IndyCar: Fan Force United plans IndyCar team

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They've got a driver, a letter of intent from a sponsor and some history together but, most of all, Tyce Carlson and Chris Williams have the wheels in motion to become full-time players in the 2015 Verizon IndyCar series.

The owners of Fan Force United, which currently competes in Indy Lights with Scott Anderson, are planning to move up next season with Stefan Wilson (LEFT) in the cockpit.

"We've been working with Stefan for a long time trying to put something together and Tyce and I have always wanted to move up so this looks like our best opportunity," said Williams, a financial advisor who grew up in California but got hooked on the Indianapolis 500 on his first visit 22 years ago. "A sponsor that used to be involved in racing came to us and we'll be announcing who it is tomorrow."

Carlson, a two-time starter at the Indy 500 who grew up in the shadow of IMS, formed FFU Racing with Williams in 2008 and they got a taste of the big time by running Jean Alesi at Indianapolis in the hopeless Lotus effort in 2012 (pictured, TOP).

"Since I was at School 100 on 30th Street and Lafayette Road my goal has always been to be a full-time car owner and win the Indy 500," said Carlson, whose full-time job at the moment is in real estate with Remax Ability Plus. "Stefan ran for us at Fontana in 2012 and he's shown he's got the ability, so I'm excited about giving him a shot."

Wilson, whose older brother Justin has been a fixture in American open-wheel racing since 2004, won a Lights race at Toronto and finally got a one-off in IndyCar last year at Baltimore.

"I'm optimistic this thing is going to happen and I'm tired of being a spotter, I want to drive," he said.

FFU rents space in Denis Reinbold's shop and Williams says he's trying to put together a deal for young Wilson to run Reinbold's Dallara/Chevry at Mid-Ohio or Fontana (or both) in August.

"Stefan is great with sponsors, media and fans and he just needs a chance to show what he can do in an Indy car," said Williams. "We've been looking at purchasing some of Panther Racing's pit equipment and we'll have to expand our team, obviously.

"I know it's never a done deal until the money is in the bank but I don't think this is some fly-by-night deal."

In the past two years IndyCar has lost three teams (Jay Penske, Dreyer & Reinbold and Panther) and the consistent car count is down to 22 so FFU would be a welcome addition to the paddock.

"Chris has done his due diligence and it sounds good," said Carlson. "We've always been under-funded but this deal won't be a shoestring if it happens."