After testing for Dale Coyne's Indy squad at Sebring and Barber Motorsports Park this past few weeks, the Frenchman convinced the team that he's worth a shot in the 2011 championship. As projected however, the deal only involved road and street course races, which means the former 4-time winner of the ChampCar Series will not get to drive for the team on oval circuits.
“We're very excited to have someone of Sebastien's talent join our team for this effort in 2011,” said Coyne after confirming the deal. “We have a lot of work ahead, but we have put a stellar group of engineers and mechanics together continuing the strongest possible effort for [sponsor] the Boy Scouts and our family of supporters.”
Bourdais, on the other hand, will have a tough season ahead of him, as the Frenchman will also be running his Le Mans programme with Peugeot in parallel. In fact, that was the main reason behind the team's decision to sign him only for the road and street course events, as Bourdais needs time to address his other commitments, priorly accepted for 2011.
“My home town is Le Mans, and to win there is very important to me,” said Bourdais, voicing his determination to perform big in Le Mans this year. “But winning here in the States is equally as important, and I want to thank Dale for the impressive effort he is putting forth in what is a very competitive series.”
Bourdais' last appearance on American soil happened in 2007, when he clinched his 4th consecutive title in the ChampCar series. At the end of that year, he signed a deal with Scuderia Toro Rosso in Formula 1, which he was ousted from one and a half years later. Since mid-2008, the Frenchman has been linked with several porgrammes, including Le Mans Series with Peugeot and Superleague Formula.
Along with Bourdais, James Jakes was also confirmed at the team for the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series, while several other technical changes have been announced. Ex-Forsythe man Phil LaPan will become new team manager for Dale Coyne Racing in 2011, while Jakes has been appointed a new race engineer in the person of Don Halliday. In addition, Scott Raymond has been named engineer of Bourdais' #19 entry.
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