Hot Wheels(R) partners with the FAZZT Race Team and Canadian driver, Alex
Tagliani, this summer for the IndyCar Races in Canada

One-of-a-kind No. 77 Indy Racing League(R) Hot Wheels(R) racecar to be unveiled in Toronto on July 14th

TORONTO, June 30 /CNW/ - Hot Wheels(R) and the FAZZT Race Team are excited to announce a partnership that is sure to race straight to the hearts of IndyCar fans across Canada. This July, at the Honda Indy Toronto and Honda Indy Edmonton, FAZZT Race Team driver and the only Canadian scheduled to race in all IndyCar races this year, Alex Tagliani, will be racing in a brand new Honda IndyCar, customized in Hot Wheels(R) style. The car will be unveiled for the first time at the Honda IndyFest on July 14th at Yonge and Dundas Square in Toronto.

"Hot Wheels(R) is about providing thrilling vehicle experiences to boys of all ages who are looking to fuel their passion for speed, power and performance," says Melissa Chau, Hot Wheels(R) Assistant Brand Manager for Mattel Canada. "We are so excited to see this vision brought to life through our partnership with the FAZZT Race Team and Canada's very own Alex Tagliani."

Tagliani's racecar, fire suit and his pit crew's uniforms will all be designed by the Hot Wheels creative team with an entirely new, custom design scheme that reflects Alex's fearless and competitive driving style on the racetrack. "This year, we are thrilled to expand our presence on the track with this one-of-a kind racecar look that only Hot Wheels can provide," says Chau.

"Some of my earliest and favourite memories of when I was a little boy are of racing with Hot Wheels cars," says Tagliani, who has been racing professionally for 14 years. "Decades later, it's a huge honour to have my very own life-size Hot Wheels racecar. I am looking forward to getting on the racetrack and crossing the finish line in my awesome Hot Wheels(R) ride, in front of my fellow Canadians."

The unveiling of the No. 77 Hot Wheels(R) car will take place on July 14 at the Honda IndyFest event at Yonge and Dundas Square in Toronto. The Honda Indy Toronto takes place July 16-18, 2010 and the Honda Indy Edmonton the following weekend, July 23-25.

Additionally, a 1:64 scale replica version of this limited edition car will be available for fans to purchase in 2011.

For more information on Hot Wheels(R) visit www.hotwheels.ca or for the FAZZT Race Team, visit www.fazztraceteam.com.

About Alex Tagliani

Alex Tagliani, nicknamed "Tag", is an avid karting buff who also enjoys swimming, cycling, bowling, and in-line skating. In addition, he is a big fan of DVDs, music and video games, especially those that test his abilities as a racecar driver. Alex is married to Australian model Bronte Tagliani, whom he met during a race weekend in Surfers Paradise, Australia. Tag caught the racing bug at the age of 10 when his paternal grandfather introduced him to karting during a trip to Italy. Alex splits him time between his residence in Las Vegas and his hometown of Lachenaie, Quebec. He is fluent in French, English and Italian.

Career Highlights

- Finished career-best seventh in 2004 and 2005 Champ Car championship

standings

- Scored first Champ Car victory with win at Road America, 2004

- Scored at least two podium finishes per season in six of his eight

Champ Car seasons

- Finished among top five in Toyota Atlantic Championship standings

from 1997-99

About the Hot Wheels(R) brand

Hot Wheels(R) cars revolutionized boys' toys in 1968 with an original line of super-fast, customized cars built for speed, power, performance and attitude. Now, more than 40 years later, Hot Wheels(R) is a global lifestyle brand that represents the coolest cars imaginable in scales from miniature to full-size. Hot Wheels(R) cars are also popular collectibles for adults and each year, introduces a new line-up of innovative vehicles, track sets and play sets.

About FAZZT Race Team

The FAZZT Race Team was formed in July 2009 as a partnership between Andre Azzi of the Azzi Race Division, ATG, and other business partners. The team fields a full-time IndyCar Series team that made its debut at the season opening event in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The team has four Dallara chassis and has Canadian driver Alex Tagliani to drive the No.77 entry. Andre Azzi, a Montreal based entrepreneur, is the team's Chief Executive Officer and Rob Edwards is the Chief Operating Officer and team General Manager. The team is housed in a 25,000 ft. race shop on the north side of Indianapolis with a second facility that will house their Research and Design division in Montreal. For more information, go to www.FAZZTRaceTeam.com.

For further information: or to arrange an interview, please contact: Naz Araghian, GCI Group, [email protected], 416.486.7225; Jana Watt, FAZZT Race Team, [email protected], 317.709.3855