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SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS FINISHES FIFTH IN HONDA GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA

Posted on by Steve Wittich

SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS FINISHES FIFTH IN HONDA GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA
BOURDAIS BECOMES ONLY DRIVER TO LEAD LAPS IN FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2018 SEASON

Sebastien Bourdais Race Summary:
The two-day adventure that was the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama finally concluded today. The race which started on Sunday was halted and eventually postponed to Monday due to heavy rain. Sebastien Bourdais, who made his eighth start at Barber Motorsports Park, qualified the No. 18 Team SealMaster – Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan machine a career best third on the 2.3-mile, 17-turn permanent road course. With heavy rain and possible lightening forecasted the start was pushed forward 27 minutes in an attempt to get at least one hour of running or 46 laps (half the scheduled distance plus one lap) to make it an “official” race. It was also declared a “wet” start which required all drivers to use the Firestone rain tires. When the green flag dropped to start the race, the rain, which up until then had been light, had significantly increased. After two yellow flags for cars that had spun, a red flag was flown due to the very wet, tricky conditions. After a 37-minute delay, competition was resumed and on the restart Will Power hit a puddle, hydroplaned and Bourdais took advantage of the opportunity to duck under and pass Power for second place. Power spun bringing out another yellow flag, but a couple of laps later a second red flag was shown. After another long delay race officials concluded that weather and track conditions would not improve and postponed the contest approximately 15 minutes or 24 laps short of being an official race. The race was restarted on Monday where it had been stopped on Sunday, working lap 23. The weather was cool and dry, but there was the possibility of rain late in the race. Bourdais restarted in second and held station despite saving fuel. Race leader Josef Newgarden pitted on lap 50 and Bourdais, who stayed out longer than all but Scott Dixon, took over the lead making him the only driver to lead laps in the first four races of the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season. Bourdais pitted five laps later briefly dropping to third, but moved back into second when Dixon finally pitted. By pitting so late, Bourdais had enough fuel to finish the race and Newgarden did not. Light rain began to fall around lap 65 and got harder as the laps, and time, ticked down. Newgarden pitted again and took on fuel and rain tires, giving Bourdais back the lead on lap 72 of the 90 lap contest. With plenty of fuel the only thing that could stop him from winning the race was the rain…and it did. The team made the decision to stay out and not take on rain tires in the hope that the weather would improve, but it was not to be. Bourdais pitted on lap 76 for wet tires. The stop was good, but with the wet conditions the pace of the race had slowed and he lost four positions on the stop dropping to fifth where he finished.

 

Qualified:                                                 3rd

Finished:                                                 5th  


Sebastien Bourdais Race Quote:

“It was just a tough day for the SealMaster Honda No. 18 team. It was looking perfect. We executed the plan to perfection. I started on scuffed Firestone red (alternate) tires, so we had a lot of tire degradation, but were still able save more fuel that almost everyone. Josef (Newgarden) went for the push and it looked like we were still going to beat him because he pitted the second time and we got ahead. I had enough fuel to finish, but unfortunately, Mother Nature decided to open the skies and there wasn’t anything we could do about that. We tried to stay out and it bit us. On top of that, when we put on the wet tires, I don’t know what happened but the car was diabolical. I couldn’t do anything. I barely kept Scott (Dixon) behind me. I gave it my best shot, the guys did a good job, but it wasn’t enough. Everyone is executing perfectly. Unfortunately, you can’t predict what the weather is going to do, so you have to make a call one way or the other and we were on the wrong side of the fence today. The good news is we finished fifth and keep putting ourselves in position. Our pace is good and we’re in the championship mix.”

 

Fast Facts:

  • Bourdais is now tied for fourth in the championship standings with 118 points on the strength of a victory at St. Petersburg, the fifth place finish today at Barber and a pair of 13th place showings at Phoenix and Long Beach.
  • Bourdais led nine laps in the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama. He is the only driver to have led laps in the first four races of the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season.
  • His total of 103 laps led this year is fourth behind Robert Wickens, 113 and Josef Newgarden 106
  • Today’s fifth place finish is Bourdais best in eight starts at Barber. He has now finished in the top-10 four times (eighth in 2015 and 2017. Ninth in 2012). He has qualified in the top-10 three times with a best qualifying position of third (2018).
  • Bourdais is contesting his 13th Verizon IndyCar Series season, third with Dale Coyne Racing and first with Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser-Sullivan.
  • The 2018 Honda Grand Prix of Alabama was Bourdais’ 175th Verizon IndyCar Series start and eighth at Barber Motorsports Park.
  • In 175 career IndyCar starts, Bourdais has won 37 races (sixth all-time) and captured 34 pole positions (seventh all-time).
  • Bourdais is the only driver to win four consecutive IndyCar championships (2004 – 2007).
  • Bourdais, 39, is a native of Le Mans, France but resides in St. Petersburg, Florida.

 

Next Race:
Round 5 of the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season will be the IndyCar Grand Prix, May 11-12, on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, IN. The race will be broadcast live on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET.  It is also available on radio: XM 209 and IMS IndyCar Radio as well as online: IndyCar.com and Verizon IndyCar 15 app.