Photo Credit: IndyCar
The month of May is finally upon us and that means that the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade is finally here. If the fact that we are running the 100th Indy 500 isn’t epic enough, AJ Foyt Racing has stepped their game up to sweeten the deal.
They revealed the livery on Wednesday for Alex Tagliani’s No.35 Alfe Heat Treating Special Honda that he will drive in both the Angies List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course May 14. as well as the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 the historic 2.5-mile oval May 29.
The reveal happened in a private ceremony inside the Foyt Wine Vault located in Speedway Indiana a little under a mile from IMS. The No. 35 represents the 35 races that team owner A.J Foyt has driven in the Indy 500 which includes him being a four time Indy 500 winner.
“I never thought I’d make 35 races or last that long, but it’s great to have a car (to honor) 35 races,” Foyt said during the reveal. “It brings back a lot of memories, but like I told ‘em, I’m too old to get back in it.”
The No. 35 will carry the same black and orange livery that Foyt had driven late in his career. This is an opportunity for Kurt Westman, founder and CEO of Indiana-based Alfe Heat Treating, to honor such a huge legend who is still living and will be able to see, something Westman couldn’t turn down. This will be the sixth year Westman and Foyt will be working together.
“It’s kind of like getting to hang out with Babe Ruth,” Westman said. “Getting to know him and his stories over the years, it’s really been a legend.
“Our 35 car is dedicated to that. We came up with that because that’s the number of A.J.’s consecutive starts and it also happens to be the year he was born (1935), so we really think it’s going to be a lucky number for us.”
Tagliani is a seven-time Indy 500 starter, however this will be his first race on 2.439-mile road course. He hasn’t raced an IndyCar road course since he finished 10th at Toronto in 2013.
“It’s up to me to make best use of the practice that I have to get back in the game and, by (grand prix) race day, just do the best job that we can and use it to get ready for the 500,” Tagliani said. “I don’t think I could ask for a better position to be in because, looking at everything the team is doing in preparation for the 500, they’re doing everything right. They really want to do well.
“Plus, representing Alfe Heat Treating, a company that is from Fort Wayne, Ind., they will have a lot of fans here. And it’s going to be my eighth consecutive race at the 500. A.J. was in 35, so I can’t compare.”
“I think I just got the job because A.J. didn’t fit in the suit and I fit in the suit,” Tagliani added while laughing.
