Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Bourdais: 'I'm Mad at Myself'

Sebastien Bourdais took over the Champ Car points lead, courtesy of his sixth-place finish in Milwaukee, but the Frenchman was far from happy with himself, after throwing away a potential podium with a rookie-like error

From sixth on the grid Bourdais moved stealthily up the order, running fourth throughout the race's second stint.

He ceded one of those places to teammate Oriol Servia after getting wrong-footed behind slower traffic on a lap 139 restart, but emerged from his final pit stop in an effective second place - ahead of AJ Allmendinger, who went on to claim the runner-up trophy.

The Newman-Haas crew's crackerjack work was soon negated, however, as Bourdais was handed a drive-through penalty for exceeding the 50mph speed limit on the way into the pits.

The reigning series Champion had been battling a 'long' brake pedal throughout the race - not a major handicap at racing speeds because Milwaukee's corners require only the mildest braking, but a considerable one when it came to slowing down for pit stops. But he sought no excuses.

"The McDonald's car was better than any I have ever had here before," he said, having finished no higher than ninth on his previous two visits to Milwaukee. "Unfortunately it was all for nothing.

"The brakes were completely absent through the race and I had to pump the pedal coming into the pits, but I forgot on the last stop and crossed the line at 55mph.

"I know better than that and I am mad at myself because we missed a chance at the podium."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Wilson Rues Missed Podium
Next article Servia Stakes his Claim

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe