It was awesome to watch IndyCar’s Alex Tagliani finish 6th at St. Petersburg, especially when you consider all the efforts and sacrifices he had to make just to continue his top-level auto racing career in North America.
In fact, nowadays, it’s a miracle that Canadian drivers find themselves on the starting grid at IndyCar or NASCAR events.
Tagliani deserves even more praise since he signed a contract for the entire season. Another fellow Canadian, Paul Tracy, might take part in the Indianapolis 500 — plus a couple of Canadian races — if he’s lucky (and I do mean lucky) and if his sponsors afford him the opportunity.
Much like the novel hero Fenimore Cooper, will Tagliani become the "The Last of the Mohicans?"
Despite all their obvious skills, racing hopefuls from the Great White North are often wasting their time in lower-tier series for a lack of big-time opportunities. James Hintchcliffe and Philip Major, both racing in Indy Lights this year, are prime examples.
Even worse: two-time NASCAR Canadian Tire champion Andrew Ranger is seeing his future heavily mortgaged after losing his sponsors.
So, enjoy Tagliani’s stint in IndyCar while it lasts and pray that Tracy gets the chance to perform his swan song. Looking forward, there’s little hope of catching another local driver in a premier race.
In fact, nowadays, it’s a miracle that Canadian drivers find themselves on the starting grid at IndyCar or NASCAR events.
Tagliani deserves even more praise since he signed a contract for the entire season. Another fellow Canadian, Paul Tracy, might take part in the Indianapolis 500 — plus a couple of Canadian races — if he’s lucky (and I do mean lucky) and if his sponsors afford him the opportunity.
Much like the novel hero Fenimore Cooper, will Tagliani become the "The Last of the Mohicans?"
Despite all their obvious skills, racing hopefuls from the Great White North are often wasting their time in lower-tier series for a lack of big-time opportunities. James Hintchcliffe and Philip Major, both racing in Indy Lights this year, are prime examples.
Even worse: two-time NASCAR Canadian Tire champion Andrew Ranger is seeing his future heavily mortgaged after losing his sponsors.
So, enjoy Tagliani’s stint in IndyCar while it lasts and pray that Tracy gets the chance to perform his swan song. Looking forward, there’s little hope of catching another local driver in a premier race.