Bourdais 6th fastest, Coletti faster at NOLA

Sebastian Bourdais

KVSH Racing driver Sebastien Bourdais opened the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season with a successful and productive two-day test, February 10-11, at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana.

Bourdais, a four-time IndyCar champion and the only driver to win four consecutive titles (2004-2007), ran 68 laps the first day of testing in the No. 11 Team HYDROXYCUT/MISTIC E-Cigs – KVSH Racing Chevrolet/Dallara/Firestone machine. He recorded the third fastest lap of the eight Chevrolet powered drivers with a time of 79.16 seconds and an average speed of approximately 134 mph on the 2.67 mile, 13-turn permanent road course. Day two saw Bourdais log another 75 laps recording a fast time of 78.76 seconds, putting him sixth on the Chevrolet speed charts.

"It was a productive test for the Hydroxycut/Mistic E-Cigs – KVSH Racing team. It was our first test in more than five months and it was good to get back in the car and work with the guys. We had a problem this morning, but we still managed to get through most of our program. Obviously, since we are not allowed to test the new aero kit until March 13, it will be different when we race here in April, but overall the guys did a good job and I am happy with the way things went," the soon to be 36-year-old who is entering his 10th IndyCar season said.

Commenting about the NOLA Motorsports Park track, which will be the site of the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana, April 10-12, Round No. 2 on the 2015 calendar, Bourdais said, "It's always exciting to discover new places. The track is challenging and fun. It has everything between slow-speed, medium and high-speed corners, so it's a good mix. I think the new aero kits will dramatically change the appearance of the car and quite possibly the handling because the aero map is going to be all different. It's going to be an interesting thing to go through and prepare for this racetrack."

Coletti 5th fastest on Day 2

Coletti Impresses

KV Racing Technology returned to the track after the long off-season break, and had a successful two-day test at NOLA Motorsports Park thanks in large part to GP2 veteran Stefano Coletti, who was impressive in first test with the team.

Despite having only driven an IndyCar once (a one-day test with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports last December at Sebring) and never having seen, let alone driven, the 2.67-mile, 13-turn NOLA permanent road course, Coletti quickly adapted to the car and track. His performance over the two-days clearly established that he has the potential to be a major threat to far more experienced IndyCar drivers.

With the No. 4 KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Dallara/Firestone entry yet to be filled, the talented 25 year-old from Monaco ended his first day with the team fifth on the speed charts out of the eight Chevrolet powered drivers, with a time of 79.41 seconds.

On the second day of the test he was second in today's morning session (78.85 seconds) just a tenth and half slower than veteran and 1999 IndyCar champion Juan Pablo Montoya and a tenth and half faster than the 2014 Verizon IndyCar champion Will Power. In the afternoon session, Coletti ran just 35 laps, the second least of any Chevrolet driver, but still managed to tie for the fifth fastest lap, with a time of 78.72 seconds.

"I'm very happy about these two days testing," said Coletti. "I was consistently improving and working really well with my engineers, particularly Matt Curry. The collaboration with everyone at KV Racing Technology was great and they all made me feel at home. I had a lot of fun pushing this car and really enjoyed the NOLA track. Working with such an experienced and quick driver as Sebastien Bourdais was very useful and we were able to push each other to the top. I love challenges and a job in IndyCar this year would be amazing."

KV Racing Technology's General Manager, Steve Moore said, "Everyone at KV Racing Technology was impressed with Stefano. He is professional, dedicated and very intelligent. Despite his lack of experience in the car, Stefano has a great grasp of what makes a race car fast. We found his technological knowledge and feedback to be exceptional, not to mention he is very personable and articulate."

Coletti has spent the last four years in the GP2 series, often in close contention for the championship. He earned a total of eight wins, including 18 podiums and also one pole.

KVSH Racing will resume testing February 23rd at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida, in preparation for the 2015 season opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 27-29, on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Tuesday Unofficial Test Times (Wed. not yet available)