Tagliani Set to Lose Seat to Glock

Alex Tagliani, who last year shook hands with RocketSports boss Paul Gentilozzi on a deal to extend their partnership in the series, looks set to lose the seat to ex-Jordan driver Timo Glock.

Commentators have wondered how much backing Glock would have to race outside of Europe, but it now seems that he has raised a rumoured $4 million and is taking the seat that was seen as being solidly under the Canadian.

"It was a shock to me, yes," Tagliani told SpeedTV, "because we shook hands at Mexico City and Paul has always treated me right. We had a great relationship, and I felt very good with him since we started this team together three years ago.

"He had faith in me and it was an honor for me to race for him to prove I could do the job. So he must have had a good reason not to take me back."

RocketSports, which recently announced the signing of Ryan Hunter-Reay, has been sponsored by Johnson Controls. It is believed that the company has cut back on sponsorship in light of problems at the company and a large staff lay off.

"I got a call from Paul and he said he needed money, and wanted to know how much I could raise before he made his decision," Tagliani noted. "It was not my understanding I needed to bring any money when we shook hands, but I cannot hold it against him because things change.

"And he's not obligated to me unless I had a signed contract."

Tagliani will now be forced to compete with a number of drivers in the open market for the remaining race seats. The top drivers hoping to firm deals soon include ex-Jaguar driver Bjorn Wirdheim and Champ Car drivers Oriol Servia and Robert Gonzalez.

When asked where his future plans lay, Tagliani admitted: "I don't really know what's happening - I'm kind of out of the loop - but I know there are a couple of teams who don't have a second driver confirmed, and Paul is still trying to help me, so I'm hopeful something will get done in a couple of days."