Канадалық автокөлік жарысшысы Александр Тальяни

Canadian racecar driver

Alexandre Tagliani (/t//æ//ɡ//l//ɪ/'/ɑː//n//ɪ/; born October 18, 1973), nicknamed "Tag", is a Canadian professional racing driver. He competes full time in the NASCAR Canada Series, driving the No. 18 Chevrolet Camaro for 22 Racing. Tagliani has competed in a variety of disciplines including open wheel, stock car, and sports car racing. He has raced in the Atlantic Championship, Champ Car, IndyCar Series, NASCAR Pinty's Series, and NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Tagliani debuted in the Atlantic Championship in 1996 with P 1 Racing, where he finished seventh in the overall points standings. Switching to Forsythe Racing, he finished third in 1997, fourth in 1998, and fourth in 1999, claiming two wins in each season.

Tagliani raced in the Champ Car series from 2000, when it was still known as CART, until its demise in 2007. He was signed by Forsythe Racing for the 2000 season replacing Greg Moore. He came close to obtaining his first victory in his third start, after taking pole position at Brazil and leading most of the race, but spun out from the lead with nine laps to go. In 2001, he was involved in the collision with Alex Zanardi at the Lausitzring that resulted in the loss of Zanardi's legs. He remained at Forsythe until the end of 2002, when he was substituted by Paul Tracy. He found a job with the Rocketsports team in 2003, and remained there for the 2004 season, in which he earned his first and only Champ Car victory at Road America. In 2005, he joined Team Australia, which was a rebranding of Derrick Walker's long running team with the support of Australian businessman Craig Gore, and finished seventh in the championship despite lacking a race engineer. The seventh place finish would equal the best of his three Top 10 championship points finishes. He returned to Rocketsports for the 2007 season, and finished 10th in points with a best finish of fourth in the first race of the season. He earned four pole positions during his Champ Car career. Alex, along with many other 2007 Champ Car Drivers, has stated the Panoz DP01 was "one of" the best American Open Wheel Racers he ever drove during his career. This is among the collection of open wheel cars he drove from the 1990s to modern day, and continues to do so, with less frequency into the 2020s. In the mid 2010s his career began a focus on "Stock Car Racing" rather than a large frequency of open wheel.

In 2008, after the Rocketsports team decided not to take part in the IndyCar Series, Tagliani made the transition to stock cars and began racing in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. He also drove for Conquest Racing in the IndyCar Series Detroit Grand Prix, replacing the injured Enrique Bernoldi. Tagliani continued in the seat for the last two races of the season. Conquest Racing announced that Tagliani would return as a full time driver for the 2009 season. However, the team ultimately concentrated on road and street course races after the Indianapolis 500; ninth place in Toronto proved his best result. Tagliani left Conquest Racing after the 2009 Rexall Edmonton Indy race in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was announced on August 28, 2009, that Tagliani had signed a four year deal with an option for a fifth year to drive for start up FAZZT Race Team in the IZOD IndyCar Series beginning in 2010. After a successful 2010 campaign with Tagliani, FAZZT Race Team was looking forward to an even more successful 2011 season, along with the possible expansion on the grid with a second entry. However, the team was purchased by Sam Schmidt on March 1, 2011, and was absorbed into Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Tagliani was retained, along with all sponsors, for a full time entry during the 2011 season, racing alongside his new teammates Townsend Bell, Wade Cunningham, and Jay Howard. In 2011, for the 100th anniversary of the first running of the Indianapolis 500, Tagliani qualified on the pole position with a four lap average of 227.472 mph, besting Scott Dixon in the last run of the day. Unfortunately for Tagliani, he would run wide in turn 4 on lap 147 and make contact with the outside wall, inflicting damage upon the car which would force him to retire from the race the following lap. To date, Tagliani's best finish in the Indianapolis 500 is tenth, which he achieved in 2010 while driving for FAZZT Race Team. His best performance was arguably the 2016 event when he charged hard from 33rd starting position to lead 11 laps, matching a record set by Tom Sneva in 1980.

