Bourdais opens defense of Champ Car title

Autoracing Betting Lines

04/07/2007 - Las Vegas, NV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It is a new season for Champ Cars with new teams and drivers, but one thing that hasn't changed is the brilliance of Sebastien Bourdais on a race track.

The Frenchman has won three consecutive titles and appears to be set for a fourth. Since finishing his rookie season fourth overall, Bourdais has been spectacular winning 20 times and finishing in the top-five 33 times in 41 starts.

Last year Bourdais coasted to his third consecutive title by 89 points over Justin Wilson and 102 points over A.J. Allmendinger who has since jumped to the cash and bright lights of NASCAR.

Bourdais has accomplished everything possible in Champ Car racing and it was thought he might be able to catch on at the next level - Formula One. But so far he hasn't received any offers from one of the top-level teams.

Bourdais commented on his future and the possibility just recently: "There's one step for me that might be available, but we still have to be waiting on it. It might be Formula One, but again, I really want to be competitive."

So instead Bourdais will dominate the Champ Car Series again.

This time around however, he won't have a veteran teammate, but will have rookie Graham Rahal by his side.

Graham is the son of racing legend Bobby Rahal. The elder Rahal won three CART (now Champ Car) titles and the 1986 Indianapolis 500. He also started two Formula One races and won the 1981 24 Hours of Daytona. As an owner Bobby teamed with television star David Letterman to win the 2004 Indianapolis 500 with driver Buddy Rice.

Now its the 18-year old Graham's turn behind the wheel. He will have the best equipment with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing and should be immediately competitive with everyone except the three-time champion.

The series will still include Bourdais' nemesis - Paul Tracy. Tracy and Bourdais have never gotten along and there have been many exciting confrontations over the years between the two talented drivers. Tracy struggled in 2006 failing to win a race for the first time since 2001.

Wilson will also return and should be competitive. Others to watch include: Will Power and two former F1 drivers in Zolt Baumgartner and Robert Doornbos. Baumgartner and Doornbos will drive for Minardi Team USA. Minardi has found it rough going in Formula One where budgets are astronomical, but might find it a little easier in the Champ Car Series.

The season will begin at a brand new venue, on the streets of Las Vegas, instead of opening in Long Beach, CA. as has been tradition.

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