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IndyCar: Sebastien Bourdais lands part-time ride with A.J. Foyt Enterprises

By Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 07: Sebastien Bourdais of France, driver of the #18 SealMaster Honda, prepares during practice for the NTT IndyCar Series - DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 07, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 07: Sebastien Bourdais of France, driver of the #18 SealMaster Honda, prepares during practice for the NTT IndyCar Series - DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 07, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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Sebastien Bourdais is set to return to IndyCar in the 2020 season, but in a part-time capacity for the first time since 2012 driving for A.J. Foyt Enterprises.

Four-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais was originally slated to return to Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan for the 2020 IndyCar season, but that deal fell through and Bourdais was unexpectedly released by the team in November, just two months removed from the 2019 season finale.

Bourdais is slated to compete full-time for JDC-Mustang Sampling Racing in the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, thus eliminating the possibility of a full-time IndyCar ride, but he is still set to return to America’s premier open-wheel racing series this year.

For the first time since the 2012 season, the 40-year-old Frenchman is set to compete part-time, and he is set to do so for A.J. Foyt Enterprises behind the wheel of the #14 Chevrolet.

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Bourdais was confirmed as one of the team’s two road and street course drivers throughout the 17-race season alongside former Indy Lights driver Dalton Kellett, who is set for his rookie campaign. Tony Kanaan was recently confirmed as the driver of the #14 Chevrolet for the five oval races shortly after Charlie Kimball was confirmed as the team’s lone full-time driver of the #4 Chevrolet.

Bourdais is set to compete in four of the 12 road and street course races, including the first three, while Kellett is set to compete in the other eight. Bourdais is set to compete in the races at St. Petersburg, Florida, Barber Motorsports Park, Long Beach, California and Portland International Raceway.

Meanwhile, Kellett is set to compete in the races at Circuit of the Americas, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Belle Isle (two races), Road America, Toronto, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Here is what Bourdais had to say about this opportunity, according to a team press release.

"“I am such a lucky man. Starting my IndyCar career driving for Paul Newman and Carl Haas, and now I get to drive for A.J. Foyt! I am both honored and thankful for the opportunity Larry and his team have provided me with. Staying in the NTT IndyCar series seemed like a long shot back in November. My teammates and I will be working very hard to deliver the results this organization deserves, and I can’t wait for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to come.”"

Here is what team president Larry Foyt had to add about the additions of Bourdais and Kellett to the team’s 2020 driver lineup.

"“There will be many familiar faces in the Foyt garages this season, but there will be some new faces as well. Coming off a season we were disappointed with, changes were inevitable. I believe adding a multi-time champion like Sebastien Bourdais to our team will help us as we regroup and work to regain a competitive position.Being able to retain Indy 500 champion Tony Kanaan is another source of excitement and will serve to push our oval program to a place where we can fight for victories. Dalton Kellett is a young driver who is intelligent and motivated, and with the experience around him, we feel he has the potential to show great things. Altogether, the 14 car has an intriguing lineup, and I’m excited to see how it plays out.”"

Bourdais is slated to enter the 2020 season with 37 wins in 205 starts in American open-wheel racing, including six in 132 NTT IndyCar Series starts. He most recently won the 2018 season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg.

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Sebastien Bourdais is set to get his 2020 IndyCar campaign underway along with the full-time field and a few other drivers in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix on Sunday, March 15. This race is set to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network from the streets of St. Petersburg beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET.