INDYCAR: 'It's the best track in the U.S.' - Bourdais

Sebastien Bourdais returns to Road America as the defending Indy car champion – although it dates back to 2007 (above), when he led all but two laps to claim a dominating Champ Car victory for Newman/Haas Racing. He couldn't be happier that the Verizon IndyCar Series is now returning.

"Let's face it – it's the best track in the U.S," said Bourdais, who now drives for KVSH Racing Technology, of the Elkhart Lake, Wis. road course. "There's nothing that gets close to it. Everybody's just talking about COTA and everything, but it doesn't compare.

"This is a racetrack. It's not a big, paved place with run-offs everywhere. Here, you've got to hit your marks, you've got to keep it between the two white lines, and it rewards or it bites."

Bourdais said the Dallara DW-12 Chevrolet with its current aerodynamic package can't be compared to the Panoz DP01-Cosworth Champ Car he drove to the 2007 win. One thing he did learn at the recent IndyCar test session, however, is that the Chevy brakes deeper through the turns.

"We can put a lot more downforce, but here, it's all about efficiency – so, how much downforce you get for how much drag you carry," Bourdais said. "We do get a little slower through the corner, but we can brake so much deeper that it makes up for it quite dramatically."

Bourdais has collected four victories in three seasons with an IndyCar team collaboratively owned by Kevin Kalkhoven, Jimmy Vasser and James Sullivan. During the 2016 season, Bourdais has posted five top-10 finishes and one victory, in one of the dual races at Detroit.

Although he doesn't think the current cars will be able to surpass Dario Franchitti's track record of 1:39.866 set in qualifying for the 2000 race, Bourdais still anticipates exciting laps.

"You've got to remember, the track record was done with 1,000 horsepower; we're touching 700," Bourdais said. "That's when they could design special parts for a low-downforce package. Now, there are some safety things. That hole in the floor which is a good thing for [preventing] takeoffs, but it is obviously not a really good for aero and drag. There are a lot of compromises that we've had to do in the last few years that I don't think will really allow us to go and do sub-1:40."

The Frenchman reckons his previous experience at Road America could be a helpful factor, though.

"All you've got to do is go out the exit of the Carousel and there's nothing to talk about – it's all out there in front of you," he said. "That's what's so cool about this place. If you make a mistake, you're probably going to hit something. I'm not saying you're going to hurt yourself, but you're probably going to hit something. That's why it's such a challenging and a rewarding place when you get it right."

Source: Road America