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    EDMONTON, July 17 /CNW/ - Canadian drivers Alex Tagliani and Andrew
Ranger are hoping to take a victory lap in more ways than one as they compete in their respective racing series at this year's Grand Prix of Edmonton.
    Tagliani, of Lachenaie, Quebec, and Ranger, the Roxton Pond, Quebec
native, are devoting some of their time this race week to their duties as
co-spokespersons for the Victory Lap Charity Program, which raises funds for sick kids in 14 Canadian hospitals affiliated with the Children's Miracle
Network. But they are also intent on doing another type of victory lap - in
Tagliani's case the one that comes after winning the Champ Car World Series
race, and the NASCAR Canada event for Ranger.
    Tagliani, in his 8th Champ Car season, is seeking to improve on his
seventh-place finish at the inaugural event on the City Centre Airport course
in 2005. His efforts in that regard ended early in last year's edition of the
race, as contact with another car prevented him from finishing. The RSPORTS team driver would like nothing better than to add to his career totals of 14 podiums and one race victory - in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, in 2004 - with a strong performance in the last of the three Canadian stops on the Champ Car
schedule.
    "Although I haven't been as successful as I would have liked the first
two times I've competed at the Grand Prix of Edmonton, I'm hoping the third time is the charm," said Tagliani, who has record three top-5 finishes in his first four races this season and remains within striking distance of the top spot in the overall drivers' standings. "I love racing in Edmonton because it's a chance to race in front of your home fans, and their support in the first two years of this race has been absolutely fantastic."
    Ranger, meanwhile, is making his first Edmonton appearance as a driver in the NASCAR Canada Series race. He competed in the Grand Prix of Edmonton while driving in Champ Car, finishing seventh last year, after making an early exit in 2005. One of the most talented young race-car drivers, Ranger has a flair for the dramatic: he finished second in only his second career start in Champ Car, and last month, in only his second race on the NASCAR Canada circuit, he took home the checkered flag in Mosport, Ontario, giving the audience a great
show.
    Ranger and Tagliani both take their role with the Victory Lap Charity
Program as seriously as their racing career. In conjunction with the program,
the two drivers will be spending some time on Friday with the Children's
Miracle Network kids and families who have been invited to the race paddock.
    "This is the first year I've been a spokesperson for Victory Lap, so it
will be a new experience for me, one that I'm happy to be involved in,"
remarked Tagliani. "Any time you can do something to bring some hope and
enjoyment to people going through difficult times, it makes you feel good. I
have a friend whose child had a health problem recently, and when this happens it causes you to really stop and think."
    Added Ranger, who's been involved with Victory Lap since its inception
five years ago, added: "I have been very lucky to be able to do something I
have always dreamed of doing. The Victory Lap program is a way for me to give something back to kids who have their own dreams."
    The Victory Lap Tour, organized by Procter & Gamble and Wal-Mart Canada is visiting 100 Wal-Mart stores across Canada this summer. Thus far it has raised $225,000 toward its 2007 objective of $350,000.