A four-time IndyCar Champion and former winner at Long Beach, Sebastien Bourdais was hired by AJ Foyt Racing to help get that team further up the grid for the 2021 season. Although he struggled in qualifying (listen why) and got hit on the first lap of the race to knock him down to dead last (28^th), he recovered to finish in the top ten (8^th)! This interview took place just after the morning warm-up where Bourdais was not feeling confident, but was hopeful, going into the race.

Sebastien Bourdais waves to the fans before the start of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Could this be his last NTT IndyCar Series race?

The champ knows how to push hard to make up positions and is doing so here through Turn 1. Notice his left front tire is just off the ground after attacking the berm.

A Sunday drive through the park? Hardly! However as Bourdais disappears amongst the flowers, he will re-appear next year full-time in the Cadillac Chip Ganassi Racing IMSA DPi car. That schedule will allow him to compete in all but a few IndyCar races. . .

Bourdais saved his Firestone “Reds” (softer compound tires) for his final two stints for maximum speed at the end of the race and is shown here leading two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato home in 8^th and 9^th place respectively.