Paul Tracy and Sebastien Bourdais have a long history of animosity, both on and off the track. But the veteran Canadian driver is wishing Bourdais all the best with his stated interest to be in Formula One, and says the Frenchman would be a big loss to the Champ Car circuit.
``I know he wants to get to Formula One and I think he deserves the chance to be there,'' said the Toronto driver. ``He has done everything that there is to do here, I think he has done it all.''
``However, the longer he stays in Champ Cars, the less likely it will be that he will get to Formula One. So as a series we would like him to see him stay, but it would be nice to see him get an opportunity.''
Bourdais, who could clinch his third straight Champ Car series title on Sunday with a ninth-place or better finish, was taken out of a race by Tracy in Denver in August.
Bourdais passed Tracy for second place near the end of the race. Tracy locked his brakes, slid into Bourdais, and both cars failed to finish.
Afterward, Bourdais got out of his car and charged at Tracy. The two exchanged words, and Bourdais shoved Tracy.
Tracy was fined US$25,000 and docked three championship points. Two weeks earlier, Tracy was put on probation for three races, fined an undisclosed amount of money and stripped of seven points for causing a crash that led to a fight with fellow Canadian driver Alex Tagliani at the San Jose Grand Prix on July 30.
Tracy's probation ends after the Australian race Sunday, but he didn't sound like he would be changing his tactics.
``My attitude and A.J.'s (American A.J. Allmendinger, who is in second place in the driver championship) attitude is that we are probably the only two guys in the series that are not going to be rolled over by him,'' said Tracy.
``He (Bourdais) seems to have his way with everyone else. But I am not the type just to roll over for him, and that is where the problems arise. He thinks he should have things a certain way and I am not prepared to give that.''
Despite their differences, he respects Bourdais' driving ability.
``We don't have the greatest relationship on or off the track,'' said Tracy. ``He is a great driver, fantastic at what he does. He is the measuring stick that everyone wants to beat.''