Tagliani has run selected races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2009. That year he entered the Montreal and Phoenix rounds with Pat MacDonald. He drove at Montreal in 2011 for Team Penske and 2012 for Steve Turner. He did not enter any race in 2013. In 2014, Tagliani announced that he would drive in two races in the series for Team Penske. At Road America for the Gardner Denver 200, Tagliani won the pole position driving Penske's No. 22. Tagliani nearly won his first NNS race leading the second half. However, it was questionable with 10 laps to go if Tagliani had enough fuel. A caution came out before the final lap and just as the yellow period began, Tagliani ran out of gas in the extended race and stalled at the start/finish line. Tagliani switched to dry (slick) tires with most of the field on wet tires (on a drying track); he restarted in 23rd place and recovered for second place. At Mid Ohio he finished fifth without leading any lap. Later in 2014, Tagliani was announced as the driver for Brad Keselowski Racing's No. 19 in the Camping World Truck Series event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Despite the race being his very first Truck Series start, he earned the pole position and led the first seven laps. However, he would finish the race in sixteenth. In 2015, Tagliani drove one race for Team Penske in the Xfinity Series race at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course. He earned the pole and was in contention for the victory, losing the lead in the second to final corner of the race after being hit by eventual winner Regan Smith. Two weeks later, Tagliani drove the No. 29 truck for Brad Keselowski Racing at Mosport, leading a total of 8 laps and finishing 5th after battling Erik Jones for the lead late in the race. In 2016, Tagliani made a one off appearance in the No. 22 for Team Penske at Road America in the Xfinity Series, and earned the pole for the race. He would lead 17 laps and score a seventh place finish. Tagliani would part ways with Penske at year's end, to make way for other Penske drivers such as Austin Cindric. Tagliani returned to the Truck Series for the 2017 Mosport race, driving the No. 02 for Young's Motorsports. For the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 250, he moved to Kyle Busch Motorsports' No. 51 Toyota. He returned to the team in August 2020 at the Daytona International Speedway road course.

In 2007, Tagliani debuted in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, entering two rounds with Dave Jacombs. In 2008, he raced in 9 out of 13 races with that team, scoring a win at Edmonton Airport. Tagliani competed at two NASCAR Canada Series races in 2009, two in 2013 and one in 2013. He scored four pole positions, but his best finishes were fifth. The driver returned as a full time driver in 2014 with his own team. Again, his best results were fifth, and ended ninth in the overall standings. In 2015, he joined Colin Livingston's team, where he claimed his second win at Sunset and two third place finishes. In 2016, he scored three wins at Sunset, Toronto and Edmonton International Raceway, and finished third in points. Tagliani joined Scott Steckly's 22 Racing team in 2017. In 2018, he finished second in the standings behind Louis Philippe Dumoulin. During the 2019 season, he scored a win at Toronto and was running in points until myocarditis forced him out of competing in the Autodrome St. Eustache round, effectively ending his championship hopes.

Tagliani has competed in sports cars since the mid 2000s. He finished 59th in GRAND AM Rolex Sports Car Series GT class points in 2007, with a best finish of 13th at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. In 2013, he drove driving a Ferrari GRAND AM GT in the Rolex Sports Car Series. Later, Rocketsports Racing announced that it had signed Tagliani for the full 2014 United SportsCar Championship season to drive an Oreca FLM09.

Tagliani has severe food allergies and suffered several episodes of anaphylaxis. He has promoted public awareness through the Food Allergy Canada and personal sponsor Pfizer. He is also an advocate for young Go Karting talent and the Go Karting hobby across the world, from Briggs to Shifters to KZ. This is seen in some of his businesses and initiatives, such as "Tag E Karting and Amusement" located in Sainte Thérèse, Quebec. In 2023, he talked in depth regarding his NASCAR Pinty's Career, and some great lifetime memories of his in downtown Saskatoon, and area, over the years. He won in Saskatoon for the first time in 2022, and at the Honda Indy Toronto, at the World Famous Toronto Exhibition Grounds, as recently as 2023. He is one of the greatest assets to Canadian Motorsports and its rich history.

