Bourdais Concerned about Heat

The twisty Fundidora Park track sees one of the highest cockpit work rates of the year and its relatively slow nature (with an average speed only just nudging 100mph) and dearth of straights means that there is also little air circulation.

"The heat was a factor in qualifying and with the predicted temperatures being higher for Sunday, I expect it's going to be worse in the race," commented Bourdais. "It is a low-speed track so you don't get much air in the car. That might be the toughest part of the weekend."

Whatever discomfort it may have caused him, the heat didn't seem to impede Bourdais' prodigious speed and he was in a class of his own during both practice and qualifying.

"This is a good start for the McDonald's team," he said after securing provisional pole and reserving a place on the front row of the starting grid. "Everybody is working hard and it pays off. Obviously my car has been strong at this track [in the past] and I'm glad it continued today. We have been consistent at the venues we have experience on and that is a huge help."

Newman/Haas teammate Bruno Junqueira, accustomed to playing the bridesmaid's role to Bourdais throughout most of last year, wasn't too unhappy to qualify three tenths of a second behind him in second place.

"I knew the PacifiCare car would be good straight away," said the Brazilian. "I was pushing really hard in qualifying and running good laps. On the last corner of the last lap I braked too late and hit the kerb and lost a couple of tenths. Maybe I could have been closer to Sebastien's time or a little ahead, but I will work to improve tomorrow."

"Sebastien is very strong on this track," added Junqueira. "[But] I came here with the mindset that I can do as well as Sebastien - not just here, but everywhere."