Alex Tagliani’s race started with a first-lap pass of Dario Franchitti for the lead, which drew Edmonton Indy spectators out of their seats in some cross-provincial cheering for the No. 98 Team Barracuda-BHA driver. They remained standing through Lap 25.

Tagliani reclaimed the lead on Lap 28 after the first round of pit stops and led a total of 49 of the 75 laps (the most since leading 52 at Montreal in ’03). He led Helio Castroneves across the start-finish line by .5988 of a second on Lap 50 (recording his best lap of 1 minute, 17.8898 seconds a lap earlier on the 2.224-mile, 13-turn circuit).

Following the second/final service stop on Lap 52, Tagliani was running behind Castroneves – 1.45 seconds back on Lap 54 – and it was apparent to the Quebec native that his advantage was diminishing.

“The balance of the car was great when we were saving fuel and we weren’t forcing it,” he said. “But when everybody knew they (had enough fuel) to make it and they turned loose at the end we didn’t have the pace to stay with the other guys. As soon as we started pushing, it started sliding a bit. We had a pretty clean race and at the end I just didn't have the pace on used reds (alternate Firestone Firehawk tires) that the other guys had.”

Still, after being overtaken by Takumo Sato, Will Power and Graham Rahal between Laps 55-58, Tagliani was able to stave off Dario Franchitti and Ryan Hunter-Reay to post his best finish of the season. Fifth place also was a personal high by far at Edmonton.

"I'm so proud of Team Barracuda-BHA. It was our third Firestone Fast Six in a row and I believe we don't have to change anything,” said Tagliani, who qualified fifth. “Since we switched to Honda (in May), we're showing speed and it's coming bit by bit. We're just knocking at the door and one day it's going to come."

Tagliani and the Bryan Herta Autosport team were added to the July 26 test day at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (open to spectators from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. for free), where he'll join 21 other drivers.

Also, because of the canceled race in China, Tagliani has added a NASCAR Nationwide Series race Aug. 18 at Montreal to his schedule. He’ll drive the No. 30 Chevrolet for Turner Motorsports at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where he finished second in last year’s race.

Dixon added to Ganassi lineup for Speedway race

Two-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon will test his No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 26 and then co-drive the No. 02 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Daytona Prototype in the GRAND-Am race the next day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Dixon, the 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner, will join 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya and 2010 Brickyard 400 champion Jamie McMurray in the entry.

Also competing in the three-hour race at the Speedway will be Dragon Racing's Sebastien Bourdais, who will co-drive a Starworks Motorsport car with Alex Popow.

Michael Andretti Foundation fund-raising event Aug. 24

The eighth Grand Prix Salute hosted by the Michael Andretti Foundation and Speedway Children’s Charities at the Andretti Winery on Aug. 24 will benefit The Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley, Hanna Boys Center and Valley of the Moon Teen Center.
The fund-raiser is being held as part of the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma race weekend at Sonoma Raceway. For reservations and additional information, email foundation@andretti.com.