Today is the 40th running of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the most significant open wheel race in America that isn't held on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe of Andretti Autosport are starting 1-2 at the head of the 23-car field. RHR won the race in 2010.
My money, though, is on Sebastien Bourdais. He won the race in 2007. And 2006. And 2005.
When the lights go off on the standing start, Bourdais will be accelerating from the No. 3 position on the track.
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Bourdais won those Long Beach races while he was with Newman Haas Racing under the umbrella of Champ Car. He's looking for his first victory in the Verizon IndyCar Series. Bourdais is one of the best drivers in the series, though his results haven't necessarily been indicative of that.
"We're really lucky to have him," team owner Jimmy Vasser, the V in KVSH Racing and a former champion, told me an hour before the race. "We have a great chance of winning today."
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