Newman/Haas Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais led a trio of Champ Car stars that earned recognition on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) All-American Team, when results were released Tuesday morning.

Bourdais, who joined Ted Horn as the only drivers to win three consecutive Champ Car titles with a dominating 2006 season, was named as a first-team All-American for the third straight year after a season that saw him score seven wins, seven poles and finish on the podium in 11 of 14 starts. The award places Bourdais alongside NHRA legend John Force and NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson as the only drivers to have been named as first-team All-Americans in each of the last three seasons.

The Champ Car World Series fared well throughout the balloting as five-time racewinner A.J. Allmendinger earned second-team honors while his former RuSPORT teammate Justin Wilson was given an honorable mention for securing at least five percent of the vote in the open-wheel category. Wilson finished second in the 2006 championship and fought Bourdais to the last lap in the season final in Mexico City, despite driving with a broken wrist.

Former Champ Car Atlantic competitor Sam Hornish joined Bourdais on the first team in the open-wheel category while former Champ Car driver Scott Pruett and 2007 Champ Car Atlantic contender J.R. Hildebrand also scored first-team berths. Other drivers that competed in Champ Car or Champ Car Atlantic that earned 2006 All-American recognition include Dan Wheldon, Kasey Kahne and Helio Castroneves.

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