VRR Reporter: Sakura, pole day is done and dusted. You're in the big dance, but you'll be at the back. How are you feeling with that?
Sakura Ishibashi: It isn't the best feeling in the world. We're in, as you said, which is a beautiful thing to really ponder over, but we have a mountain to climb, and on race day, that'll be the daunting part for me.
VRR Reporter: Some news has gathered around you possibly moving to Ecurie Ecosse for a full time ride next year. Can you give us any insight on that?
Sakura Ishibashi: Yeah, talks have kinda started. Audi Sport, my current large time employers at the moment want to see me continue with them in any way they can, and if IndyCar is to become my new home, then they want to remain with me as I switch from Europe to North America.
VRR Reporter: How far along are those talks?
Sakura Ishibashi: Not very as far as the teams go. CDR has known of this since before they signed me that Audi wanted me to remain under their umbrella, but when Audi ran out of engine contracts that they could hand out, CDR and Honda was the only choice, and they did a great job of accepting that. 2017 will be a big new year, and Audi want to prevent that from happening again. At the same time, if this does go through, CDR have to fill that fourth seat, and they currently don't have anyone that they want to make that devoted leap with, so they have to go shopping for a new full time driver. I don't think it's a secret that
Jerome is already slotted into a full time seat next year. I think the secret is what the sponsors will be, so that makes Kuni's job harder because there was no "plan E" or what have you. If this goes through, it will with the security that CDR has found someone they can safely put in the 18 car next year.
VRR Reporter: So your number will be different if you move?
Sakura Ishibashi: Yeah. It gives me a bit of freedom really to decide what number will mark this new chapter in my career.
VRR Reporter: Any ideas on what number you would want to use.
Sakura Ishibashi: Honestly, number 13 sounds appealing to me. I have considered other numbers like 3, 8, and 11, but 13 to me is such a rarely used number, and I want to make that number synonymous with something good.
VRR Reporter: Any ideas on what sponsors you'll have?
Sakura Ishibashi: Kinda, but I'm not allowed to say anything until this whole thing is settled.
VRR Reporter: Focusing back on this year. You have a limited schedule. How do you maximize the amount of time you have to make an impression.
Sakura Ishibashi: I know it won't be easy, but it's straight forward and easy to translate. Win. Go out there and do everything you can to win. Accept nothing less than 110% on the track, and leave nothing left to show when the checkered flag falls. The sponsors cannot get pissed at you if you can show that you did everything you could in that day.
VRR Reporter: That's your key to success?
Sakura Ishibashi: Well, that and try not to be
Angel Porter. It gets pretty difficult being a concubine I hear.
