Drove for the Aguri Suzuki/Adrian Fernandez IRL outfit in 2003, but was surprisingly dropped for 2004. Now retired, after a stop-start career post-2004, and works as a spotter, as a broadcaster and as a racing driver coach, but his main role is as an account director for a sports marketing and publicity firm. All of these roles combined to effectively become a mentor for Alex Palou and he is involved in the 2021 Indycar Champion's management and coaching. Of Japanese descent, Roger, after winning the Californian State karting title in 1991, made the unusual move for an American and raced in karts in Europe. By the time he started racing cars, he was in England, in Formula Vauxhall Junior, before alternating between America (Barber Dodge Pro Series and Toyota Atlantic) and Britain (Formula Palmer Audi). Roger's father, Minoru, worked as an marketing executive for McLaren and Leyton House in Formula 1, which possibly explains the European influence.

Biography last updated 2 Oct 2021