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Race report

Racing incident ends strong drive by Sebastien Bourdais in Firestone 600

Sebastien Bourdais and Justin Wilson made contact severely damaging both cars thus ending their races with Bourdais in 20th place.

Sébastien Bourdais, KV Racing Technology Chevrolet

Sébastien Bourdais, KV Racing Technology Chevrolet

Walter Kuhn

FT. WORTH, TX - June 7, 2014 - KVSH Racing driver Sebastien Bourdais was having a strong race when it all came to an end in a racing incident today in the Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Bourdais, in the No. 11 Hydroxycut - KVSH Racing Chevrolet/Dallara/Firestone entry, struggled in qualifying yesterday and started 18th. However, the team spent the night reviewing the data and came in this morning with a plan. The setup he raced with provided a more stable platform, which gave Bourdais the confidence to push the car and slowly but surely he began to work his way through the field. With 118 laps of the 248 lap contest completed, Bourdais was sitting in 12th place and running speeds as quick as the leaders. However, while working lap 119 he entered turn three with Justin Wilson charging low. The two made contact severely damaging both cars thus ending their races with Bourdais in 20th place.

Commenting on the incident Bourdais said, "I haven't seen the replay, but in talking with Justin (Wilson) he had a run and I thought I had blocked the inside. Apparently I left just enough room that he put his nose in there and when I heard 'looking inside' (from the spotter) I moved to the right but it was too late. I guess he hit the apron and just caught me as he was pulling out. I won't say it was my fault or his fault. It was just a racing incident. If it is my fault I apologize. It is a shame because the Hydroxycut - KVSH Racing team struggled this weekend, but we kept working and were having a decent race."

Bourdais made just his 16th career oval start and second at TMS today. In his only previous IndyCar start on the 1.445-mile high-banked Texas Motor Speedway oval he qualified 17th, started 15th due to penalties and also finished 20th. Bourdais does possess a win at TMS. In 2005 the four-time Champ Car Series Champion and only driver to win four consecutive major U.S. based open-wheel titles (2004 - 2007), won the International Race of Champions (IROC) series winning the event over a field that included Mark Martin, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Steve Kinser, Helio Castroneves and Scott Pruett.

In his 16 oval events (six in Champ Car and 10 in Indy cars), Bourdais has three victories, all in Champ Car (Las Vegas in 2004, 2005 and Milwaukee in 2006). In his 10 IndyCar oval starts his best finish is a seventh this year at the Indianapolis 500. Half of his oval starts have come in the last two years.

Bourdais earned 10 points today and now sits 12th in the championship standings with 180 points. He has finished in the top-10 twice this year, a season-high fourth at the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis to go with the seventh at the Indy 500.

KVSH Racing

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