IndyCar: Sebastien Bourdais to return full-time in 2021

By Asher Fair | Sep 16, 2020

Sebastien Bourdais, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, IndyCar (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

Sebastien Bourdais is set to return to IndyCar on a full-time basis in the 2021 season with A.J. Foyt Enterprises, and he is set to begin his tenure with the team later this year.

Sebastien Bourdais signed a part-time deal with A.J. Foyt Enterprises ahead of the 2020 IndyCar season after losing his ride with Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan after the 2019 season.

He was slated to compete in four of the 12 road and street course races on the 17-race 2020 schedule behind the wheel of the #14 Chevrolet. He was set to compete in the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida as well as the race at Barber Motorsports Park, the race on the streets of Long Beach, California and the race at Portland International Raceway.

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit, and all four of those races were wiped from the calendar. With just three races to go in the 14-race 2020 season, Bourdais has yet to make his debut behind the wheel of the #14 Chevrolet.

More from IndyCar

But that is slated to change next month.

A.J. Foyt Enterprises have signed the 40-year-old Frenchman as their full-time driver of the #14 Chevrolet for the 2021 season, and he is set to make his team debut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course next year.

The four-time Champ Car champion is set to compete in both races of the doubleheader at the track, and he is set to compete in the season finale on the streets of St. Petersburg as well.

Here is what he had to say about this news in a release.

"“This is exciting news for all of us. We waited with anticipation for most of 2020 to put together a deal for 2021. I’m really happy that I’m running the last three races of the year — it is great for us to get an early start on next year. 2020 has been a very strange year so far and I can’t wait to finally get behind the wheel of the AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet No. 14.”"

Here is what A.J. Foyt Enterprises president Larry Foyt had to add.

"“I’m happy to have this deal done and welcome Sebastien to AJ Foyt Racing. The short time we have been able to work together showed a great deal of promise, and it was a shame that his races with us were derailed by the pandemic. I’m glad we were able to add some of these races back on the schedule, as it will undoubtedly help us kickstart his full-time campaign for 2021. His resume speaks for itself, and there is no denying he is a great addition to our program.”"

Here is what team owner and seven-time IndyCar champion A.J. Foyt had to say.

"“I think he’ll be an asset to the team by far. We tested with him earlier this year and he knew exactly what he wanted and today I think that’s very important in a racecar driver. I’m looking forward to working with him.”"

A.J. Foyt Enterprises are set to run three cars in the doubleheader, as full-time driver Charlie Kimball is set to drive the #4 Chevrolet in both races while rookie Dalton Kellett, who has shared the #14 Chevrolet with Tony Kanaan this season, is set to move to the #41 Chevrolet, the car he drove in the Indy 500, for these two races.

Next. Top 10 IndyCar drivers of all-time. dark

Bourdais is set to start his tenure with the team with 37 wins in 205 starts in American open-wheel racing, including six in 132 IndyCar starts. His most recent two victories came on the streets of St. Petersburg, as he won the 2017 and 2018 season openers.