IndyCar Team Owner Sam Schmidt Purchases Up-And-Coming Fazzt Race Team

Sam Schmidt Motorsports Owner Sam Schmidt yesterday bought the Fazzt Race Team, "one of IndyCar's brightest young teams," according to Curt Cavin of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Schmidt "acquired all of Fazzt's assets," including Bowers & Wilkins' sponsorship program for the '11 season. Fazzt driver Alex Tagliani "will remain driver of the No. 77 car." Fazzt at some point "will move to the former Vision Racing shop now used by Schmidt's team." Schmidt "expects his previously announced IndyCar contracts -- for drivers Wade Cunningham and Jay Howard -- to run out of Fazzt's Indianapolis shop." SSM will continue to field driver Townsend Bell in the Indianapolis 500. Fazzt "was created for the 2010 season, a partnership of Tagliani, Jim Freudenberg and actor Jason Priestley." Cavin writes Schmidt's "first bid at IndyCar team ownership had mixed results, leading him to focus on the Firestone Indy Lights series." Schmidt said that his "four-car Indy Lights program will continue this season" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/2).