2007 Belgian Champ Car Grand Prix
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Race 11 of 14 in the 2007 Champ Car season | |
Zolder Track Layout
|
|
| Date | August 26, 2007 |
| Official name | Belgian Champ Car Grand Prix |
| Location | Circuit Zolder, Heusden-Zolder, Belgium |
| Course | Permanent Road Course 2.492 mi / 4.010 km |
| Distance | 71 laps 176.932 mi / 284.744 km |
| Weather | Cloudy |
| Pole position | |
| Driver | Sébastien Bourdais (N/H/L Racing) |
| Time | 1:12.821 |
| Fastest lap | |
| Driver | Sébastien Bourdais (N/H/L Racing) |
| Time | 1:14.089 (on lap 39 of 71) |
| Podium | |
| First | Sébastien Bourdais (N/H/L Racing) |
| Second | Bruno Junqueira (Dale Coyne Racing) |
| Third | Graham Rahal (N/H/L Racing) |
The 2007 Belgian Champ Car Grand Prix was the eleventh round of the 2007 Champ Car World Series Season. It was held on August 26 at Circuit Zolder in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. The race was won by Sébastien Bourdais and was his sixth victory of the season.
The race was part of a short tour through Europe, with the race at TT Circuit Assen in The Netherlands one week later. It was the series' first and last ever race in Belgium. On January 16, 2007, the Champ Car World Series announced a multi-year agreement that would see the return of Champ Cars to Europe for the first time since 2003 with inaugural races in the Netherlands and Belgium. It was the first time that Champ Car has raced in either of the two European nations. "We are excited to bring the American equivalent of Formula 1 racing to Europe," said event promoter Bart Rietbergen. "Champ Car provides close racing that is easy for European fans to understand, and they will be very impressed with the access that they will have in the Champ Car paddock."
Conquest Racing driver Jan Heylen found himself in a home race on the circuit that lies just 30 km (19 mi) from Geel, the place where he was born. Next to Heylen, Robert Doornbos also had many fans as the track lies close to his native country, the Netherlands.
Team Minardi USA driver Dan Clarke was suspended by Champ Car race director Tony Cotman for reckless driving and avoidable contact at the start of Friday's first free practice session and thus did not participate for the remainder of the weekend. Clarke had been placed on probation after an incident with Justin Wilson at the San Jose Grand Prix. Caught up in the incident were Wilson and Belgian driver Jan Heylen. Severe damage to Heylen's car prevented him from taking part in Friday's qualifying session. Mario Domínguez replaced Clarke starting on Saturday, stepping into his fourth team for the year. Clarke's suspension would be reevaluated before the next week's Grand Prix of the Netherlands. Clarke's Team Minardi teammate Robert Doornbos was also unable to take part in Friday's session after blowing an engine at the end of the practice session immediately prior to qualifying.
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