Alex Tagliani back with Kelly Racing for Gold Coast

Today’s Indianapolis 500 pole sitter Alex Tagliani will return with Kelly Racing to compete at the Gold Coast 600 in October.

The 38-year-old Canadian drove for the team in the inaugural ‘SuperCarnivale’ event last year, featuring international motorsports stars being teamed up with Australia’s top tier motor-racing championship’s regulars.

In 2010, Tagliani teamed up with then Kelly Racing driver Jason Bargwanna, but for this year will be teaming up with either Rick or Todd Kelly, David Reynolds or New Zealander Greg Murphy, when the field and pairings are announced in July.

Early rumours have already placed multiple-Champcar champion and former Formula 1 driver Sebastian Bourdais at Triple Eight Race Engineering, where he will partner either Craig Lowndes or current points leader Jamie Whincup.

“The Gold Coast track is one of the most beautiful circuits in the world, running right next to the beach and between the high rise buildings,” said Tagliani.

“I met my wife there, I’ve had a few big crashes, I’ve stood on the podium twice and I was taken out by Russell Ingall last year. So I’ve really done everything except win it, so that’s the goal for this year.”

V8 Supercar Chairmain Tony Cochrane said:

“Alex and Bronte have been friends of this event through its long history and we were all delighted to see him win the pole for this weekend’s Indy 500,” said Cochrane.

“We were even happier when he found time to reach agreement with Kelly Racing to come back down here in October.”

Tagliani, a veteran Champcar and Indycar driver, starts from pole position for the first time at the famous Indy 500 race this afternoon for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.