Bourdais Ends Champ Car Career with a Victory
By Jamie Makin November 12 2007
Sebastien Bourdais began his Champ Car career with a pole in St. Petersburg in 2003. He ended it today with an emotional victory in Mexico City. The win was the 31st in 73 starts giving him a staggering win rate of 42.5%. He also remains the only driver in Champ Car history to win the Vanderbilt Cup four times in a row.
Sebastien Bourdais began his Champ Car career with a pole in St. Petersburg in 2003. He ended it today with an emotional victory in Mexico City. The win was the 31st in 73 starts giving him a staggering win rate of 42.5%. He also remains the only driver in Champ Car history to win the Vanderbilt Cup four times in a row.
Choking back tears in the post-race interview, Bourdais recalled his final Champ Car drive. “You know, we tried to do the best we could to stop the pressure from building around us, but there was just no way out. Everybody was really emotional today, and I was, too. I had to leave a couple of times before jumping in the McDonald's car. I couldn't hold it. It was really, really strange just to finally realize that it was going to be the last time.”
Despite a penalty incurred during the morning practice, Bourdais charged from second to take the victory by passing rival Will Power on track. “When I closed the visor it was all business. I knew it wasn't going to be easy because the Push‑to‑Pass and the fact that it increased the importance of it this weekend, it was going to be super hard,” said the four-time champion. “We just had the better car and the team once again just pulled it off. We had a good start and great strategy and great speed, and that's what it's all about."
Despite a tearful farewell to his Newman/Haas/Lanigan team, Bourdais' newest challenge is just around the corner. He will join Scuderia Toro Rosso for the 2008 Formula One season, finally fulfilling his lifelong dream.
Standing in his way is a rumor that Fernando Alonso will join Red Bull in 2008, thus “demoting” veteran David Coulthard to STR and sending Bourdais back to Champ Car for one more season. There seems to be little merit to this rumor, with Renault or Toyota looking to be more likely destinations for the Spaniard.
Even Bourdais is not concerned. “I don't have to comment on speculation, but I'm supposed to be testing for Toro Rosso in Barcelona on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week, so this doesn't seem likely to me. But hey, I'm a driver, we're always the last to know."
This week's test will be the first since the season ended in Brazil a few weeks ago and the team will be eager to build on their strong 2008 season.
Despite a penalty incurred during the morning practice, Bourdais charged from second to take the victory by passing rival Will Power on track. “When I closed the visor it was all business. I knew it wasn't going to be easy because the Push‑to‑Pass and the fact that it increased the importance of it this weekend, it was going to be super hard,” said the four-time champion. “We just had the better car and the team once again just pulled it off. We had a good start and great strategy and great speed, and that's what it's all about."
Despite a tearful farewell to his Newman/Haas/Lanigan team, Bourdais' newest challenge is just around the corner. He will join Scuderia Toro Rosso for the 2008 Formula One season, finally fulfilling his lifelong dream.
Standing in his way is a rumor that Fernando Alonso will join Red Bull in 2008, thus “demoting” veteran David Coulthard to STR and sending Bourdais back to Champ Car for one more season. There seems to be little merit to this rumor, with Renault or Toyota looking to be more likely destinations for the Spaniard.
Even Bourdais is not concerned. “I don't have to comment on speculation, but I'm supposed to be testing for Toro Rosso in Barcelona on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week, so this doesn't seem likely to me. But hey, I'm a driver, we're always the last to know."
This week's test will be the first since the season ended in Brazil a few weeks ago and the team will be eager to build on their strong 2008 season.
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| 12 Nov, 2007 11:48 | Report |
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IRL site Admin |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Indianapolis, USA Posts: 2091 |
Re: Bourdais Ends Champ Car Career with a Victory
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that FA doesn't end up at RBR, but with Renault in the FIA's sights for possible rules violations, I have to wonder if he won't be scared away from there.
Hope that everything works out for SeaBass.
Please visit: Race Fan With a Camera
Hope that everything works out for SeaBass.
Please visit: Race Fan With a Camera
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| 13 Nov, 2007 09:15 | Report |
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| 13 Nov, 2007 13:39 | Report |
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| 14 Nov, 2007 00:27 | Report |
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