It wouldn't have been outlandish to assume that Champ Car driver Alex Tagliani would gravitate toward the sportiest numbers offered during a two-day test session at Road America.

Instead, the Lachenaie, Que., native arrived at the Midwest Automotive Media Association event, racing past the Jaguars, Porsches, Saabs and about other 70 cars, and made a beeline for the Volkswagen Golf R32.

"My first car was a Golf GTI 16-valve and when it came out, it was the sports car to have. It was nice to see the evolution from my first Golf to the beautiful car they've made today," he said. "It was a great surprise for me."

Tagliani was the guest of honour at the second annual MAMA test event, designed to give journalists an opportunity to put cars through their paces on the 6.515-kilometre road course at Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Thirty manufacturers brought some of their best models, from high-end sports cars to sport-utilities and sedans.

"A track like Road America is a perfect place because you have very high-speed straightaways where you can see how the car feels aerodynamically and gauge the noise level in the car," Tagliani said.

"Then, you can try braking and cornering and even some bumps. It's amazing to drive a street car on a track like that to make your evaluations."

The Audi TT 3.2 also caught Tagliani's eye and impressed the 31-year-old with its comfortable cockpit and on-track performance. While he said the TT would never grace his garage simply because it's not great for going to the grocery store, the Rocketsports Racing team driver enjoyed the ride.

"I always thought it was a little car and maybe uncomfortable, but it was really nice to drive and it handled well," Tagliani said. "In all honesty, I don't judge cars by their performance.

"I like to have a car that brakes well and that handles the way I like, but I'm not too picky when it comes to power."

Until recently, Tagliani's street car was a Porsche 911 complete with a German aero kit and GT3 brakes and wheels. But he traded it in about a year ago for a BMW 530 sedan because he found the Porsche too impractical.

"It was a cool-looking car, but it wasn't one that was comfortable to drive for me and it often ended up being left in the garage." he said. "Except for a bowling ball, there's not a lot that fits in there.

"So, I decided to go buy a four-door car with a trunk but with a sport look."

Tagliani, who finished eighth at the Championship Auto Racing Team's 2004 season-opener last month at Long Beach, Calif., also owns a Lincoln Navigator, which he uses to pull his kart trailer to local racetracks.

During his visit to Elkhart Lake, Tagliani took the time to drive two other cars: an Acura TL and a BMW 330i fitted with a performance package.

While he might have some insight into cars, Tagliani says he can't judge another person's comfort level, taste or preferences.

"For example, when I drive a car and I activate the wipers and they don't clean the windshield properly, I get [annoyed]. And then it doesn't matter how good the car brakes or accelerates," he said. "Those details are more important than performance sometimes."

For now, Tagliani is content to stay behind the wheel of his four-door sedan on city streets and reserve the high-powered driving to the racetrack.

He will return to Elkhart Lake for the CART series Road America race on Aug. 8.