Bourdais already is fifth on CART points list

ASSOCIATED PRESS
It didn't take Sebastien Bourdais very long to get up to speed.
The bespectacled Bourdais is already a factor in the CART Champ Car Series championship chase after his first seven races.
Going into Sunday's race in Portland, Ore., the 24-year-old Frenchman is fifth in the season points.
"I suppose you could say it's a good start," Bourdais said. "There have been mistakes and things that would not have happened, though, if I had more experience. But I am trying to learn fast."
He is getting a lot of help from one of CART's elite teams.
Newman/Haas Racing found itself at the end of 2002 without any drivers as series champion Cristiano da Matta left for Formula One and Christian Fittipaldi decided to try his hand at stock car racing.
The team co-owned by actor Paul Newman and Chicago businessman Carl Haas first hired series runner-up Bruno Junqueira, who had been driving for Target/Chip Ganassi Racing.
They signed the virtually unknown Bourdais, who has been a phenomenon since coming to the Champ Car series over the winter.
"He was fast from the first time he got into the car," said Junqueira, who is second in the points but has yet to win this year. "Sebastien has a good feel for the car and he doesn't get too excited.
"We are a lot alike in many ways," added the Brazilian, only two years older than his teammate.
It didn't take Bourdais long to impress other people, either.
He won the pole for each of his first two Champ Car races, then won races in England and Germany to leap into the thick of the points chase.
Credits acceptance
Bourdais credits much of his quick success to the way his new team took him in without hesitation.
"The relationship has been good right from the beginning," he said. "They have treated me with great respect. I think they just helped me a lot to integrate myself into the team."
As with Juan Pablo Montoya, who blew into CART in 1999 with seven poles, seven wins and a championship, Bourdais came to the Champ Car series after winning the title in Europe's Formula 3000.
And, as with Montoya -- now a star in F1 -- Bourdais adapts quickly to new tracks and has been fast everywhere.
The biggest difference for Bourdais has been the amount of study time inherent in his new role.
"I like very much to do the engineering things because I also studied mathematics, physics. I really appreciate what we're doing together. I think that's one key of the success," he said.
Help from teammate
He also credits his teammate with getting him off to a fast start -- helping with such things as finding an apartment.
"He's a very clever guy, very smart, and we basically have the same approach about motor racing. So we just try to work as much as we can and try to improve the team if it's possible," Bourdais said.
Going into Portland, Bourdais trails series leader Michel Jourdain Jr. by 36 points.
Does the rookie have a legitimate shot at the championship with 13 of 19 races remaining in the 2003 season?
"You know, I think this team is good enough to win the championship. If I continue learning, maybe we can make it more interesting," Bourdais said, grinning.