Fan Force United

Fan Force United was an American racing team formerly in the Indy Lights series. The team was owned by former driver Tyce Carlson, along with Tim Donahue and Chris Williams.[1][2]

Fan Force United
Team principal(s)Tyce Carlson[1]
Tim Donahue[2]
Chris Williams[2]
Former seriesIndy Lights,[3] IndyCar Series

Indy Lights

The team purchased assets from Alliance Motorsports, who were unable to run in the 2011 Indy Lights season due to Shane Hmiel's accident at Terre Haute Action Track, and are housed in a shop formerly used by Dallara.[4] Fan Force United started the 2012 Indy Lights season with driver Armaan Ebrahim but released him after Detroit.[5][6] They fielded a second entry and used various drivers for both including Bryan Clauson, Emerson Newton-John, and Stefan Wilson, but did not run all the races.[7][8][9][10] The team had no funding and was forced to sit out the 2013 Indy Lights season.[3] Scott Anderson joined the team for the 2014 Indy Lights season and its return.[3] Tim Donahue from Automotive Management Group joined as an owner.[2] Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing was to join with FFU to field an additional car for Kyle O'Gara in the 2014 Freedom 100, but the entry was withdrawn due to lack of pace.[11][12]

IndyCar Series

2012 Indianapolis 500

Fan Force United fielded an entry for Jean Alesi in the 2012 Indianapolis 500 with backing from Lotus and sponsorship from F. P. Journe.[1] The Dallara DW12 car was a Lotus test chassis and the team hired Buddy Lazier as a driving coach.[13][14] Additional team personnel that were hired included Greg Beck, Ted Bitting, and Tim Wardrop.[8][15] Fines against the team totaled $65,000, $50,000 for weight issues, and $15,000 for other technical issues.[16] The team qualified last with a speed of 210.094 miles across four laps and were over 16 mph slower than pole speed.[17][18] The Lotus engine manufactured by John Judd was underpowered and caused Alesi to have safety concerns.[18][19] Lotus was given no extra engine boost for the race, and Alesi was black flagged for running 15 mph slower than the leaders, in violation of the 105 percent limit.[17][20] The team finished nine laps and was scored last in 33rd place.[17][20][21] Lazier Partners Racing purchased the chassis to compete with in the 2013 Indianapolis 500.[13][14]

2015

On June 27, 2014, the team announced that it planned to compete full-time in the 2015 IndyCar Series season with driver Stefan Wilson.[22][23] Sponsorship issues prevented the team from competing.[24]

Racing results

Complete IndyCar results

(key)

Year Chassis Engine Drivers no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos. Pts.
2012 STP ALA LBH SAO INDY DET TEX MIL IOW TOR EDM MDO SNM BAL FON
Dallara DW12 Lotus Jean Alesi  R  64 33 34th 13

References
  1. "Lotus confirms Jean Alesi support". ESPN - Associated Press. May 8, 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  2. "Fan Force United Adds To Ownership Group". National Speed Sport News. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  3. Glendenning, Mark (December 17, 2013). "Fan Force United returns to Indy Lights for 2014 season". Autosport. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  4. Whitesides, Elaine (May 22, 2012). "Some Indy dreams still come true - Carmel residents Chris Williams and Tyce Carlson bring their Fan Force United race team to the IndyCar garages". Current in Carmel. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  5. "Fan Force to drive for Indy Lights C'ship". Fox Sports Asia. January 4, 2012. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  6. "Ebrahim, Fan Force Part Ways". National Speed Sport News. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  7. "Clauson preparing for IndyCar comeback". Autoweek. June 9, 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  8. "Lotus Confirms Alesi Indy 500 Entry". MRN Motor Racing Network. May 9, 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  9. Estrada, Chris (December 16, 2013). "MRTI: Anderson up to Indy Lights with returning Fan Force United". NBC Sports. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  10. Fryer, Jenna (March 12, 2013). "Wilson's kid brother tags along to Barber test". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Associated Press. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  11. DiZinno, Tony (May 2, 2014). "Kyle O'Gara added to Indy Lights field for Freedom 100". NBC Sports. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  12. DiZinno, Tony (May 11, 2014). "Power leads Penske 1-2-3 on Indy 500 opening day of practice". NBC Sports. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  13. Glendenning, Mark (May 9, 2013). "Buddy Lazier to enter own car for Indianapolis 500". Autosport. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  14. DiZinno, Tony (May 17, 2013). "Buddy Lazier gets reacclimated to Speedway after four-year hiatus". NBC Sports. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  15. "Jean Alesi and the racing team Fan Force United get ready for the Indy 500". luxurious magazine. May 14, 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  16. "IndyCar fines teams for violations". ESPN - Associated Press. May 20, 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  17. "Both Lotus pulled out of Indy 500, judged too slow". Fox News - Associated Press. May 27, 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  18. McDonald, Norris (May 21, 2012). "IndyCar driver Jean Alesi's need for speed becoming urgent". Toronto Star. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  19. "Jean Alesi: Car feels 'unsafe'". ESPN - Associated Press. May 16, 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  20. "Jean Alesi's Indy debut ends in ignominy". ESPN. May 27, 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  21. Cronin, Tim (May 27, 2012). "The Andretti curse lives at Indy 500". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  22. Glendenning, Mark (June 27, 2014). "Stefan Wilson gets 2015 IndyCar deal with Fan Force United". Autosport. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  23. DiZinno, Tony (June 27, 2014). "IndyCar: Fan Force United, Stefan Wilson poised for full-time 2015 effort". NBC Sports. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  24. Cavin, Curt (February 25, 2015). "IndyCar might indeed be without Justin Wilson". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
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