INDIANAPOLIS — Sebastien Bourdais is leaving IndyCar. The driver announced Friday he is parting ways with Dale Coyne Racing, and will move to sports cars in the IMSA series in 2020.
The announcement came after several weeks of negotiations between Coyne and Bourdais, who had a year remaining on his contract but lost support from engine provider Honda after the Frenchman failed to score any manufacturer points in 2019.
“It is not a decision we take lightly, but due to the ever-changing landscape of IndyCar racing, we have no choice but to make a change for 2020,” Coyne said in a statement. “We wish Sebastien all the best with his future racing endeavors.”
The Frenchman won four straight Champ Car championships from 2004-2007, and is tied for sixth on the IndyCar all-time wins list with 37 career victories, his last one coming in 2018. He finished 11th in the NTT IndyCar Series points standings in 2019.
Coyne is exploring driver options for 2020 and plans to retain Santino Ferrucci. The opening at Dale Coyne Racing could be a landing spot for James Hinchcliffe, who was told by McLaren Arrow SP last month he was being released with a year on his contract. Hinchcliffe already missed out on one seat this week when Ed Carpenter Racing signed 19-year-old Dutch driver Rinus VeeKay.
(PHOTO: Getty)
