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SPORTS Monday 12 March 2018

Bourdais snatches IndyCar victory on streets of St. Pete

By JENNA FRYER Bourdais said. ship group of Jimmy Vasser
AP Auto Racing Writer Wickens was a star in tour- and James Sullivan, which
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — ing cars in Germany but reunited Bourdais with his
Sebastien Bourdais wept defected to IndyCar this former bosses.
as he crossed the finish year at the coaxing of Wickens finished a heart-
line Sunday for his second good friend James Hinch- breaking 18th.
consecutive victory at St. cliffe. Although he was one Rossi was not penalized for
Petersburg. The win was a of seven rookies in the 24- the contact and finished
milestone for him in his re- car field Sunday, he is 28 third. “The run was perfect
covery from serious injuries and a proven winner. for me, made the pop, he
suffered in a crash at India- He is part of an all-Cana- defended the position,
napolis Motor Speedway. dian lineup at Schmidt Pe- in doing so, he put me in
Across the paddock, Rob- terson Motorsports, and he the marbles pretty late in
ert Wickens fumed at the and Hinchcliffe were strong the corner,” Rossi said. The
disastrous turn of events the entire weekend. Wick- American said he not spo-
that had cost him a vic- ens was only the third driver ken to Wickens but imag-
tory in his IndyCar debut. since 1993 to win the pole ined that Wickens was up-
He dominated the season- for his IndyCar debut — Ni- Sebastien Bourdais (18) celebrates after winning the IndyCar set with him. But Rossi was
opening event and had gel Mansell did it in ‘93 in Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Sunday, March 11, 2018, adamant that he didn’t err
the win in his grip until con- Surfer’s Paradise and Bour- in St. Petersburg, Fla. and was justified in racing
tact with Alexander Rossi dais at St. Pete in 2003 — Associated Press for the win.
on a restart took him out of and the victory would have dive inside of Wickens en- time list. Bourdais trails Al The race debuted Indy-
contention. been a firm announcement tering the first turn. The two Unser by two wins for fifth Car’s sleek new race car
Even Bourdais, overcome of his arrival in the Ameri- cars made contact and on the list. that is designed to improve
with emotion after winning can open-wheel series. Wickens spun off course. It was the sixth victory for competition, level the play-
again on his hometown Instead, two late cautions Bourdais slid by both cars Dale Coyne Racing, the ing field and cut costs.
track, understood that the gave Rossi a chance to from third for the victory. first since Bourdais won at Sunday saw a race-record
race had been Wickens’ to take it away. It is the 37th career victory St. Petersburg last year. The 366 on-track passes, break-
win. On a restart with two laps for the Frenchman, who team this year has been ing the mark of 323 set in
“I’m heartbroken for him,” remaining, Rossi tried to ranks sixth on IndyCar’s all- bolstered by the owner- 2008.q

Kevin Harvick ternoon after morning rain. NASCAR said Wednesday Harvick regained the points
that inspectors at its re-
lead Saturday, moving 12
Busch finished 0.774 sec-
Continued from Page 18 Busch’s team dropped the onds back. search and development ahead of Busch.
jack and had trouble with Chase Elliott was third, fol- center in North Carolina Kyle Busch won the first 75-
Also the winner in Atlanta the right rear tire on his stop lowed by Denny Hamlin, found the Ford violated a lap stage, and brother Kurt
after crashing and finishing with 53 laps left, allowing pole-sitter Martin Truex Jr., rule requiring rear window Busch took the second in
31st in the season-opening Harvick — who pitted three Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola, support braces holding the a one-lap shootout after a
Daytona 500, Harvick is laps earlier — to slip ahead Eric Jones and Kurt Busch. glass rigid, and another caution period.q
the first driver to win three en route to his 40th Cup Harvick broke a tie with requiring the right rocker
straight Cup races since victory. Busch with 14 NASCAR na- panel extension to be alu-
Joey Logano in 2015. Harvick took the lead with tional-series victories at the minum.
Harvick got in front of 22 laps left when Ryan track, also winning an Xfinity Harvick was penalized the
Busch on the last series of Newman finally made his event and four Truck races. seven playoff points he
pit stops on the mile oval. last stop on the sunny af- In 31 Cup starts in Phoenix, earned for winning the Las
the California driver has 15 Vegas race and the first
top-five finishes. two stages. He was docked
Harvick was extra motivat- 20 regular points and the
ed following the NASCAR team lost 20 owners’ points.
penalties from Las Vegas. Crew chief Rodney Childers
“Actions speak louder than was fined $50,000, and car
any words I can come up chief Robert Smith suspend-
with,” Harvick said. ed two races.