Season Series Team name No. Races Poles Wins Pts Final placing 1995Esso Protec F1600 Series ? ? ? 1 ? 4th 1996 Atlantic Championship P 1 Racing 90 12 0 0 70 7th 1997 Atlantic Championship Forsythe Championship Racing 11 2 2 123 3rd 1998 Atlantic Championship Forsythe Championship Racing 13 3 2 130 5th 1999 Atlantic Championship Forsythe Championship Racing 12 3 2 118 4th 2000 CART Series Forsythe Championship Racing 33 20 1 0 53 16th 2001 CART Series Forsythe Championship Racing 33 20 2 0 80 11th 2002 CART Series Forsythe Championship Racing 33 19 0 0 111 8th 2003 CART Series Rocketsports Racing 33 18 2 0 97 10th 2004 Champ Car Rocketsports Racing 8 14 0 1 218 7th 2005 Champ Car Team Australia 15 13 0 0 207 7th V8 Supercars WPS Racing 8 2 0 0 144 53rd 2006 Champ Car Team Australia 15 14 0 0 205 8th Grand Am Cup 3 0 0 45 59th 2007 Champ Car RSPORTS 8 12 0 0 70 7th NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Jacombs Racing 2 0 0 182 35th 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Jacombs Racing 9 0 1 1091 19th IndyCar Series Walker Racing 36 4 0 0 56 32ndConquest Racing15 2009 IndyCar Series Conquest Racing 34 6 0 0 114 22nd NASCAR Nationwide Series MacDonald Motorsports 81 2 0 0 134 115th NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Stockton Racing 3/81 2 2 0 184 40th 2010 IndyCar Series FAZZT Race Team 77 17 0 0 302 13th V8 Supercar Championship Series Kelly Racing 11 2 0 0 72 NC 2011 IndyCar Series Bryan Herta Autosport 98 16 2 0 296 15thSam Schmidt Motorsports77 NASCAR Nationwide Series Penske Racing 12 1 0 0 43 64th NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Jacombs Racing 12 2 1 0 307 37th International V8 Supercar Championship Kelly Racing 16 2 0 0 120 68th 2012 IndyCar Series Bryan Herta Autosport 98 14 1 0 272 17th NASCAR Xfinity Series Turner Motorsports 30 1 1 0 23 66th 2013 IndyCar Series Barracuda Racing 98 10 0 0 180 24thChip Ganassi Racing 10 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series DJK Racing 1 0 0 40 45th 2014 IndyCar Series Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing 68 1 0 0 28 31st NASCAR Xfinity Series Penske Racing 22 2 0 0 82 39th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Brad Keselowski Racing 19 1 1 0 0 103rd NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Tagliani AutoSports 18 9 0 0 273 9th 2015 IndyCar Series A. J. Foyt Enterprises 48 1 0 0 27 37st NASCAR Xfinity Series Penske Racing 22 1 1 0 44 55th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Brad Keselowski Racing 29 1 1 0 0 91st NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Tagliani AutoSports 18 9 0 1 356 9th 2016 IndyCar Series A. J. Foyt Enterprises 48 2 0 0 35 31st NASCAR Xfinity Series Penske Racing 22 1 1 0 35 56th NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Tagliani AutoSports 18 11 1 3 446 3rd24H Series 991HRT Performance2017FRD LMP3 SeriesCraft Bamboo Racing2024GT World Challenge America Pro AmMontreal Motorsport Group

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team 2009 Dallara Honda3311 Conquest Racing 2010 Dallara Honda510 FAZZT Race Team 2011 Dallara Honda1 28 Sam Schmidt Motorsports 2012 Dallara Honda1112 Team Barracuda – BHA 2013 Dallara Honda1124 Barracuda Racing 2014 Dallara Honda2413 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing 2015 Dallara Honda21 17 A. J. Foyt Enterprises 2016 Dallara Honda33 17 A. J. Foyt Enterprises

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

NASCAR Xfinity Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Pts Ref 2009 MacDonald Motorsports 81 Dodge DAY CAL LVS BRI TEX NSH PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP IOW GLN MCH BRICGV ATL RCH DOV KAN CAL CLT MEM TEXPHO HOM 116th 134 2011 Penske Racing 12 Dodge DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX TAL NSH RCH DAR DOV IOW CLT CHI MCH ROA DAY KEN NHA NSH IRP IOW GLNCGV BRI ATL RCH CHI DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM 64th 43 2012 Turner Motorsports 30 Chevy DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX RCH TAL DAR IOW CLT DOV MCH ROA KEN DAY NHA CHI IND IOW GLN CGV BRI ATL RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 66th 23 2014 Team Penske 22 Ford DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX DAR RCH TAL IOW CLT DOV MCH ROA KEN DAY NHA CHI IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ATL RCH CHI KEN DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM 39th 82 2015 DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL IOW CLT DOV MCH CHI DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH2* BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 55th 44 2016 DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 56th 35

NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Pts Ref 2014 Brad Keselowski Racing 19 Ford DAY MAR KAN CLT DOV TEX GTW KEN IOW ELD POC MCH BRI MSP CHI NHA LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 99th 01 2015 29 DAY ATL MAR KAN CLT DOV TEX GTW IOW KEN ELD POC MCH BRI MSP CHI NHA LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 91st 01 2017 Young's Motorsports 02 Chevy DAY ATL MAR KAN CLT DOV TEX GTW IOW KEN ELD POC MCH BRI MSP CHI NHA LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 63rd 18 2018 12 DAY ATL LVS MAR DOV KAN CLT TEX IOW GTW CHI KEN ELD POC MCH BRI MSP10 LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 65th 27 2019 Kyle Busch Motorsports 51 Toyota DAY ATL LVS MAR TEX DOV KAN CLT TEX IOW GTW CHI KEN POC ELD MCH BRI MSP2 LVS TAL MAR PHO HOM 56th 38 2020 DAY LVS CLT ATL HOM POC KEN TEX KAN KAN MCH DAY22 DOV GTW DAR RCH BRI LVS TAL KAN TEX MAR PHO 65th 18