Sebastien Bourdais – A Remarkable Return To IndyCar Racing

At Watkins Glen, Sebastien Bourdais powers out of inner loop. [Joe Jennings Photo]

by Joe Jennings

WATKINS GLEN, N. Y. – Sebastien Bourdais’s Verizon IndyCar Series season started out on a high note with a compelling victory in the season opening Firestone IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg but two months later his world came to a bone-breaking stop with a vicious crash while attempting a qualification run for the Indianapolis 500.

The crash was thought to happen at a speed exceeding 225 miles per hour and an impact of an unheard of 108 G’s.

Rushed to a nearby hospital, Bourdais, 38, underwent surgery for fractures of his pelvis, hip and ribs in what many thought would be a season-ender; that is without asking the plucky Frenchman. Showing remarkable grit and determination, Bourdais underwent weeks and hours of physical therapy, all of which accelerated his recovery schedule.

While it was not an easy road, Bourdais showed the typical racer’s determination, putting his head down and ignoring the pain that goes along with rehabilitation.

Less than 100 days after his high-G crash, Bourdais’s mission was accomplished when he received medical clearance to race and race he did at the Gateway Motorsports Park where he drove to a creditable 10th place finish in the Bommarito Automotive Group 500.

“I feel good but it is not completely fixed except for the pain, the mobility and the little sensitivities. It is good enough when I am in the car, which is all right,” Bourdais said prior to his second race, the INDYCAR Grand Prix of the Glen.

Missing nine races, Bourdais admitted to being a little rusty and a bit tired after his comeback race but happy with the results. “I felt a little out of shape as for forms and things like that, things you can only get worked on when you are in the car. Other than that I was pretty happy with the outcome. Maybe it could have been a little better but it could have been much worse. I was at least at 90 per cent.”

Prior to his surgery in May, doctors predicted he would be out for the season but afterward, they were more optimistic, cautiously projecting he might be ready to go for the last two races of season.

Bourdais believes he beat their projection by two weeks, but it took a lot of hard work to get there. After leaving the hospital, he started a grueling physical therapy program – three times a week for 2 ½ hours each with swimming worked in on the off days.

Having a 10-year old daughter, Emma, and a seven-year old son, Alex, made life interesting at the Bourdais household. They knew dad had been injured on the job but they never saw the accident as Sebastien and his wife Claire shield their children from racing accidents. “They were really good to me, although I had to keep reminding the little one not to jump on me,” Bourdais said. “When I got off the crutches, things were much better at home.”

His biggest rehab challenge came when Claire had to fly to Europe after her grandmother passed away, leaving the children with dad for five days. “Being on crutches with two kids at home was different, but they were really good but Emma stepped up and helped out a lot,” he said with a smile.

Looking forward, Bourdais believes the 2018 IndyCar has great promise and should be an asset for the series. “The race ability should be much better and it should give us good races again.”

And Bourdais confirmed that he will be returning to Dale Coyne Racing next season and he’s looking forward to a healthy and prosperous new year.

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