Friday, 18 March 2016

Tags is back and Race Details


Really pleased to hear yesterday that my good friend Alex Tagliani is back for Indy again in 2016. He will again team up for the second year in a row with A.J.Foyt racing and what better team to be with at Indy for number 100. The thought of a Foyt driver wining the 100 is amazing and even more so in the context of the man (A.J) himself and his personal history at Indy.


Here is a really cool thing the car number Alex will use is the number. 35 and this is based on team owner A.J. Foyt's starting of 35 Indy 500s in his career and AJ was also was born in 1935.

Tagliani, is a seven-time 500 starter and he will get two races out of the arrangement he has with the team this May.

He also will compete in the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis for the first time on May 14 on the infield road course at the Speedway. The car, sponsored by Wabash-based Alfe Heat Treating, will carry the classic black-and-orange Copenhagen-style livery used by Foyt in the late part of his career and the colours that Alex drove in last year for A.J.
.
Tagliani won the pole for the 2011 500 as a then member of Sam Schmidt Motorsports team, which shared in Dan Wheldon’s victory that year with Bryan Herta Autosport.

Tagliani has led each of the past five 500s, finishing 17th in last year’s race. 

With this announcement it brings the number of confirmed 500 entries to 29.

That includes the 22 cars participating in last weekend’s IndyCar Series opener in St. Petersburg, plus the already known and confirmed rides for oval ace Ed Carpenter (Ed Carpenter Racing), the returning new star Sage Karam (Dreyer & Reinbold/Kingdom Racing), rookie Matthew Brabham (KVSH/Team Murray), back for the 500 again with her familiar team Pippa Mann (Dale Coyne Racing), speedway dirt rack ace Bryan Clauson (Dale Coyne/Jonathan Byrd Racing) and the veteran Buddy Lazier (Lazier Partners Racing).

There is no fear of the field not reaching its traditional 33, although many more beyond that seems unlikely, but then again it is early days yet and the rumour of 37 or 38 is very possible still with both engine suppliers keen to assist.

The full break down of days leading towards May 29 is now confirmed from IMS and is as follows



May 16 – 19Indy 500 Practice
Fri. May 20Fast Friday
Sat. May 21Indy 500 Qualifications
Sun. May 22Armed Forces Pole Day
Mon. May 23Indy 500 Practice
Thurs. May 26Indy Lights Practice & Qualifying
Fri. May 27Miller Lite Carb Day
Final Indy 500 Practice
Indy Lights Freedom 100 Race
TAG Heuer Pit Stop Challenge
Journey Concert
Sat. May 28Legends Day presented by Firestone
Blake Shelton Concert
Sun. May 29Indy 500 Race Day
Snake Pit presented by Coors Light
           


               Header photo above is of Alex Tagliani at the 99th Indy 500 May 2015
during the driver introductions.
From the David Turner collection

Heading to the 100th Indy 500?
Check out Indy 500 Bound travel tips for fans

No comments:

Post a Comment