2011 Indianapolis 500 polesitter Alex Tagliani has joined A.J. Foyt Racing alongside Takuma Sato and Jack Hawksworth for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500.
The Canadian will drive the #48 Honda/Dallara in tribute to Dan Gurney, complete with the same livery he raced to a second place finish in the 1968 and 69 Indy 500s. Gurney is expected to return to the speedway for the first time since 2011.
“My good friend Dan Gurney used to run that number and he’s supposed to be back at Indy this year so I thought it would be a great way to honor him.” said A.J. Foyt who co-drove with Gurney to a win in the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Al-fe Heat Treating, whom has been an associate sponsor of AJ Foyt Racing since 2011, will step up to sponsor the car for the race.
Tagliani has a best finish of 10th in his six previous 500s and has not raced in the Verizon IndyCar Series since last year’s 500 where he finished 13th driving for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. He has since ventured into NASCAR racing in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and has made a handful of starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
“I want to thank Al-Fe Heat Treating, Sexton Properties, ABC Supply, and everyone at Honda Racing and HPD for their hard work and support in making this opportunity happen,” said Tagliani. “I am really excited and honored to be part of the AJ Foyt Racing organization because driving for A.J. at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is something really, really special. Having the chance to contribute to the Foyt family legacy at the Speedway is my mission for the month of May.
