Published: June 21, 2014
Tagliani excited for opportunity with top team, fast car
Driver in car that won last year’s event
By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
Daily News
ELKHART LAKE — Lately, prestige has grown with the No. 22
black, white and red Discount Tire Ford race car at Road America.
Last year, AJ Allmendinger drove the car to victory lane for
his first career NASCAR touring series victory. Former Indianapolis 500 and
Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve finished sixth in 2012 and third in
2011, and Brad Keselowski finished fourth in 2010. In four Road America
appearances, that car hasn’t finished worse than sixth.
That’s not what puts the pressure on Alex Tagliani.
It’s the name “Penske” on the car and his jacket that makes
him a bit more nervous.
“For me, they’re a standard,” Tagliani said after Friday’s
practice session, which was paced by former Penske IndyCar and NASCAR driver
Sam Hornish Jr.
“As a team, they’re very loyal,” Tagliani added. “They have
a lot of continuity in their program. They win wherever they go.”
Tagliani will hope to bring Roger Penske another NASCAR
Nationwide Series victory today at Road America, with the Gardner Denver 200
Fired Up by Johnsonville.
“It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me in a long
time,” Tagliani said of driving for Penske.
“I was super excited (Thursday night),” he added. “I had a
hard time falling asleep. I wanted to be on the track and in the car. Driving
for Team Penske is almost like an experience itself. I’m glad I have the chance
to do it.”
For the driver better known as “Tags,” the Canada native is
excited about this weekend’s opportunity.
He is in his first NASCAR race since 2012 when he competed
at his home course in Montreal. He started that race on the pole, but finished
22nd. For his career, he’s made four NASCAR Nationwide Series starts with one
top-five finish (second, Montreal, 2011).
At Montreal in 2011, he drove for Penske.
“To race for a team like this, for the 22 car that’s been so
competitive in this particular series, it’s like getting a ride for Ferrari in
Formula 1,” Tagliani said. “That’s the way I see it.”
Going into the weekend, Tagliani couldn’t wait to get to
Road America and race for Penske, one of the most iconic name in motorsports.
“I was a bit worried last night; there was a lot of rain,”
he said. “I wanted to get to the track so bad.”
Tagliani, 40, doesn’t believe he’s at a crossroads in his
career. Quite the opposite. Tagliani hasn’t driven full time in any series in
about three years.
Tagliani turned down an offer to race NASCAR for a couple of
races last year because of schedule conflicts. When he was asked again, he
immediately said yes, without knowing what was on his itinerary for the season.
Would he like to be in a race on a regular basis? Maybe not.
It offers him opportunities to race when he wants to and in
cars he wants to. It’s easier on his wallet, too.
“I’m having a lot of fun,” Tagliani said. “I’m able to do
IndyCar at (Indianapolis Motor Speedway), I’m able to please my sponsor in
Canada and race the 22 car for Team Penske, and run prototypes when I’m free.
“What else can a driver ask for? I’m pretty stoked with the
way things have turned out.”
While the numbers and results may not support a strong
career by Tagliani, he’s had accomplishments he’s proud of.
In 2011, he won the pole position for the Indianapolis 500.
He’s also a former race winner at Road America, winning with
the Champ Car World Series in 2004.
When asked about the difference between driving an
open-wheel car at Road America compared to a stock car, he leaned back in his
chair, flashed a smile and said “It’s a lot.”
What are the differences?
Well, in corners he remembered in an open-wheel car, say
Turn 1, it could be done as a quick brake and a right-handed turn in fifth
gear. That can’t be done in a stock car. The corner has to be taken in second
gear.
Other differences include longer braking zones and longer
waits to get on the throttle out of a corner.
“You have to completely block everything you’ve done in an
openwheel car,” Tagliani said. “If you don’t, you can get in trouble very
quickly. It’s unforgiving.”
“It almost feels like a different track,” he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment