RFM Front Page News

TORONTO, Canada (December 6, 2003) -- Alex Tagliani has always known his way to the front of the grid. He won two Canadian Karting championships in 1993, along with the Ice Racing Grand Prix at the Quebec Winter Carnival. He then caught the eye of the Players Young Driver Development Program (now, alas, no more, a victim of the Tobacco Taliban) and spent three years in the Players Toyota Atlantics program where he was very successful indeed: in 1999 he was on the podium for five of his seven races, and he earned two wins including one from the pole in Montreal. He also took pole at Road America, casually shattering the lap record for the track in the process. When he’d done all he could do in Atlantics, he moved up to CART and in his rookie year, 2000, in only his third race (in Brazil) he took his first CART pole; and he won the Hard Charger Award in Toronto for moving from 19th place to 5th. After six years of racing under the Players banner, Tagliani began his 2003 Champ Car season with the brand new Johnson Controls Rocketsports team, and he quickly showed the world that he and the team wouldn’t be taking it easy. He finished the 2003 season in a very strong 10th place with 97 points, 90% of them earned on road courses. He took pole in his home event in Montreal, and came very close to winning the race, leading many laps in front of 200,000 of his family and friends who now and then drowned out the cars with their cheering!

Tagliani is 31, and although born in Montreal he now lives in Las Vegas with his wife of almost a year.

Recently RFM Sports had the chance to ask him a few questions about his 2003 season, the state of CART and his goals for 2004.

Kate Shaw: How would you describe your first season with the Johnson Controls Rocketsports team? Was it all that you thought it would be?

Alex Tagliani: The 2003 season was actually much better than I originally thought it would be. When I went to the shop for my first visit I realised that at that time the team was not ready for racing, but everything came together and we quickly became very competitive, scoring pole positions and podiums.

KS: What was the high point of 2003 for you?

AT: The pole in Montreal.

KS: Which track that you visited do you think suited the car and your driving style best? What do you like about that track?

AT: Montreal; due to its fast chicanes, aggressive curbing and heavy braking. It is very challenging.

KS: Did you enjoy driving at night in Cleveland and Milwaukee? How did you have to modify your driving style for night racing?

AT: The night races were good, definitely a new experience, but I didn’t have to change my driving style, only the visors on my helmet!

KS: Are you satisfied with the level of competition in the CART series? Would you suggest any changes to make the series more competitive or more exciting?

AT: The series is very competitive, especially amongst the drivers. There are little things that can change the series for the better, such as some aerodynamic changes to aid in facilitating passing. I’m sure that we will see things change for the better in the near future.

KS: Was it easier to concentrate on racing in 2003 without the negative PR drag of teams planning to desert to another series?

AT: There are always going to be changes to the series, but very good things are happening right now that will move the series in a positive direction.

KS: Tell us about your involvement in karting. Do you think that CART should concentrate more on bringing young Canadian drivers up through the karting ranks? Who are the young drivers about whom you are most enthusiastic?

AT: I grew up karting and my racing background is from there, so I still try to stay involved in some way or another. I recently went to watch the Nationals in Vegas and was impressed to see how much the sport has developed and grown. I use karting for part of my training, it forms the basis of good technique and you can learn a lot from those machines. CART is already involved in helping aspiring young drivers through the Stars of Tomorrow program, but it is the job of Canadian organisations to bring up the drivers in Canada.

There are many young drivers who show great enthusiasm and potential for karting and right now I am helping Pierre Luc Ouelette from Quebec.

KS: Are there any plans for 2004 at Rocketsports that you can tell us about? Any talk of adding a second car or changing to the Lola chassis?

AT: The team already runs the Lola Chassis and we plan on working towards an even more competitive season in 2004, aiming for the Championship.

KS: What one question do you hope the media never ask you again?

AT: The media is entitled to ask the questions they want, I just might decline to answer.

KS: What would you like to be asked that nobody ever asks you?

AT: I think I’ve been asked everything.

KS: As you look forward to 2004, what are your personal goals either on or off the track for next year?

AT: Off the track I am aiming to further improve my physical fitness and to be healthy and happy.
On the track I am striving to win races and be a menacing driving force.

RFM Sports thanks Alex Tagliani and Nadia Petrossi for their kind assistance in bringing this interview to our readers and his many fans.