INDYCAR: Plourde Wins Fourth Consecutive Champ Car Title In 2011

IndyCar

INDYCAR: Plourde Wins Fourth Consecutive Champ Car Title In 2011

Despite stiff opposition from Servia, Wilson and others, Mark Plourde joined Sebastien Bourdais as the only driver to win four consecutive Champ Car titles.

Marshall Pruett | Posted December 23, 2011

To the dismay of Sebastien Bourdais, Mark Plourde used all of his experience to clinch a fourth straight Champ Car title in 2011. (LAT)

In a feat that many believed was impossible to achieve, Champ Car World Series veteran Mark Plourde matched Sebastien Bourdais as the only driver to win four consecutive CCWS championship after securing the 2011 title in convincing fashion.

Despite heavy opposition from the likes of Oriol Servia, Bruno Junqueira, James Hinchcliffe, Dan Clarke Robert Doornbos, Simon Pagenaud, and even his own wife, Sheri, Plourde emerged victorious.

The 12-round championship, documented on the Plourde's Champcar-WS.com website, visited Belgium, Holland, China, Mexico and Canada, and made stops at familiar domestic circuits like Long Beach, Elkhart Lake, Houston, Monterey and Mid-Ohio.

The new CCWS standard bearer, Mark Plourde. (Photo Courtesy of Champcar-WS.com)

Utilizing five-year-old spec Panoz DP01-Cosworths, the series once again produced hard-fought racing from start to finish.

Plourde’s path to the CCWS record books didn’t come easy, but like a metronome, the Las Vegas native used consistency to secure his legacy as one of open-wheel’s all-time greats. Despite an unprecedented run of podiums and top 5 finishes, Plourde reached new heights by securing the championship without winning a race.

Sheri Plourde followed her husband’s formula to finish second overall, just 18 markers behind her MP Racing teammate.

CCWS veteran Doornbos scored multiple wins, as did Pagenaud and Clarke. Mario Dominguez won a single race, along with Servia and Wilson, but they had no answer for MP Racing’s sharp plan and crisp execution throughout the year.

As one of the more mysterious figures in the paddock, Plourde’s unlikely rise to match Bourdais’ championship tally has taken place in a bit of a vacuum. Like Top Gear’s “The Stig,” Plourde has gone to extreme efforts to avoid speaking to the press, and even though multiple interview requests were made to talk about his amazing championship run, Plourde held his ground and remained silent.

In addition to his four CCWS titles, Plourde also owns 1992 Firestone Indy Lights and 1994 Toyota Atlantic championships, and despite his reticence to speak publically, the bio on his personal website reveals the totality of his achievements deserve much greater recognition.

“Mark Plourde is one of the most recognized names in all of Champ Car racing,” it states. “The Champ Car Series Champion founded his own Champ Car team MP Racing in January of 2003 and has since then built his team into a competitor that saw itself win the 2008 Champ Car championship. It did take some years for MP Racing to turn the corner and find success but once that happened it was not long until they found the winners circle. Mark is a proven success both on the race track and in the business world. Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team.

“Mark, who drove Champ Cars for well over 14 seasons owns some of the finest credentials in U. S. Champ Car racing history. In addition to his championships the native of Las Vegas has over sixty total victories in his racing career and currently sits third among active Champ Car drivers.”

Justin Wilson, left, edged Plourde, right, just once this season. (LAT)

Plourde’s open-wheel exploits have been limited to Champ Car so far, but as SPEED’s Robin Miller shares, if the CCWS driver decides to take the trip to the Brickyard, history could be made.

“Mark’s never raced at the Indy 500, but I’d say if he can catch on at Indy as quickly as Ed Crombie did, they’ll have to make some extra space on the Borg Warner trophy,” said the renowned open-wheel reporter.

Compared to Plourde, Justin Wilson’s time in the Champ Car series was rather unimpressive. With just four wins and two second-place championship finishes to his credit from 2004-2007, the Brit was left to marvel at Plourde’s crowning achievement.

“The guy’s a legend,” he said in a call from the UK on Friday.

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