This email popped into my mailbox this morning. I'm printing it in its entirety:
Bryan Herta Autosport is proud to announce that Alex Tagliani will pilot the team’s entry in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series.
Last year’s Indianapolis 500 winning team sought out the Canadian driver because of his experience, technical ability and overall proficiency in the racecar. In 2011, the veteran driver earned back-to-back pole positions, first during the 95th running of the historic Indy 500 and then at Texas Motor Speedway, adding to the list of his many accomplishments as an open-wheel racer.
Just last week, the team announced a joint venture with Bowen & Bowers Motorsports. Paired with the team’s solid racing operations, Tagliani is the final piece to the puzzle enabling Bryan Herta Autosport to position itself as a top-tier program in 2012 and beyond.
BHA has previously been announced their status as a Factory Partner Team to Lotus, which will result in the car being run in the iconic black and Gold Lotus livery. An announcement is expected on Thursday to reveal the identity of the team’s primary sponsorship. Veteran race engineer Todd Malloy has been re-signed to lead the team’s engineering efforts and focus on the car driven by Tagliani.
“We are very proud to have Alex Tagliani join our team for our first full season of Indycar competition. He brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the program, and is the perfect fit for us and our sponsor partners,” stated Herta. “Together with Todd Malloy and Brian Page in engineering, and the Don Lambert led crew, Alex has the full support of a very talented group of professionals behind him.”
Tagliani echoes Herta’s enthusiasm, saying, "I'm really happy to drive for BHA. Having known Bryan for a long time, I recognize that he's a nice guy with genuine integrity. I believe that he and Steve Newey deserve to own a great IndyCar team, and I'm honored to be part of the building of BHA's 2012 program. It's also a great honor for me to represent the Lotus brand as a factory partner. Lotus has so much history in the world of motorsports. As a team, we have a lot of work in front of us and while challenging, it will be fun to be at the core of both engine and team development. BHA has a great group of people and I'm looking forward to working with them."
Tagliani’s first task will be to lend his experience to the Lotus engine testing program, followed by team testing scheduled to begin in early February. The IZOD IndyCar Series kicks off the 2012 season March 25 on the streets of St. Petersburg, FL.
About Bryan Herta Autosport
Founded by veteran driver Bryan Herta and noted race engineer and team manager Steve Newey, Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) has been a race-winning team in Firestone Indy Lights competition since 2009 and recently won the 2011 Indianapolis 500 with driver Dan Wheldon in only its second IZOD IndyCar Series start. The Indianapolis, Ind.-based squad made its IndyCar debut in 2010 contesting the Indianapolis 500. Herta, an accomplished racer, has won in every series he has contested including the IZOD IndyCar Series, American Le Mans Series and CART in addition to garnering Skip Barber Formula Ford, Barber Saab and Firestone Indy Lights championship titles. Amongst his career highlights are a third-place finish in the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and victory in the LMP2 class at the Twelve Hours of Sebring in 2007. Newey’s racing career spans over 20 years and includes design and race engineering positions in Formula One as well as team manager/technical director roles in IndyCar, American Le Mans and Grand-Am competition. Among his highlights are the 1992 Champ Car World Series title as the race engineer for Bobby Rahal, the 2006 Grand-Am Daytona Prototype Driver’s Championship with Krohn Racing’s Jorg Bergmeister and victory in the Twelve Hours of Sebring in 2007 as race engineer for Andretti Green Racing and drivers Bryan Herta, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan. He was also instrumental in assembling the Patrick Racing Firestone test team and served as team manager for drivers Scott Pruett and Adrian Fernandez. For more information, visit www.bryanhertaautosport.com.
About Bowen and Bowers Motorsports, Inc.
Based in Toronto, Ontario, Bowen and Bowers Motorsports, Inc. is the coming together of leading sports and entertainment property development professionals, Chris Bowers and David Bowen, along with the financial management experience of Trapeze Asset Management Inc, with the mission of providing innovative commercial platforms and funding alternatives to developing sports and entertainment properties. David Bowen has more than 20 years experience in sports marketing, business development and client service. From his time at the CFL to his marketing management of Chevrolet’s factory supported efforts in LeMans and IndyCar, Bowen has set the standard for relationship management and creating innovative B2B, B2E and B2C platforms. Chris Bowers has more than 22 years experience in the sports and lifestyle marketing industry. During his career he has created, directed and or executed programs for some of the worlds leading companies and brands from Philip Morris to Coca-Cola. He has been credited with revitalizing Panther Racing and securing one of the largest sponsorship’s in IndyCar history. Bowen and Bowers Motorsports, Inc. is headquartered at 22 St. Clair Avenue East, 18th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M4T 2S3, Canada. For more information call (416) 915-1367.
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