Saturday, October 20, 2007 Lexmark Indy 300 – Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia Round 13 of 14 in the Champ Car World Series 2007 Season
McDONALD’S ® DRIVER BOURDAIS QUALIFIED FOURTH FOR THE LEXMARK INDY 300; MEDI | ZONE DRIVER RAHAL NINTH
1st: Will Power 1:30.054 / 111.733 mph
4th: Sebastien Bourdais 1:30.438 / 111.259 mph (3rd fast in session)
9th: Graham Rahal 1:31.347 / 110.151 mph
Sebastien Bourdais, No. 1 McDonald’s Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone: “The guys did a really good job fixing the McDonald’s car and we have a good balance but unfortunately we have a problem with traction that we haven’t quite figured out. We’ve never had the problem before so I am pretty happy that I could put in that last lap because it would have been pretty bad otherwise. It’s tough out there; we had the crash yesterday and had to build the confidence back up without taking stupid chances and making another sleepless night for the guys which is very easy around here. I’m trying to have some fun but it’s been a little difficult this weekend. We only won once here but we started from the front row every time before now so it looks like its pretty irrelevant so we’ll try something new. We’ll give it our best shot. The car balance is pretty good, we worked really hard on it for two days and we’re nearly where we wanted to be. We’ve just got to fix the traction issue and once we do that we’ll be in pretty good shape. After that, its one of those races where everything can happen so we’ll keep on plugging away. Our performance is not related to Justin from here on out, it’s just related to finishing. I’m pretty relaxed (about the title). Obviously all we want to do is make sure we don’t get into something bad. We’ll just work hard at trying to win the race.”
FAST FACTS: Leads the point standings by 58 points over Wilson (301-243)…Will be his fifth race here. Clinched his third consecutive title here last year with an 8th place finish after starting 2nd but the euphoria was lessened by contact on Lap 28/58 while attempting to pass second place Will Power. Power would have reclaimed the lead two laps later when temporary leader Zwolsman pit, but he ultimately retired from the race after contact with both Paul Tracy (pits) and Bourdais, who dropped to 10th. In 2005, he could have clinched his second consecutive series title by finishing last (19th) here but earned it with a win from 2nd place after he led 38 of 57 laps. Stayed on track one lap longer than then-leader Tracy for his first pit stop to take the race lead and held it until the checkered flag. In 2004, he could have clinched title here but his teammate Junqueira won the race to prolong the battle. Was the provisional polesitter which allowed him to increase his lead to 28 points over second. Set the third fastest time in final qualifying but started second based on his prov. pole. Junqueira was able to gain a position on him after his second stop and he ultimately finished second and lost ground in the points lead (335-313)…Started on pole in 2003 but finished 17th. He and Paul Tracy made contact early in the race but he held second place until he lost control of his race car and crashed when rain began to fall, followed by hail and a temporary halt to the event. …He has the rare opportunity to win four consecutive championships this year if he can again capture the Vanderbilt Cup, which would extend his run that began in 2004. Bourdais would be making history as no Champ Car driver has ever won four straight championships. Four in a row is very rare in professional sports in fact it has never been done in either NASCAR or NFL and it hasn’t been accomplished in the last twenty years in the NBA, NHL or MLB.
Graham Rahal, No. 2 Medi | Zone Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone: “Qualifying was okay for the Medi | Zone team. It’s nice to be in the top-10 but at the same time it still eats away at me that I know absolutely that we should be in the top-five every single weekend. For some reason we can’t seem to get up there. This time it’s just disappointing because I messed up in Turn 12. It’s a tricky corner and I locked up the right front then the car didn’t want to turn. That ended up being my fastest lap but I know there was a couple more tenths in it. It’s just disappointing. The track is not too physical but the heat is tough. Over an hour and forty five minute will be difficult for some of these guys but I think we should be okay. I feel good although I have had a little cold. I feel okay in the car, I just need to stay hydrated.”
FAST FACTS: Will be his first Champ Car race in Australia...Finished runner-up to the champion in the Atlantic standings in 2006 after the fight went to the Road America finale and he retired in 20th due to an electrical failure after starting third. Also competed in two Formula BMW events here in 2004 and once in Start Mazda in 2005…Finished second in the Champ Car Atlantic championship after a title hunt that concluded in the season finale. Led 129 laps to champion Pagenaud’s 31. He earned a series-high five wins (42 percent), four poles (33 percent) and six podium finishes (50 percent) in the 12 events and at 17 years old was the youngest race winner in series history (Monterrey, Mexico on 5-21-06).
In their previous 16 years of racing here, NHR has earned FIVE WINS (Bourdais 2005, Junqueira 2004, Da Matta 2001, Tracy 1995, Mansell 1993), SEVEN POLES (Servia 2005, Bourdais 2003, Da Matta 2002, Mi. Andretti 1995 & 1991, Mansell 1993-1994) and NINE PODIUM finishes (2nd – Bourdais 2004; 3rd - Fittipaldi 1998, Mi. Andretti 1997, Ma. Andretti 1994). NHLR hopes to add to these numbers.
The morning warmup will take place from 9:00-9:30 AM local time while the Lexmark Indy 300 will begin at 1:30 PM. The race will be televised in the US on ESPN Classic at 11:30 PM ET.
