Bourdais reached 200 IndyCar starts: “Savor every moment”

Sébastien Bourdais took this passage of the 200 starts (Champ Car and IndyCar understood) with a certain detachment. “When you get to that point, you know there’s more behind you than there is in front. It's better to savor every moment that follows, because sooner or later it will be over », he explained. 

The 40-year-old Manceau, author of a nice comeback from 21st place to ninth in Iowa, obviously remembers the four titles in a row in Champ Car, from 2004 to 2007, for the Newman-Haas Racing. “I feel extremely privileged to have benefited from all the opportunities in my career,” continues the Frenchman. »

Sébastien Bourdais had dominated his subject in Champ Car: out of 73 starts, he won 31 races, a success rate of 42,47%! His first trophy was acquired on an exotic round for the American competition, since the paddock was set up at Brands Hatch (Great Britain) on May 5, 2003. 

Returning to the States in 2011 after the truncated adventure with Toro Rosso en Formula 1, Sébastien Bourdais has been fighting ever since with limited means but still the same desire. “Since my partial participations in 2011 and my return full time in 2012, it is not as simple as in Champ Car, he admits. Whatever, It’s a great time, and I still achieved several victories (6). »

Finally, the longevity of the Ford driver in Imsa is also explained by a top physique. “That’s the simplest part. If you have a physical approach, you know when you need to be 100% physically ready in the car. But that should not be a primary factor. It's up to you to be at your best every race. » Sébastien Bourdais is 10th in the general classification after 12 rounds. 

Find it in AUTO issue 2226hebdo, available Monday evening in digital version and Wednesday on newsstands, analysis of IndyCar in Iowa.