Bourdais to secure second Toro Rosso seat

[bblocker68]

I figured this belongs in both F1 and IndyCar sections. I'm happy he's back at STR to get a chance at putting up good results this year with a new car. I bet he'll return to IndyCar one day. Good luck Seabass!!

From F1 Live:

Reports in the Swiss and French press on Thursday suggest Sebastien Bourdais will shortly be confirmed as Toro Rosso's second race driver for the 2009 season.

The 29-year-old Frenchman raced with the Faenza-based team last year, but so far only the Swiss rookie Sebastien Buemi has been confirmed for the forthcoming season.

2009 would therefore be Bourdais' second season in Formula One, following his mixed debut when he finished the 2008 championship with just four points compared with his Red Bull-bound teammate Sebastian Vettel's 35.

It is reported by the Swiss magazine Speedweek, with close links to the team's owner Red Bull, that Toro Rosso selected Bourdais over the other candidate for the seat, Takuma Sato.

The French website sport24.

com speculated that Sato's expected personal sponsorship may have dwindled as the Japanese recession worsens.

Bourdais' manager Nicolas Todt would not confirm the news but insisted that "we are always in negotiations."

Moreover, the official website of the Ferrari-powered team is now showing Bourdais and Buemi as the drivers in the 'team' section.

© CAPSIS International
Source: GMM

[Chamoo]

Let's selfishly hope this isn't true.

[DanicaFan]

Yeah, its unfortunately pretty much a done deal. I would have loved to seen Bourdais in the IRL. Been nice to see him racing with the best there. :(

I wish him the best in F1.

[ShiftingGears]

I hope so. He deserves a second chance there.

[FormerFF]

I'm glad he got the ride. As much as I'd like to see him racing stateside again, I don't have a lot of hope that NHL would be able to secure sponsorship. They couldn't get a second car sponsored last year in a much stronger economy.

[call_me_andrew]

The longer he stays in F1, the better IndyCar looks in comparison.

[Chamoo]

The longer he stays in F1, the better IndyCar looks in comparison.

Why? When did Bourdais drive in the IRL?

[ykiki]

Why? When did Bourdais drive in the IRL?

He did quite well in the Indy 500.

However, I don't think that was the point. He was a multiple-champion in CART/ChampCar, and now with the merger many of those who raced with Bourdais are racing IndyCars.

So...I suppose it may have been better stated that the longer Bourdais is in F1 and produces decent results, the better AOWR will look to the rest of the world.

[Chamoo]

So...I suppose it may have been better stated that the longer Bourdais is in F1 and produces decent results, the better AOWR will look to the rest of the world.

That was my next point I was going to make. I understand he ran in the 500, however, he is not representing the IRL in F1. IRL fans don't feel he is a IRL driver who went to F1, he is the pride of most CC fans who went to show those F1 boys a thing or two.

he is the pride of most CC fans who went to show those F1 boys a thing or two.

Except he hasn't shown them F1 boys feck all yet.

[Chamoo]

Except he hasn't shown them F1 boys feck all yet.

Not yet, but he is our only hope from AOWR for a few years now.

[garyshell]

It's official he's staying at Toro Rosso.

Gary


Feb 6, 7:15 AM (ET)
LONDON (AP) -Sebastien Bourdais will drive for Toro Rosso again in the upcoming Formula One season.

The 29-year-old Frenchman, who was overshadowed by teammate Sebastian Vettel last season, will team up with newcomer Sebastien Buemi after Vettel moved to parent team Red Bull.
"It has been a very long and difficult winter but now the waiting is finally over and I am really excited about tackling my second season with Scuderia Toro Rosso," Bourdais said. "Now I can focus on preparing for the coming season. It promises to be a very interesting one thanks to all the rule changes and I'm also looking forward to establishing a good relationship with my new teammate."
Bourdais, who won the Champ Car series from 2004-2007, picked up four points in his first F1 season with seventh place finishes in Australia and Belgium. "We are pleased that Sebastien will be with us again for another season," team principal Franz Tost said. "After one year with Toro Rosso, we expect him to profit from the experience he gained last season. He now knows the F1 environment, the race tracks and the team. In addition, the slick tires, which make a comeback this year, should suit his driving style very well.'

[underpowered]

It's official he's staying at Toro Rosso.

Gary

I dont think he will last the season in F1. Do you think he will be in Indycar this year?

[jwhite9185]

I can see a Zanardi type situation - loses F1 drive, takes a year off, comes back but just isn't the same as he was in his glory days.

[Chamoo]

Well, if he gets dropped, let's hope he gets dropped asap, and NHL can run him at Indy.

[speeddurango]

Seeing him beating Buemi at Bahrain in the race, well if he keeps this up for the whole season, then he might last the whole season at least.