AJ Foyt Racing announced on Tuesday, May 5 that 2011 Indianapolis 500 Pole Sitter Alex Tagliani will drive the No. 48 Al-Fe Heat Treating Honda-powered Dallara for AJ Foyt Racing in the Indianapolis 500 later this month. Tagliani will join AJ Foyt Racing full-time drivers Takuma Sato and Jack Hawksworth.
“Dad has a long tradition of adding extra cars at the speedway, and although we hadn’t originally planned on it, when the opportunity came, it made good sense,” Larry Foyt, President of AJ Foyt Racing. said. “It was important to have a driver with the ability and experience of Alex, so adding him to our lineup is a great fit. I’m looking forward to see this special livery racing alongside our ABC Supply machines. Al-Fe Heat Treating and the Westmans have been wonderful associates—and friends–of the team, and I’d like to thank them for making this third entry a possibility.”
Tagliani’s last IndyCar start came in last year’s Indianapolis 500, where he finished 13th for Sarah Fisher Racing. The Canadian has over 200 career IndyCar starts, including six past starts in the Indianapolis 500. In those six starts, he has finished in the top-13 four times with a best finish of 10th in 2010. Tagliani left full-time open-wheel competition to run the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series full-time.
“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,” Tagliani said. “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.
“I am thrilled to be part of honoring Dan Gurney by driving a car in his livery. Bringing the Gurney Eagle’s vintage look to the new Honda Aero kit car is for sure going to be a crowd pleaser. As a new dad, sharing this unique tribute with my family and the Foyt Family is very special. Taking the Dan Gurney No. 48 Al-Fe Heat Treating machine to Indy’s victory circle would be awesome, and we’re aiming to do just that.”
The livery, designed by Ryan Westman (Regional Salse Manager for Al-Fe Heat Treating Inc) and Jason LaFrenais, and car number is a tribute to Dan Gurney’s No. 48 Eagle IndyCar. Foyt goes a long way back with Gurney as the pair win the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1967 together.
“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. And he had some good runs with that number,” Foyt said.
“I am deeply touched by my old friend and team mate A.J. Supertex Foyt to be honored in this way and I will be rooting for Alex Tagliani in “48” with a big smile on my face,” Gurney said.
Al-Fe Heat Treating is entering it’s fifth year as a partner of AJ Foyt Racing; the company began as an associate sponsor in 2011.
“This year’s Indy 500 marks Al-Fe Heat Treating’s fifth year as an associate sponsor with A.J. Foyt Enterprises and what better way to celebrate that milestone than to sponsor Foyt’s third entry into the 99th running of the greatest spectacle in racing: the number 48 Al-Fe Heat Treating Special,” Kurt Westman, Founder and CEO of Alfe Heat Treating, said. “One of the most memorable times of my childhood was to attend the Indy 500 time trials and the race with my family. My brother and I would spend hours standing at the fence line along Gasoline Alley trying to catch a glimpse (and photograph) of the cars and drivers–A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney to name a few.
“It’s almost impossible to explain the excitement and pride I feel in being able to be part of one of the most famous race teams in the world, and more so this year by sponsoring the A.J.’s No. 48 Al-Fe Heat Treating, Dan Gurney-tribute car driven by Alex Tagliani.”
