Indy Toronto. He also started 15th in the 2003 Indianapolis 500 for Beck Motorsports, finishing 14th. He competed in the 2006 and 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans races.

Complete Formula One results

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References