OTHER DROP DOWN

Bourdais earns first IndyCar win of season

May 31, 2015, 5:01 PM

Sebastien Bourdais, of France, drives in the rain during the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Gra...

Sebastien Bourdais, of France, drives in the rain during the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader Sunday, May 31, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Dave Frechette)

(AP Photo/Dave Frechette)

DETROIT (AP) — The first caution period began about midway through the race.

It was followed by another. And then another. Yellow flags all the way until the final laps.

It made for tedious viewing for fans — but the constant cycle of starting and then slowing down was exactly what Sebastien Bourdais needed.

“At one point, we had to make the call whether we were going to stay out and gamble that all the yellows were going to keep going,” Bourdais said. “It sure looked like it was going to be that way.”

On a wet day at Belle Isle, Bourdais had enough fuel to make it to the end in first place for his first IndyCar victory of the year. There were eight caution periods Sunday, shortening the race from 70 laps to 68 because of a two-hour time limit.

That made all the difference for the French driver.

“Had it not been a timed race, we would have not made it,” he said.

Bourdais held on in his No. 11 Chevrolet, finishing 1.8 seconds ahead of Takuma Sato. Graham Rahal finished third. Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya was awarded the pole based on entry points when qualifying Sunday morning was halted by bad weather. Montoya finished 10th.

Montoya remained atop the season standings.

Carlos Munoz, who won Saturday’s rain-shortened race, finished last Sunday.

Penske teammates Will Power and Helio Castroneves crashed late in the race, leading to a red flag with 5:33 remaining. Bourdais was leading at that point, but he was concerned with the stoppage because he’d been hoping a yellow period would help run more time off the clock.

After the red flag, there was another caution period before the restart.

“I kind of dragged my feet a little bit on the last caution lap,” Bourdais said.

There wasn’t time for 70 laps, and Bourdais held on after the final restart.

“I think Sebastien’s restart was, to be honest, a bit tricky,” Sato said. “He decelerates, so we all had to brake, which is not really what we talk about at the briefing.”

Sato had passed Montoya on a previous restart, and Bourdais said he was trying to avoid that scenario.

“Seeing what he did to Juan, yeah, I became pretty creative at the restart, for sure,” Bourdais said. “I wasn’t going to give it up. Obviously, I think there’s going to be a lot of talks on what happened at these restarts — guys pulling out of the lane way before the green flag, which you’re not supposed to.”

Bourdais’ final lap of 1 minute, 17.9133 seconds was the fastest for anyone on the day. It was the 33rd IndyCar win of his career.

Bourdais’ victory for KVSH Racing was a bright spot for Chevrolet on what was otherwise a fine weekend for Honda. Munoz won Saturday in a Honda, and the next eight spots after Bourdais on Sunday were taken up by Hondas.

Rahal was pleased with his third-place finish, although he was disappointed that he was ordered to give up position to Sato late in the race for blocking.

“I don’t think it was deserved, based on what the rules are,” Rahal said. “You’re allowed to move before the person behind you does.”

On a chilly, rainy day in the Detroit area, Montoya led for 35 laps, dominating the first half of the race. He was still second heading into the restart after the sixth caution, but Sato passed him, and Montoya eventually faded.

The first caution didn’t come until lap 37, but it was the first of many as the restarts gave drivers more opportunities to jockey for position.

Munoz completed only five laps before encountering mechanical trouble. Power, who along with Montoya opened up a decent amount of ground over the rest of the field early on, fell back after having shifting problems on lap 26. He ended up 18th after his crash with Castroneves, who finished 19th.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Other Drop Down

FILE – In this July 25, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speak...

Arizona Sports

Trump hosts Women’s British Open as Park resumes slam quest

Inbee Park resuming her quest for the career Grand Slam. Teenage prodigy Lydia Ko seeking that elusive first major. Michelle Wie going for victory with an injured left foot.

9 years ago

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, right, motions to Democratic Reps., from left: Peter Barca; ...

Arizona Sports

Wisconsin Assembly approves Milwaukee Bucks arena deal

The Wisconsin state Assembly voted Tuesday to spend $250 million in public funds on a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks, a deal that both Republicans and Democrats lauded as good for the state and city.

9 years ago

FILE-In this Nov. 13, 2014 file photo former PGA golfer Charlie Sifford sits in the dining room in ...

Arizona Sports

Family of late black golf great accused of $1 million theft

The son and ex-daughter-in-law of late black golf pioneer Charlie Sifford were indicted Tuesday on charges they stole more than $1 million from him.

9 years ago

Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the 18th hole during a practice round for the Quicken Loans Nat...

Arizona Sports

Michelle Wie limps into her next major

that matched her best result of the year -- she developed a bone spur in her left foot that she attributed to the hilly terrain of Lancaster Country Club.

9 years ago

Lexi Thompson holds the trophy after winning the Meijer LPGA Classic golf tournament Sunday, July 2...

Arizona Sports

Golf’s youth movement means 30 is the new 20

a major -- from an otherwise remarkable record. Ko had never missed the cut in her career until that week at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. A month later, she was never in contention at the U.S. Women's Open.

9 years ago

Tiger Woods smiles as he answers a question during a news conference prior to the start of the Quic...

Arizona Sports

Tiger Woods running out of chances to salvage season

Tiger Woods knows he's played poorly over the past two years. Now, he's facing the prospect of an early end to his season.

9 years ago

Bourdais earns first IndyCar win of season