Canadian driver Alex Tagliani is back on familiar ground this weekend with the running of the Honda Indy Toronto, the first of two consecutive IZOD IndyCar races on Canadian soil. Even though this is only the second time that the IZOD IndyCar Series has competed in Canada's largest city, Tagliani will be making his tenth start in America's top open wheel series since 2000, having run in both Champ Car and IndyCar over the course of the last 10 years. The 2.816-kilometer street course has been kind to Alex Tagliani where he picked-up seven Top 9 finishes in nine starts. His best results came in 2001 during his second campaign with Player's/Forsythe Racing by qualifying fifth, then crossing the finish line in second place. His second podium finish at Toronto came in 2005 with a third place result while racing for Team Australia. Last year, he finished ninth, but could have left with a victory if not for an untimely caution. Tagliani did make his way to victory lane in Toronto with a win in the Atlantic Series race in 1998 during his penultimate season in that series.

At a press conference held on Wednesday afternoon at Dundas & Yonge Street Square, FAZZT Race Team unveiled its new customized Hot Wheels team colors for the Toronto and Edmonton races. The event was part of the Honda Indy Fest Toronto race weekend activities.

"I was on the podium here at the Honda Indy Toronto in 2001 and again in 2005 and it's always a race I want to do well in, not only because it's Canada but because the fans are so supportive and the atmosphere is amazing," said Tagliani. "I thought last year I was going to steal the win at Toronto. I led the whole race until really late in the race when I was just four corners from coming into the pits for my final stop when someone crashed, the caution came out, closed the pits and destroyed our race right there. This year, I'm here with my new FAZZT team and we're putting a lot of pressure on ourselves because we want to do well at home and because we have had some good results this season but we have to remember that we are still learning. Hopefully our amazing new Hot Wheels paint scheme on the #77 FAZZT Bowers & Wilkins entry will bring us luck and well have a really fast car and I can take care of my unfinished business with a victory here at the Honda Indy Toronto."

Round 10 of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar schedule is an 85-lap, 239.389-kilometre event that will be broadcast live this Sunday July 18 on TSN2 and ABC starting at 12:30 p.m. Live Timing and Scoring as well as video coverage of all practice sessions, qualifying, and the race are available at www.indycar.com.