LEXINGTON, Ohio - On Sunday’s Verizon IndyCar Series broadcast of the Honda Indy 200, Dale Coyne Racing driver Sebastien Bourdais confirmed he’ll return to the cockpit for his first day in an IndyCar since his accident qualifying for the Indianapolis 500.
Bourdais will test Monday in Coyne’s No. 18 Honda, with the track available for a private test. INDYCAR will test its new 2018 Dallara universal aero kit on Tuesday for its first road course running with Juan Pablo Montoya in the Chevrolet-powered car, and Oriol Servia in the Honda.
He visited Toronto two weeks ago, as his first race back at a track since Indianapolis.
Speaking to NBCSN contributor Robin Miller, Bourdais said the timing and location of being at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course made sense for a test day as he hopes to be race ready by Watkins Glen International on Sept. 3, the second-to-last race of the season.
“I wouldn’t be here and getting back in if I wasn’t ready,” Bourdais told NBCSN. “For now it’s just testing. We’ll see how it goes.
“I know after cars get transferred to ovals and everything, the doctors were good with me getting back in on the 15th. So two weeks won’t make a difference.
“Physically I’m feeling good. We’ll give it a shot tomorrow. Then timing gets difficult. I probably wouldn’t get an opportunity test. Everyone’s here, and they just have to stay one night over, so we’ll do a few hours of testing and see how it goes.”
The test comes a day after Coyne’s team had a difficult race, Esteban Gutierrez and Ed Jones ending a season-worst 20th and 21st.