“I thought the strategy was a mess!” says winner Bourdais

An elated Bourdais said: “The car was obviously really quick and all we needed was clean air to come back from that pretty average qualifying. I could only dream of that.

“But I don’t even know how we got here! We just ran like stink most of the race and it worked out, so I couldn't be any happier for Chevrolet and [sponsor] Hydroxycut today.”

Bourdais, who pitted as early as lap 3 to ditch the soft red-walled Firestones, which all drivers agreed were degrading too quick on the Detroit track, said that initially, everyone pitting together had counted against him .

“I think our strategy would have worked even better if we hadn’t pitted with everybody else because we ended up just pretty much where we were before and I couldn't pass Gabby [Chaves].

"For a long time I really thought the strategy was a total mess and it was never going to work! But when we finally got some clean air then I could start to click off some quick lap times and make it happen.”

Bourdais, who started only 13^th said he believed he could repeat with victory in the second race tomorrow, stating: “I can only hope for good conditions and hopefully a better qualifying session because I think if we put that No. 11 car up front, it's going to be tough to beat."