And Bourdais, a four-time winner of the US-based Champ Car series, admitted his relief at finally securing the drive.

BBC: Bourdais seat cuts Button options

He is trying the same re-branding technique with the open-wheel racing series, which reunified with Champ Car in 2008.

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Four-time Champ Car title winner Bourdais was eighth quickest of the 10 drivers in action, with a best lap of one minute 20.715 seconds.

BBC: Bourdais damages Toro Rosso car

The 28-year-old, who has won the Champ Car title for the last three years, made the decision to fulfil a long-held dream to race in F1.

BBC: Bourdais to join Toro Rosso in F1

The reigning IndyCar Rookie of the Year hadn't finished better than second in 39 IndyCar and Champ Car races, a fact he thought about late in the race.

NPR: Pagenaud Wins Crash-Filled Detroit Grand Prix

After racing the full 2007 Champ Car schedule, he was looking for work when the series merged with IndyCar in 2008 and ended up competing in the American Le Mans Series and was 14 seconds short of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2011.

NPR: Pagenaud Wins Crash-Filled Detroit Grand Prix

Tires are wagon-wheel-sized 15-inch painted aluminum jobs, but I took one sharp turn at 53 MPH, deliberately making the tires squeal, and the car hugged the highway like a champ.

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Gordon also benefits from his ownership stake in the car of five-time Sprint Cup champ Jimmie Johnson.

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Gibbs got a huge boost in 2013 with the addition of 2003 Sprint Cup champ Matt Kenseth, who replaced Joey Logano in the No. 20 car.

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