Alex Tagliani gets AJ Foyt Racing seat for Indianapolis 500

Tagliani will drive a #48 entry as a tribute to Dan Gurney, who co-drove with Foyt to win at Le Mans in 1967, and carried that number on his Eagle IndyCar.

Gurney is planning to attend the 500 for the first time since 2011.

"My good friend Dan Gurney used to run that number and he's supposed to be back at Indy this year so I thought it would be a great way to honour him," Foyt said. "And he had some good runs with that number."

In addition to using Gurney's number, the car will carry a matte black and white Eagle tribute paint scheme similar to that which adorned Gurney's car when he finished second at Indy in 1968 and '69.

"I am really excited and honored to be part of the AJ Foyt Racing organisation because driving for AJ at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is something really, really special," said Tagliani, who finished 13th in a Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing entry last year.

"Having the chance to contribute to the Foyt family legacy at the Speedway is my mission for the month of May."

Tagliani will suit up alongside Foyt regulars Takuma Sato and Jack Hawksworth. It will be the first time that the team has fielded three cars since 2005.
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"Dad has a long tradition of adding extra cars at the Speedway, and although we hadn't originally planned on it, when the opportunity came, it made good sense," said Larry Foyt, president of AJ Foyt Racing, and a member of that 2005 line-up.

"It was important to have a driver with the ability and experience of Alex, so adding him to our line-up is a great fit."