Bourdais fastest but frustrated

The Frenchman lapped the 1.2-mile Indy circuit in 37.044s on the third of his four laps, to secure a bonus point for the fastest time in the session. However, Paul Tracy was start from pole position, by virtue of his 37.022s lap in yesterday's qualifying session.

"My emotions are a bit between satisfaction and frustration," said Bourdais, "because I did my best lap time in the third lap. I was probably going to be quicker in the fourth. I was much, much quicker in turn one.

"It was just too quick. I had to shift up a gear earlier than I had planned, so I had to steer with only one hand, and the wheel just got out of my hands. Maybe I should have been a little bit smarter and sacrificed a bit in turn one and tried to make it up in the rest of the lap. But when you're pushing you don't concentrate that much, you just try to be the quickest everywhere. I was maybe a bit too hungry."

Aside from his spin, Bourdais was still happy with the result of the session. "For sure it's good to be on the front row," he said. "I just expect to drive a regular race tomorrow and not get into any trouble. I think Paul really wants to score points in all the races this year, and I'm not going to challenge my life trying to pass on the first corner."