Indianapolis, IN (May 13, 2017) – Dale Coyne Racing didn’t have the day it was hoping for on Saturday at the INDYCAR Grand Prix with Sebastien Bourdais suffering an engine failure and Ed Jones finishing 19th.
Everything started out well for Bourdais. After losing a couple of positions at the start, the Frenchman was able to fight his way back and regain his sixth place. However, Bourdais wouldn’t make it any further as his engine failed at the start of the third lap, ending his day in 22nd.
Rookie Jones had a good start from his 13th place on the grid, but that was short lived as he lost positions when he had to avoid a spinning Tony Kanaan in Turn 7. Jones was able to drive through the grass and avoid major contact but it sent him back to 20th place.
The driver of the #19 Boy Scouts of America car then made his way back through the field, getting as high as 13th. However a fueling issue on his first pit stop caused him to once again lose precious time, sending him back into 19th place.
Having to do an extra pit stop due to the fueling issue, Jones spent the rest of the race at the tail end of the field, crossing the finish line in 19th. Despite his finishing position, Jones registered the third fastest lap of the race behind Team Penske’s Will Power and Josef Newgarden.
There won’t be any time to rest for the Dale Coyne Racing crew who will now prepare the cars for the start of the IMS oval on track activities on Monday, May 15. Qualifying for the 101st Indianapolis 500 will take place next weekend, May 20 – 21 with the race taking place Sunday, May 28.
Sebastien Bourdais – #18 Sonny’s BBQ Honda
“There’s not much to say. The start was pretty good and then everybody on my side of the track went to the right side and found a gap and there was no gap next to me so I was the guy alone on the left side of the road which wasn’t so good. Rossi and Simon (Pagenaud) got a run on us and got by us but I was happy that I was able to get Simon right back on the back straight and then Rossi on the next lap. We were going to try and do our thing and get back with Montoya but the engine failed on the front straight and that was the end of our day. It’s tough and disappointing. We had done the job in qualifying and you just wish that we could have capitalized on a strong position. You look at the race and you see that there was potential, when you see Hunter-Reay finish third. We had a good car. We’ll just reset and try again for the next one.”
Ed Jones – #19 Boy Scouts of America Honda
“It was a difficult race. On the start we moved up a little bit, then going into Turn 7 Kanaan spun in front of me I had to avoid him. I thought he was going to take me out properly. In avoiding him, I had to go through the grass and that sent me to the back of the field. Then we were coming back through the field and our pace was pretty good but then on the first pit stop we had a fueling issue where we lost a lot of time and we didn’t have all the fuel in so it messed up the whole race really as that sent us to the back. I think we had the third fastest race lap. So we were fast, and I think we probably should have been top 10, probably 9th or 10th if we didn’t have the issues.”
dalecoyneracing.com 