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CHAMP CAR: Tagliani Rejoins Rocketsports
Written by: Kevin Krefting   
03/07/2007 - 07:00 PM
East Lansing, Mich.
 
After testing Rocketsports' new Panoz this winter, Tagliani was confirmed as the team's race driver. (LAT photo) ยป More Photos

Rocketsports Racing and Alex Tagliani are getting back together for the 2007 Champ Car World Series, recreating an association from 2003-2004 that included the French-Canadian driver's first series win.

Tagliani, who will be appearing in his eighth season in Champ Cars behind the wheel of Rocketsports' No. 8 Panoz DP01, scored his first series win with Rocketsports at Road America in 2004. The 34-year-old has made 117 series starts, earning five poles and 14 podium finishes.

"It is really good to be returning to Rocketsports," said Tagliani when he returned to the team's East Lansing-based shop for a seat fitting. "That is because it is nice to come back and see familiar faces, people that I worked with in the past and enjoyed.

"Everyone is very excited about the new car, for the obvious reasons, but also because it gives us a chance to start from scratch. There is a lot that needs to be done, so the chemistry between a team and the driver is very important, and we already have that. I am just so happy to be back, because this place honestly feels like home. In 2003 and 2004, when Rocketsports was just starting out in Champ Car, there was a lot that needed to be accomplished. We were in an environment in which we had to play a lot of catch-up to teams like Forsythe and Newman Haas. We did a good job then, we worked very well together, and the results showed our solid efforts. That takes us to now, where the situation is very similar. Instead of being a new team, we now have a new car. We are starting from scratch once again."

"It is a good feeling, generally, in all cases," continued Tagliani. "We want
to win, and we know we are capable of doing that together. But before you can produce results like earning the victory, you have to be happy with where you are at. I think that we are already there because we are all back together, so we will continue to strengthen our relationship while we strive for the wins every day this year."

"It is a real thrill to have Alex back on board with us," said team owner Paul Gentilozzi. "We had two great years together, and I look forward to reuniting with him as our driver for the 2007 season. We have a lot of history together, he was our first 'open-wheel' driver and he helped us find ground when we were treading water during our first two years of Champ Car racing."

"He is an asset to have on any team, as he has proven in his past with our team and the previous teams he has driven for," added Gentilozzi. "He is a technical guy, who is not only a driver, but also a crew member. He puts in 100% on and off the track, working with his engineers and the crew to find a faster car. He goes above and beyond just being a "driver", that is what I admired about him while he worked with us before, and what I look forward to having back this year. It will be an exciting year for us all. It is so nice to be able to sign a driver so early in the New Year, which will aid greatly in the development of learning the new car and really learning how to work together."

Tagliani will hit the racetrack for more testing time with Rocketsports' Panoz-Cosworth at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Champ Car's Spring Training, March 9-10. The 2007 Champ Car World Series season kicks off April 8 in downtown Las Vegas.