Sebastien Bourdais has, on Monday, made his return to the cockpit of the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, only 10 weeks after suffering pelvic and hip fractures in an accident in qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 on May 20.
In a medical evaluation test conducted after the Verizon IndyCar Series’ Honda Indy 200, Bourdais ran more than 80 laps today with no ill effects. INDYCAR will have to officially clear him to return to active competition, but today’s test will have been a good step before that confirmation.
“It’s just great to be back in the car, really, and to feel like nothing’s changed,” Bourdais said, via IndyCar.com.
Team owner Coyne told IndyCar.com Bourdais will be back for sure at Sonoma but is TBD for Watkins Glen depending on how current drivers Esteban Gutierrez and Ed Jones fare at the next two ovals.
Of note, Bourdais also told the Indianapolis Star‘s Jim Ayello the idea for Gutierrez to attempt to pass Josef Newgarden to try to get his lap back in Sunday’s race was Bourdais’ idea.
Gutierrez came under the microscope for his passing attempt, which wasn’t wrong to the letter of the rulebook, but may have inadvertently affected Will Power and Graham Rahal being able to make a run at Newgarden for the win on Sunday.
Amazing. pic.twitter.com/lsIvpNbG3g
— HPD-North American Motorsport (@HondaRacing_HPD) July 31, 2017
So this happened today, 72 days after his crash at Indy. Great to see him back behind the wheel. https://t.co/VoSZ3fUIKj
— Dale Coyne Racing (@DaleCoyneRacing) July 31, 2017
Somebody had a good day. @BourdaisOnTrack Photo: @kateshoup pic.twitter.com/LXA8fAUhod
— Dale Coyne Racing (@DaleCoyneRacing) July 31, 2017
Great day, awesome to be back in the car. Turned a 64,8s at the end, looking forward to racing again! Thx @DaleCoyneRacing @HondaRacing_HPD
— Sébastien Bourdais (@BourdaisOnTrack) August 1, 2017