AJ Foyt Racing announced Wednesday, May 5 that Alex Tagliani would drive the No. 48 Al-Fe Heat Treating Special in the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Team owner and four time Indianapolis 500 race winner A.J. Foyt has chosen to pay tribute to Dan Gurney, with whom he won the 1967 24 hours of Le Mans. Gurney plans to attend the 500 for the first time since 2011.

“My good friend Dan Gurney used to run that number and he’s supposed to be back at Indy this year so I thought it would be a great way to honor him. And he had some good runs with that number!” Foyt said in the AJ Foyt Racing press release.

As well as the number 48, the car will also carry a matte black and bright white livery designed by Ryan Westman, regional sales manager for Al-Fe Heat Treating, Inc., and artist Jason LaFrenais, reminiscent of the color scheme of Gurney's No. 48 Eagle which he drove to second place in the Indianapolis 500 in 1968 and 1969.

Gurney, one of the greatest racers never to win the 500 as a driver, was moved by his former teammate's tribute. “I am deeply touched by my old friend and team mate A.J. Supertex Foyt to be honored in this way and I will be rooting for Alex Tagliani in "48" with a big smile on my face,” said the 84-year-old, who won the race as a car owner with Bobby Unser in 1975.

Kurt Westman, Founder and CEO of Alfe Heat Treating, was extremely enthusiastic about the partnership.

“This year’s Indy 500 marks Al-Fe Heat Treating's fifth year as an associate sponsor with A.J. Foyt Enterprises and what better way to celebrate that milestone than to sponsor Foyt's third entry into the 99th running of the greatest spectacle in racing: the number 48 Al-Fe Heat Treating Special.

One of the most memorable times of my childhood was to attend the Indy 500 time trials and the race with my family. My brother and I would spend hours standing at the fence line along Gasoline Alley trying to catch a glimpse (and photograph) of the cars and drivers--A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney to name a few.

It's almost impossible to explain the excitement and pride I feel in being able to be part of one of the most famous race teams in the world, and more so this year by sponsoring the A.J.’s No. 48 Al-Fe Heat Treating, Dan Gurney-tribute car driven by Alex Tagliani.

The Verizon IndyCar Series, and its great venues, presents our company a wonderful opportunity to develop business relationships, entertain customers and employees that share this common interest--and the Indy 500 is at the top of the list!”

Practice for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 continues on Monday, May 11 and the race itself takes place on Sunday, May 24.

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About the author
Emma Hoole
I love motorsport (especially Indycar and WEC), football (soccer), history and reading.