McDonald's driver Sebastien Bourdais, 25, will be making his Crown Royal
International Race of Champions (IROC) debut on Friday at Daytona International
Speedway from pole position after having selected the position in a blind draw
on Wednesday
source:
paddocktalk.com
It will also be the first time for him to compete on the 2.5-mile high-banked
oval as well as his first stock car style race.
"I hope it's not the pole," said Bourdais immediately before he revealed the
replica race car with the number one displayed from the Crown Royal bag. I'm
very happy to be invited to represent Champ Car in the IROC series. It's all new
to me, and, like everybody, I want to do well. The spotlight is now going to be
on me and I don't want to look ridiculous. I'm going to see how many friends
I've got fast because if I see the second row going by on the outside of me,
it's going to be not good I guess."
Bourdais will be joined on the front row by 2004 Nextel Cup champion Kurt
Busch. Former open-wheel driver and current Grand Am co-champion Max Papis will
line up behind Bourdais in third place while Busch champion Martin Truex Jr.
will start fourth. He first tested an IROC car on February 9 and added to his
experience yesterday and today and estimates he has run approximately 160 laps.
He also practiced starting from the front of a four-car pack today in
preparation for his role on Friday when he will become only the second French
driver to compete in the series after the late sports car driver Bob Wolleck did
so in 1991.