WEST ALLIS, Wisconsin – Sebastien Bourdais was the class of the field as the Verizon IndyCar Series driver from France dominated Sunday evening’s ABC Supply Wisconsin 250 at the Milwaukee Mile.
It was Bourdais’ fifth victory on an oval and his first oval win since Milwaukee in 2006. It was his 34th career victory, tying Al Unser, Jr. for seventh all-time among all IndyCar drivers.
Bourdais defeated Helio Castroneves by 2.2366 seconds. Graham Rahal was third followed by Verizon IndyCar Series points leader Juan Pablo Montoya and pole sitter Josef Newgarden.
Just as the previous race at Auto Club Speedway had a long stretch of green flag racing at the beginning, so did Sunday’s short oval contest at the Milwaukee Mile as the first 114 laps were run without interruption. James Jakes, who started fifth on the grid, had an engine blow before he brought the car to a stop near the fourth turn wall. The green flag waved on Lap 130 but it didn’t last long as former Team Penske teammates Ryan Briscoe and Will Power crashed in Turn 4.
Briscoe started second on the grid and replaced the injured James Hinchcliffe in the No. 5 Honda for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. Power entered the race 46 points behind teammate Juan Pablo Montoya in the Verizon IndyCar Series points race.
An early elimination is a big hit for Power as he attempts to defend his Verizon IndyCar Series championship.
“No question it makes it tough but we have to keep focused and move on to the next one,” Power said.
Once the track was cleaned up the green flag waved on Lap 141 with Bourdais in front of Pagenaud, Hunter-Reay and Kanaan. The racing became fierce, especially on the track with Graham Rahal and Marco Andretti fighting for position in a close, wheel-to-wheel battle.
Bourdais built a huge lead over Newgarden with 100 laps to go in the short oval battle. Kanaan was third followed by Dixon, Pagenaud and Hunter-Reay.
Bourdais made his final pit stop putting Newgarden back in the lead, but Bourdais began to make a steady climb through the field. He was up to fourth by Lap 182 and got ready to pick off Marco Andretti for third place. He pulled alongside Andretti in Turn 1 at the same time Newgarden pitted while leading on Lap 186. Bourdais was up to second place and reeling in Kanaan for the lead.
Dixon and Rahal both pitted on Lap 190 and Bourdais was back in the lead after Kanaan made his pit stop a few laps earlier.
Newgarden, one of the main contenders in the race, brushed the wall with less than 50 laps to go. Bourdais pitted for the final time on Lap 213. His lead prior to the stop was so big he was able to pit and retain the lead with Castroneves in second place.
On Lap 222 Justin Wilson’s Honda engine blew up on the frontstretch for the third caution period of the race tightening the field.
The green flag waved with 18 laps to go with Bourdais ahead of Montoya, Carpenter and Castroneves, who started last in the 24 car field after his car was late to pit lane during qualifications earlier on Sunday.
On newer tires, Castroneves and Graham Rahal moved their ways up into second and third positions respectively but Bourdais was able to hold on to the victory.
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