Rocketsports Racing and Tagliani Head South of the Border to Wrap Up 2007 Season

Prov. Qualifying: Friday, November 9, 2:00 p.m. CT
Final Qualifying: Saturday, November 10, 2:00 p.m. CT
Race: Sunday, November 11, 1:00 p.m. CT
TV Broadcast: ESPN2, November 11, 2:00 p.m. ET

Once again, the Champ Car World Series heads south of the border to wrap up another exciting season, but before the season gets the checkered flag, Alex Tagliani and Rocketsports Racing has one last shot to make their mark in the 2007 championship.

This will be the seventh year that will see the Champ Cars race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit since their return to Mexico City in 2002. The track has been restored and lengthened prior to the 2002 event, adding more then three-tenths of a mile.

Last year’s race saw the track reconfigured to include the fabled Peraltada Curve. The 17-turn, 2.774-mile permanent road course in Mexico City is a challenging one to all Champ Car drivers, as a technical track and altitude puts toll on any driver who is pushing their limits behind the Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone Champ Cars.

Driver of the #8 Rocketsports Champ Car entry is eight-year Champ Car veteran Alex Tagliani. He returns to Mexico City coming off a top five finish in 2006. After starting eighth on the grid, the French-Canadian drove a solid race to finish fifth and finish eighth overall in the 2006 Champ Car championship standings. This will be the fifth year for Rocketsports to race in Mexico City.

History shows that this track has not been a good one to the team, as the team’s best result of fifth happened in 2005 with Timo Glock after starting 12th on the grid. With the new DP01 Champ Car and a driver that knows how to get a good job done on track, the team is looking to record their best finish at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez track. Tagliani currently sits tenth in the 2007 championship standings, and with a good result, he and the team should be able to secure a top-ten finish this season.

The Gran Premio Tecate Presented by Banamex fiesta officially kicks off for the Champ Cars on Friday, November 9 with a morning practice session. The first round of qualifying will take place that afternoon at 2:00 p.m. CT. Following another morning practice session on Saturday, November 10, will be the final round of qualifying at 2:00 p.m. local time. Round 14 of the 2007 Champ Car World Series will take the green flag on Sunday, November 11, at 1:00 p.m.

The race can be seen live in the United States on ESPN2 with coverage from Mexico City beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET. Fans can also follow the Rocketsports team on the internet by logging onto www.champcar.ws  and signing up for Race Director. For more information, check out www.rocketsportsracing.com.

In the past four years, Rocketsports Racing has had seven entries in the Mexico City event. Adding one more to their resume this weekend, the team will contest Alex Tagliani behind the wheel of the #8 Rocketsports Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone.

Rocketsports’ best start/finish in Mexico City: Best start was in 2006 with Mario Dominguez starting 11th on the grid. He recorded a time of 1:26.450 (115.516 mph). Best finish is fifth, which was recorded by Timo Glock as he was crowned Rookie-of-the-Year in 2005.

From seven starts, the team has finished in running status five times. In 2003, Tagliani’s day ended early with the Rocketsports team due to contact, while in 2006 Mario Dominguez’ day ended in the pits 30 laps down after contact on the first lap ultimately ruined the day. The team has completed 428 out of 468 laps possible over the last four years.

Alex Tagliani, driver of the #8 Rocketsports Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone, started his Champ Car career in 2000. This season marks his eighth year of competition. He will attempt to make his 131st start when he takes the Green Flag in Mexico. He has recorded one win, five poles, and 14 podiums throughout his Champ Car career.

This year’s event marks the third time that Tagliani will run with the East Lansing, Michigan-based squad at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Tagliani has made five Champ Car starts in Mexico City. He earned his best start and finish last year, which was 8th on the grid and 5th in the race. He earned a point for taking the lead of the race on Lap 25 in 2006. In his two most recent races he has earned top-ten finishes. Despite contact in 2003, Tagliani finished his other four Mexico races in running status.

Tagliani sits tenth in the 2007 Champ Car World Series championship standings with a total of 197 points. He is 15 points from moving into the ninth spot, and trails the top five by 23 points. He holds the tenth spot firmly, with his next competition trailing 47 points behind him in 11th.

Mexico City has the highest altitude of any track on the Champ Car schedule at 7500 feet above sea level. The altitude reduces downforce and drag by approximately 25.6%. This means the team will focus more on mechanical grip this weekend.

The reduction in drag produces some of the highest speeds of the season. On a good lap, Tagliani will spend 41.5 seconds at full throttle, including 22 seconds on the Peradalta (the 180 degree corner around the baseball stadium) and front straight reaching a speed of 192 mph. Also, on a good lap, Tagliani will spend about 20 seconds over 2.0 g’s.

Due to the reduced altitude and drag, the average fuel economy increases about 0.4 mph at Mexico City. The Champ Cars see the greatest min/max speed difference at Mexico City, from about 32 mph in the chicane to over 192 at the end of the straight.

"Going to Mexico City is always a little bit sad because it is our last race of the Champ Car season. However, it is always a great event, which brings out the best in the Champ Car drivers and the people of Mexico. Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a drivers’ track that is unlike any other on the Champ Car circuit.

It combines fast straights with very technical curve sections that challenge team and driver to develop a combination that balances mechanical grip, straight line speed and overall stability to create a winning car. I look forward to the challenge, both personally and with my Rocketsports team, in hopes of finishing the 2007 Champ Car season off on a high note."

Based in East Lansing, Michigan, Rocketsports Racing was formed in 1985 and has grown into one of the most diverse and accomplished companies of its kind in North America. The Rocketsports name has long been associated with multiple victories in Trans-Am, IMSA, GTO and GTS Competition, for team owner and five-time Trans-Am Series Champion, Paul Gentilozzi.

Rocketsports has also established a significant presence in the open-wheel scene while campaigning in the Champ Car World Series. In addition to their success on track, Rocketsports has become a leader in race engine and chassis design and construction.

Rocketsports is contesting its fifth season of competition in the Champ Car World Series. The team has earned two poles, seven podium finishes, and one victory in its Champ Car career history.

Rocketsports runs a single-car entry in the 2007 Champ Car World Series with driver Alex Tagliani, an eight-year Champ Car veteran from Lachenaie, Quebec, Canada. The 750-horsepower open-wheel Champ Cars compete on temporary street circuits, airports and permanent road courses internally in six countries in many of the world’s largest markets.

For more information, go to www.rocketsportsracing.com  or www.champcar.ws

- Heather Haupt -