ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Four-time IndyCar champion Sebastien Bourdais is returning and IndyCar and to St. Petersburg for the season-opening St. Petersburg Grand Prix this Sunday.
The four-time champion will drive the #19 Boy Scouts of America-sponsored Dallara Honda for Dale Coyne Racing
“I’m excited to join Dale Coyne Racing and to be in an IndyCar again,” Bourdais told the Dale Coyne website. “Together Dale and I are dedicated to our goals as we move forward.”
Bourdais, a native of France, lived in St. Pete from 2003–2007, during which time he raced in the Champ Car World Series, which in 2008 was absorbed by IndyCar.
While driving for the Newman-Haas Champ Car team, Bourdais won four championships, 2004–2007, and 31 races.
Despite his successes in Champ Car, he has never won St. Pete. Bourdais finished 11th his first race here, in 2003, and the race was off the schedule after that until 2008.
The four-time champion will drive the #19 Boy Scouts of America-sponsored Dallara Honda for Dale Coyne Racing
“I’m excited to join Dale Coyne Racing and to be in an IndyCar again,” Bourdais told the Dale Coyne website. “Together Dale and I are dedicated to our goals as we move forward.”
Bourdais, a native of France, lived in St. Pete from 2003–2007, during which time he raced in the Champ Car World Series, which in 2008 was absorbed by IndyCar.
While driving for the Newman-Haas Champ Car team, Bourdais won four championships, 2004–2007, and 31 races.
Despite his successes in Champ Car, he has never won St. Pete. Bourdais finished 11th his first race here, in 2003, and the race was off the schedule after that until 2008.
Bourdais went on to race in Formula One and at Le Mans for the next few years. His time with F1’s Toro Rosso team was not productive; his best finishes were a pair of 7ths and a pair of 8ths in a season-and-a-half.
Bourdais had considerably more success in sports cars. He drove in the Le Mans 24 Hours for the Peugeot factory team, finishing second twice, in 2007 and 2008.
For 2011, Bourdais returns to IndyCar, the scene of his greatest triumphs, and to St. Pete, his former home.
“My hometown is Le Mans (France), and to win there is very important to me,” Bourdais told Indycar.com. “But winning here in the States is equally as important, and I want to thank Dale for the impressive effort he is putting forth in what is a very competitive series.”
The 2011 IndyCar St. Petersburg Grand Prix starts at 12:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 28. Tickets are available through the St. Pete GP website.
The race will be televised on ABC.
Bourdais had considerably more success in sports cars. He drove in the Le Mans 24 Hours for the Peugeot factory team, finishing second twice, in 2007 and 2008.
For 2011, Bourdais returns to IndyCar, the scene of his greatest triumphs, and to St. Pete, his former home.
“My hometown is Le Mans (France), and to win there is very important to me,” Bourdais told Indycar.com. “But winning here in the States is equally as important, and I want to thank Dale for the impressive effort he is putting forth in what is a very competitive series.”
The 2011 IndyCar St. Petersburg Grand Prix starts at 12:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 28. Tickets are available through the St. Pete GP website.
The race will be televised on ABC.
