FAZZT Race Team
Encyclopedia
FAZZT Race Team was an auto racing team started by Montreal entrepreneur Andre Azzi, race car driver Alex Tagliani
, and former Kelley Racing
co-owner Jim Freudenberg (thus Freudenberg, Azzi, Tagliani).
The team's history can be traced to Freudenberg and Jason Priestley
's Rubicon Race Team fielding an entry into the 2008
Indianapolis 500
with veteran driver Max Papis
on March 4 of that year. The car was prepared by the Sam Schmidt Motorsports
crew. However, Papis crashed the car during the morning warm up of the third day of qualifying and while the car was repaired for the final day of qualifying, the team failed to find speed and struggled with gearbox problems during Bump Day and failed to make the field.
For the 2009 season, after a failed attempt to field a car with Pacific Coast Motorsports
the group was renamed Rubicon Sports Agency and partnered with Conquest Racing to field driver Alex Tagliani
for a partial schedule. Both Rubicon and Tagliani left Conquest after the 2009 Rexall Edmonton Indy.
It was announced on August 28th, 2009 that Azzi Race Division, ATG, and Rubicon Sports Agency would be fielding a full-time IndyCar Series
team beginning in 2010. The combined group purchased all the equipment of Roth Racing
including four Dallara chassis and has signed driver Alex Tagliani
to a four-year contract with an option for a fifth year. Walker Racing
veteran Rob Edwards was signed as team manager with Andre Azzi as CEO and Jim Freudenberg as COO. The team's race shop is in Indianapolis with a proposed additional R&D facility and offices located in Montreal. The team has started a development program for Canadian drivers. In 2010 Maryeve Dufault
was announced as the first driver signed to the team's development program.
In June 2010, General Manager Rob Edwards took over the role of COO when Freundberg left the team and ownership group.
The team completed the entire 2010 season with Tagliani in the number 77 car with sponsorship from Bowers & Wilkins
. Tagliani finished 13th in points with a best finish of fourth at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
, where he also led the most laps. Bruno Junqueira
drove a second car for the team in the 2010 Indianapolis 500
and was the fastest second-day qualifier, but he crashed early in the race and was credited with 32nd. Tagliani qualified for the 2010 Indianapolis 500 on the second row in fifth spot and finished 10th.
For 2011, Sam Schmidt Motorsports
bought the assets of FAZZT and retained all of the personnel including Tagliani. The team effectively will not run for 2011.
Alex Tagliani
Alexandre Tagliani is a Canadian auto racing driver from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He currently competes in the IZOD IndyCar Series, driving the #77 entry for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.-Champ Car career:...
, and former Kelley Racing
Kelley Racing
Kelley Racing is a former Indy Racing League team founded by Fort Wayne, Indiana-based car dealer Tom Kelley that most notably fielded a Delphi sponsored car for Scott Sharp during its entire existence from 1998 to 2004...
co-owner Jim Freudenberg (thus Freudenberg, Azzi, Tagliani).
The team's history can be traced to Freudenberg and Jason Priestley
Jason Priestley
Jason Bradford Priestley is a Canadian-American actor and director. He is best known as the virtuous Brandon Walsh on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, a role which catapulted him to recognition in the early 1990s....
's Rubicon Race Team fielding an entry into the 2008
2008 Indianapolis 500
The 92nd Indianapolis 500-Mile Race was run on Sunday May 25, 2008 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, USA. Scott Dixon of New Zealand won the race from the pole position. It was the thirteenth Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, and served as the showcase event of...
Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
with veteran driver Max Papis
Max Papis
Massimiliano "Max" Papis is a racing driver who has competed in several top-level motorsports events such as Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula One and Champ Car. He has three Champ Car victories. He is the son-in-law of Emerson Fittipaldi. His son's godfather is fellow Italian Alex Zanardi...
on March 4 of that year. The car was prepared by the Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Sam Schmidt Motorsports is an auto racing team in the IndyCar IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights Series owned by quadriplegic former driver Sam Schmidt....
crew. However, Papis crashed the car during the morning warm up of the third day of qualifying and while the car was repaired for the final day of qualifying, the team failed to find speed and struggled with gearbox problems during Bump Day and failed to make the field.
