Alex Tagliani is set to join the NASCAR Nationwide party at Penske Racing in Montreal alongside Jacques Villeneuve for this summer's road race there. The Indy 500 pole winner and Quebec native will take over the No. 12 entry for the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, with backing from the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram Quebec Dealers. Tagliani will also race in the NASCAR Canada support race at the Aug. 19-20 weekend.
"With the confirmation that Tagliani, who is in great form this season, will be starting the NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge, and knowing that [Patrick] Carpentier, [Andrew] Ranger and Villeneuve will also be there, Quebec race fans can count on a seeing a quartet to be reckoned with, as each of these drivers will be driving excellent racecars," declared Francois Dumontier, president of event promoter Octane Management. "For the fifth anniversary of our annual high-end stock car programming, we could not imagine a more attractive scenario."
The IndyCar star is no stranger to NASCAR races on home ground, as he has raced in 13 rounds of NASCAR's Canadian regional series, including three at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. During that stint, Tagliani scored a win, two top-5, three top-10 finishes, and two pole positions. He has also started two Nationwide Series races, including one in Montreal in 2009.
Penske Racing confirmed last week that former F1 World Champion and Indy 500 and CART champion Villeneuve will take over its No. 22 Nationwide Dodge, normally driven by Brad Keselowski, for the Montreal and Road America events.