Fan Force United & Xclusive Marketing Agency confirmed today that Stefan Wilson has signed to be the driver of its car for the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season. The team said it is attempting to enter Wilson in one or more events in the second half of this season.
Fan Force United, which operates an Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires team, has been seeking the opportunity to enter the Verizon IndyCar Series full time and recently aligned with Xclusive Marketing Agency to make it a reality.
"We are extremely excited to have Stefan as our driver to build our team around," team co-owner Chris Williams said. "He embodies what FFU is about. Aside from being quick, he has that never-say-die attitude. He does whatever it takes to get on the track, racing is his life and he’s one of the most fan friendly drivers in the paddock. We can't wait to get him on track."
The team has signed a letter of intent with a major sponsor, Jilcat Industries.
Wilson, 24, who has competed in Indy Lights and made his Verizon IndyCar Series debut last September at Baltimore, is looking forward to being back in the seat soon.
“This is a really exciting time for all of us at Fan Force United, having Jilcat Industries partner with the team for 2015 and beyond, is just a dream come true for everyone involved," said Wilson, brother of Dale Coyne Racing driver Justin Wilson. "I had the chance to race for Fan Force at the Indy Lights finale at Fontana in 2012. They didn’t know much about me and I didn’t know much about them going into it, we secured their best result of the year together that weekend and became great friends in doing so.
“I’ve raced for a lot of different teams over the years and I don’t think I’ve ever raced for a team with as much passion for the sport as Fan Force United. They work incredibly hard; this is why it’s so exciting. Now having Jilcat Industries as a partner and having that boost our resources, I think this team can really do a lot together. There's still a lot of work to do before its set in stone, but knowing that I’m one step closer to achieving my dream of competing in the Indianapolis 500, it is really exciting.
"I’m looking forward to having a full-time ride again and being able to apply myself 100 percent to this program."
Team co-owner Tyce Carlson made 30 IndyCar Series starts, including two in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, between 1996 and 2002.
“We are very excited to have Stefan as a member of the Fan Force Untied family,” he said. “We had the privilege of running him in our Lights car at Fontana in 2012 and he took a challenging track and less than perfect race car and made us competitive immediately. I know that he has been working really hard this year trying to put together a program and we are just glad to be able to give him a place to call home and begin his full-time career in INDYCAR.”