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Tagliani moves up 16 positions at the Indy 500

Alex Tagliani Climbs from 33rd to 17th Overall at the 100th Running of the Indy 500

Alex Tagliani, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Honda

Alex Tagliani, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Honda

Vision Sport Agency

Alex Tagliani, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Honda
Alex Tagliani, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Honda
Alex Tagliani, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Honda
Alex Tagliani, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Honda
Alexander Rossi, Herta - Andretti Autosport Honda race winner
Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport Honda
Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport Honda
Alex Tagliani, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Honda

Montreal, May 29, 2016 - Canadian driver Alex Tagliani was the biggest mover of the day at the 100th running of the Indy 500, which was held Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Starting 33rd and last on the grid, Tagliani's team used a different pit stop strategy, which allowed the Quebec native to lead the race on two occasions prior to crossing the finish line 17th overall.

The AJ Foyt Racing number 35 Alfe Heat Treating Special Honda crew had Tag running mid-field in the first half of the race until lap 117 when he took over the lead for four laps when the leaders pitted. He then exchanged the lead with eventual rookie race winner Alexander Rossi of California.

Tagliani took the lead back from Rossi on lap 123 when he posted fastest race leader lap at 222.729 mph, but relinquished it six laps later when he had to pit. He led a total of 11 laps. Tagliani had another go at the leaders on lap 166, running in the Top-10 for 20 laps, but the final yellow caution period he needed never came and, with 11 laps to go, he had to pit for his final time of the race.

"It was a great race," Tagliani said. "We were a few laps from being able to capitalize on a great comeback on that pit stop we took while leading because two laps later a yellow came out for the rest of the pack. It's a shame, because we had a good strategy up to that point. I feel that our team minimized the errors in the pits. We had a few issues but nothing that we would prevent us from competing for the win. Obviously we had a fast car because once we were in lead, we were saving fuel and kept it in front of cars that were running on new tires.

"The results show that from Carb Day (last Friday) our team really stepped up to a new level. I was really pleased with the balance of the car throughout the race. When you look at who won the race, we were right up there with him in the lead. We feel we had a good chance of winning it but we did not make one of the stops when we should have. Overall I am very pleased. But to win at Indy, you need a bit of luck and everything has to go your way."

Rossi stretched his fuel load to the limit to become the tenth rookie to win the epic race and the first since Helio Castronesves in 2001. He ran out of fuel on his cool-down lap. Rossi took over the lead on lap 197 of 200. There were a total 54 lead changes (the record is 68 in 2013) between 13 drivers and 6 cautions for 46 laps. Canadian James Hinchcliffe, who started on the pole, finished seventh.

Tagliani returns to competition on Saturday June 11 on the oval track of Autodrome Chaudière in Junction-Vallée, Québec, round 2 of the NASCAR Pinty's Series.

Tagliani Autosport

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