KVSH Racing's Bourdais looking to move up in standings with strong performance in 2014 season finale
Former champion on track for best season since return to IndyCar.
Sébastien Bourdais, KVSH Racing Chevrolet
David Yowe
FONTANA, CA - August 28, 2014 - KVSH Racing driver Sebastien Bourdais is looking to move up in the championship standings with a strong performance in the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season finale, the MAVTV 500, August 29-30, at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.
Bourdais, in the No. 11 Team HYDROXYCUT - KVSH Racing Chevrolet/Dallara/Firestone machine, is eighth in the championship standings with 437 points. With the Fontana event worth double points, Bourdais mathematically has a chance of ending the year tied for third. Realistically, he has an opportunity to finish fifth, currently 86 points behind Scott Dixon, or sixth, currently 82 points behind Juan Pablo Montoya.
It is an oval that has more than one groove so it gives the drivers an opportunity to race which is great for the fans.
Sebastien Bourdais
A top-six finish in the final standings would give Bourdais one of the top-two highest season-ending finishes that KV Racing Technology has ever had. Tony Kanaan holds the record placing fifth in 2011, KVRT co-owner Jimmy Vasser is second on the list having finished sixth in 2006.
Bourdais, who will be making his 131st career IndyCar start, just his 21st on an oval and second on the 2-mile D-shaped Auto Club Speedway, is contesting just his second full season since his return to IndyCar competition in 2011 (ran partial seasons in 2011 and 2012) following a two-year stint (27 races) in Formula One and a season racing sports cars. In 2013, his first full season, the 35-year-old Frenchman placed 12th in the championship standings.
In the first 17 races this year, Bourdais has finished in the top-10 seven times including five top-five showings, two podium performances with one win, his first in an IndyCar since 2007 (Toronto Race 1). He has captured two pole positions, also his first since 2007, taking the top spot on the grid at Toronto for Race 1 and on the permanent road course at Mid-Ohio, where he finished second.
Bourdais made his Auto Club Speedway debut last year and had an outstanding performance qualifying an IndyCar oval high fourth (earned three poles on ovals in Champ Car: Lausitz - 2003; Las Vegas - 2005; Milwaukee - 2006) and led 35 laps until a late race incident ended his night. He has tested in Fontana twice this year including last night.
"I like the Auto Club Speedway," Bourdais said. "It is an oval that has more than one groove so it gives the drivers an opportunity to race which is great for the fans. The Hydroxycut - KVSH Racing team had a good test at Fontana earlier this year. Last night we tried a lot of different things, but obviously we still have a long way to go. We just have to keep digging, but I am confident the guys will get it figured out and we can have a good weekend in the final race to end the season."
This weekend's MAVTV 500 will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network beginning at 9:00 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, August 30. It can also be heard live on IMS Radio Network affiliates, XM Channel 209, Sirius Channel 213 IndyCar.com, IndyCarRadio.com or via the Verizon IndyCar14 app.
KVSH Racing
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