For the 2009 season, after a failed attempt to field a car with Pacific Coast Motorsports
Pacific Coast Motorsports
Pacific Coast Motorsports was a racing team owned by Tyler Tadevic. It was founded by Tadevic in 2003 and has competed in the American Le Mans Series, Champ Car Atlantic Series, and Rolex Grand-Am series. In 2007 it moved to the Champ Car World Series, one of America's premier open-wheel racing...
the group was renamed Rubicon Sports Agency and partnered with Conquest Racing to field driver Alex Tagliani
Alex Tagliani
Alexandre Tagliani is a Canadian auto racing driver from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He currently competes in the IZOD IndyCar Series, driving the #77 entry for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.-Champ Car career:...
for a partial schedule. Both Rubicon and Tagliani left Conquest after the 2009 Rexall Edmonton Indy.
It was announced on August 28th, 2009 that Azzi Race Division, ATG, and Rubicon Sports Agency would be fielding a full-time IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
team beginning in 2010. The combined group purchased all the equipment of Roth Racing
Roth Racing
Roth Racing was a race team owned by Canadian real estate magnate and racecar driver Marty Roth. It competed in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series.- 2004-2005 :...
including four Dallara chassis and has signed driver Alex Tagliani
Alex Tagliani
Alexandre Tagliani is a Canadian auto racing driver from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He currently competes in the IZOD IndyCar Series, driving the #77 entry for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.-Champ Car career:...
to a four-year contract with an option for a fifth year. Walker Racing
Walker Racing
Walker Racing is a racing team founded by Derrick Walker in 1991 racing originally in the CART Championship Car series. Presently the team competes in the Firestone Indy Lights series.-Early success:...
veteran Rob Edwards was signed as team manager with Andre Azzi as CEO and Jim Freudenberg as COO. The team's race shop is in Indianapolis with a proposed additional R&D facility and offices located in Montreal. The team has started a development program for Canadian drivers. In 2010 Maryeve Dufault
Maryeve Dufault
Maryeve Dufault is a Canadian model and race car driver from Sorel, Quebec. She appeared as a model on the American game show The Price is Right. She also has raced in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and Nationwide Series....
was announced as the first driver signed to the team's development program.
In June 2010, General Manager Rob Edwards took over the role of COO when Freundberg left the team and ownership group.
The team completed the entire 2010 season with Tagliani in the number 77 car with sponsorship from Bowers & Wilkins
Bowers & Wilkins
Bowers & Wilkins is a British loudspeaker company that produces mid-range through reference quality hi-fi and home theater speakers. The company name is often abbreviated to just B&W.Joe Atkins is current owner and chairman...
. Tagliani finished 13th in points with a best finish of fourth at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a road course auto racing facility located in Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, United States, just outside of the village of Lexington...
, where he also led the most laps. Bruno Junqueira
Bruno Junqueira
Bruno Junqueira is a Brazilian race car driver that most recently competed in the IRL IndyCar Series. He is a former Formula 3000 champion and three-time runner-up in the Champ Car World Series.-Early career:...
drove a second car for the team in the 2010 Indianapolis 500
2010 Indianapolis 500
The 94th Indianapolis 500 was held on Sunday, May 30, 2010, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was the 15th Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, and was the premier event of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season. The race was won by Dario Franchitti, ahead of Dan Wheldon and Marco...
and was the fastest second-day qualifier, but he crashed early in the race and was credited with 32nd. Tagliani qualified for the 2010 Indianapolis 500 on the second row in fifth spot and finished 10th.
For 2011, Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Sam Schmidt Motorsports is an auto racing team in the IndyCar IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights Series owned by quadriplegic former driver Sam Schmidt....
bought the assets of FAZZT and retained all of the personnel including Tagliani. The team effectively will not run for 2011.