3 Months After His Horrific Accident, Bourdais Cleared to Return to Racing

[Paul Jeffrey]

Multiple IndyCar champion and former Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Bourdais has been cleared to return to IndyCar duty, just over three months after his horrific 118G Indy 500 crash.

Initially expected to be sitting out the remainder of the 2017 IndyCar season, Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais has taken to social media to confirm doctors have passed the 38 year old driver fit to resume his racing career with immediate effect, ending what has been a remarkable recovery from what appeared to be a potentially career ending accident during qualifying for May's Indy 500 showcase event.

Bourdais would leave the Indianapolis Motor Speedway under medical assistance with fractures to his pelvis and a broken hip, following a terrifying 230 mph accident on the legendary oval venue. Bourdais would lose control of his Dale Coyne run Dallara DW12 at turn two, making contact with the wall and flipping the car upside down before eventually coming to rest right side up further down the circuit. Sustaining 118G worth of impact forces, many at the time believed Bourdais fortunate to escape without more serious injuries to the on form driver, with only five days hospital care required before he shipped back home to begin a tough recovery process.

Reports at the time suggested Bourdais would remain away from the cockpit for the entirety of 2017, however following a brief test last month, the driver has now confirmed a return to racing is already back on the cards, with a potential drive at Watkins Glen and Sonoma lined up next month.

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Surprised to see Bourdais return to action so quickly after his Indy shunt? At 38 and returning from a long lay off, can the Frenchman recapture his early season form? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

[Brandon Wright]

 

[F_B]

That crash was horrible. Good to see him return after that.

 

[Eric Rowland]

 

[Chobonator]

Les Sébastien et la course automobile, ça va ensemble comme la baguette et le camembert.

 

[CMGARAGE]

Great to see such a great recovery from what looked like a brutal impact.

Any updates on how those birds Alonso ran over are doing?

 

[Jan Larsen]

They're still very much rip(ieces)..

Well as long as the fractures are healed to sustain another impact, I dont see a problem. But why only road courses? Are the bones not healed enough to risk another oval hit? Is it too soon?

 

[Rob]

comme la baguette et le camembert.

no *you're* a commie baguette of Camelot.

This is great news. And great reporting.

Seb almost corrected that loose pig, which turned out to be a bad thing.

 

[Leonardo Chaves]

That's amazing, i thought he would be shelved a lot longer.

 

[Giovaneveterano]

It reminds me of Gordon Smiley's one. Nice to see the big improvements in the safety area.

 

[TobiasR]

Maybe he'll be back in Pocono Given how Dale Coyne's cars were running on ovals this season, he might even have a shot at a win.

 

[Monstro]

great great great, one of the most underrated drivers of all time.
so good to see him back after this horrible accident.

 

[Andrew Harper]

Really glad to see him back in the car, there's probably a little bit of secrecy involved if you like as there's no way he's 100% by now. Probably about 80%.

So I'm hoping he's not trying to come back to soon. I don't think any of us would want him to make his injuries worse and force a comeback ahead of schedule.

However he's an asset to Indycar and a top driver so wishing him all the best for the rest of the year

Also, just worth mentioning the 2018 Indycar will have even more reinforcement in the side pods and drivers area for accidents just like his. So it's good Indycar are still working on this area and making the cars safer.

 

[Fabrice Bourguignon]

It reminds me of Gordon Smiley's one. Nice to see the big improvements in the safety area.

I was going to write the exactly same message. Same accident of Gordon Smiley.

 

[XRRoy]

Instead of returning, I think he'd rest for at least a few more months... that's the best for his leg and his future career.

 

[Chobonator]

Instead of returning, I think he'd rest for at least a few more months... that's the best for his leg and his future career.

I hope his entourage sees this and transmits the message in time.