Hiroyuki "Hiro" Matsushita (born March 14, 1961, Kobe, Japan) is a former driver in the Champ Car series. He is the grandson of Konosuke Matsushita, founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. The family relationship has allowed him to receive financial backing from Panasonic throughout his racing career.
In 1994, Phoenix CART race was memorable for a scary incident at Lap 63. Hiro Matsushita, who had spent much time in the pits and was 18 laps down, and twice-lapped Teo Fabi touched in Turn 3. Leader Paul Tracy was caught in the outer groove and was an innocent victim. Over ten seconds had passed before Jacques Villeneuve, in the upper lane and the resulting marbles, T-boned Matsushita, thankfully just behind the cockpit area. Dominic Dobson then struck Villeneuve's car. No drivers sustained injuries, but Matsushita complained about a sore shoulder.
Matsushita earned the nickname "King Hiro" from Emerson Fittipaldi, who was complaining about Hiro's reluctance to cede track position when getting lapped by the leaders. The nickname came about as a result of the voice-activated microphone ("vox") Roger Penske's team was using. Emerson's epithet was said so quickly that the circuit cut off the first syllable of the first word he used. Fittipaldi, allegedly, had intended to say "Fucking Hiro!"
Matsushita started his career racing motorcycles in his home country between 1977 and 1979, before making the switch to four wheels. With Panasonic backing, he then moved to the United States and entered his first Formula Ford race in 1986. He came second at the 24 Hours of Daytona and third at the Sebring 12 Hours in 1988. Matsushita began to make his name known by winning the 1989 Toyota Atlantic championship (Pacific division) with the largest point margin of all time.
In 1994, Phoenix CART race was memorable for a scary incident at Lap 63. Hiro Matsushita, who had spent much time in the pits and was 18 laps down, and twice-lapped Teo Fabi touched in Turn 3. Leader Paul Tracy was caught in the outer groove and was an innocent victim. Over ten seconds had passed before Jacques Villeneuve, in the upper lane and the resulting marbles, T-boned Matsushita, thankfully just behind the cockpit area. Dominic Dobson then struck Villeneuve's car. No drivers sustained injuries, but Matsushita complained about a sore shoulder.
Matsushita earned the nickname "King Hiro" from Emerson Fittipaldi, who was complaining about Hiro's reluctance to cede track position when getting lapped by the leaders. The nickname came about as a result of the voice-activated microphone ("vox") Roger Penske's team was using. Emerson's epithet was said so quickly that the circuit cut off the first syllable of the first word he used. Fittipaldi, allegedly, had intended to say "Fucking Hiro!"
Matsushita started his career racing motorcycles in his home country between 1977 and 1979, before making the switch to four wheels. With Panasonic backing, he then moved to the United States and entered his first Formula Ford race in 1986. He came second at the 24 Hours of Daytona and third at the Sebring 12 Hours in 1988. Matsushita began to make his name known by winning the 1989 Toyota Atlantic championship (Pacific division) with the largest point margin of all time.
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