Conquest Racing announced today that it has signed a partnership agreement with Northlands that will see the Edmonton-based organization and one of its signature events, the Rexall Edmonton Indy, become the primary sponsor of the #34 Conquest Racing car for this weekend’s season opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The team also confirmed that Canadian fan favorite Alex Tagliani, will be back behind the wheel of the Conquest car for the first race of the 2009 season.
“Northlands is thrilled to be riding in the passenger seat beside Alex Tagliani as we kick off the 2009 IndyCar Series,” said Ken Knowles, Northlands President. “As one of Canada’s most successful open wheel drivers, we know that Alex and Conquest Racing will be a force to be reckoned with and an exciting addition to the Rexall Edmonton Indy from July 24-26.”
Conquest Racing Team Owner Eric Bachelart added: “We’re extremely pleased with the partnership that we have formed with Northlands and the Rexall Edmonton Indy. Northlands has done an amazing job with all their events in Edmonton, and we’re proud to be able to help them promote their race and to have them on board as we start the season.
“We’re also very excited to have Alex back in the car this weekend. He helped us demonstrate our potential at the end of last season, and we look to build on that this week. He’s a pleasure to work with and everyone on the team is happy to have him back. Alex is not only good with the racing side of the business, but he is also a great ambassador for any sponsor, and being the only Canadian in the Series, he is a perfect fit for an organization such as Northlands.”
While coming in at the last minute is not the ideal scenario, Alex Tagliani proved last season, when he joined Conquest Racing, that he was up to the task. In his first race aboard a Dallara Indy car at Detroit, he registered one of the fastest race laps and he followed that up by giving the team its best finish of the season with a fourth place at the non-points paying race at Surfers Paradise, Australia. Despite not having accumulated any testing miles during the off-season, the affable Canadian couldn’t be happier to find himself behind the wheel of the Conquest car again.
“It’s great to be going to the first race of the season,” said Tagliani. “I’d like to thank Eric for giving me the opportunity to come back with the team, and Ian McGillivray at Ooomph Events who has been helping the team and me with our sponsorship hunt. Of course, a big thank you goes out to Northlands for believing in and supporting our program which once finalized with other players will reinforce Edmonton, Alberta’s ties with racing. Northlands has put together a very successful race in Edmonton, and as a Canadian I’m honored to be able to help them promote their event and city, and what better way to do it than using the perfect plateau that is the IndyCar Series.
“It’s been a pretty crazy winter and I’m happy to be getting back behind the wheel of a race car this weekend. I had an excellent experience with the team last year and I’m looking forward to continue what we started last season.”
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