Newman and Sea Bass on Letterman

Newman and Sea Bass on Letterman

Paul Newman and Sebastian Bourdais appeared Tuesday night on the Late Show with David Letterman. Newman told program host David Letterman that he originally wasn’t going to own a team in Champ Car until he found out that Mario Andretti would be the driver.

The decision was a good one as Paul Newman holds up six fingers when asked how many championships his team has won.

Letterman inquired about the team’s secret to their success. Sea Bass said the team was consistent and that is how they won three titles in a row. Letterman then showed the fisticuffs between Sebastian and Paul Tracy.

“Right now he is asking me to get into the fight because he had practice in the previous race (San Jose),” quipped Bourdais.

Sea Bass elaborated saying the rivalry went back to their days racing in Europe. Letterman then asked about Paul Newman’s exploits in the SCCA.

This was Paul’s reaction to his wife’s opinion on him racing. Newman said she told him that Lime Rock would be his last race when she handed him his helmet prior to the race. Newman then went on to win the SCCA sanctioned event. Following the race he said his wife then came up to him and told him he must never give up racing after he won at Lime Rock last year.

David Letterman then closed the interview by complementing Newman saying, “You are the real deal. You have been continuing to get it done.” Paul Newman is the real deal and is probably Open Wheel’s best friend.

Images appearing in this blog courtesy of CCWS, World Wide Pants and CBS.