Vítor Meira (born March 27, 1977) is a Brazilian former auto racing driver. He formerly competed in the IndyCar Series and has twice finished second in the Indianapolis 500.[1][2]
| Vítor Meira | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Meira in 2008 | |
| Nationality |  Brazilian |
| Born | March 27, 1977 Brasília, DF, Brazil |
| IRL IndyCar Series career | |
| Debut season | 2002 |
| Current team | A. J. Foyt Enterprises |
| Years active | 10 |
| Car number | 2, 4, 14, 17, 22 |
| Former teams | Panther Racing Rahal Letterman Racing Team Menard |
| Starts | 112 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 15 |
| Poles | 2 |
| Best finish | 5th in 2006 |
| Championship titles | |
| 2000 | Formula Three Sudamericana |
| Awards | |
| 2008 | Scott Brayton Trophy |
IndyCar Series
edit2002
editAfter participating in an open test for Panther Racing at Texas Motor Speedway in 2002, Meira made his IndyCar debut with Team Menard on August 11, 2002, at Kentucky Speedway. A little over a month later, Vitor won his first career pole at Texas Motor Speedway after just four starts,[3] and finished in third place.[4]
2003
editIn 2003, Meira ran his first start of the year for Team Menard at the Indianapolis 500, where he finished 12th as a rookie.[1] Meira then ran the next seven races in the #2 Johns Manville powered Dallara Chevrolet, until a practice crash at Kentucky Speedway sidelined him for the next three races. After recovering from his wrist injury he suffered at Kentucky, Vitor ran the final two races of the season.
2004
editIn 2004, Meira missed the first two races of the season before a race-by-race deal was presented to Meira by Rahal-Letterman Racing. After Vitor's disappointing finish of 17th in Indy Japan 300, where he suffered a clutch problem, he ran the rest of the season in the #17 G-Force sponsored by Centrix Financial. At The Milwaukee Mile, on July 25, 2004, Meira earned his second career pole.[5]
2005
editRahal-Letterman Racing signed Meira to a three-year contract in 2005, with backing from longtime supporter, Johns Manville and Menards. One notable race finish during the year was a second place to Dan Wheldon at the Indianapolis 500.[1] Meira gave Rahal-Letterman Racing their best final point standing finish of seventh as well as recording seven top five and eleven top ten finishes for the team. After losing a majority of the funds for the #17 car, Rahal-Letterman needed a driver who had sponsorship with them. For Meira, that meant losing his ride to Paul Dana, who brought Ethanol sponsorship.
2006
editGoing into 2006, Meira was looking to moving back to Brazil and run stock cars for fellow Brazilian and IndyCar competitor, Hélio Castroneves' team. But just as he was getting ready to pack his bags for Brasília, he received a phone call from Panther Racing owner, John Barnes. Even though Panther had lost their longtime sponsor, Pennzoil, as well as engine supplier, Chevrolet, the owners (John Barnes, Mike Griffin, Jim Harbaugh, and Doug Boles), sold off old cars, parts, and equipment to keep the team running. After much speculation of the team closing its doors in Indianapolis, the news came on February 10, 2006, that Panther Racing and Meira signed a deal to run the famous #4 for the 2006 IndyCar season. Throughout 2006, Panther Racing and Meira had a plethora of sponsors on the side of their Honda powered Dallara, including Econova, Network Live, Harrah's, Lincoln Tech, and Revive Energy Mints all adorned the sidepods of the brightly colored orange car during the 2006 season. Despite not winning a race in 2006, Meira finished a career best of fifth in the IndyCar point standings after finishing the season with seven top five and twelve top ten finishes. Even though he has not won a race in over 50 starts, he has finished second seven times in his career.
2007
editAfter signing a three-year contract with Panther Racing in 2008, Meira was sponsored by longtime IndyCar participant, Delphi Corporation, who signed a two-year deal with the team.
Meira, who became engaged to longtime girlfriend, Adriana, in March 2006, was married at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas on March 22, 2008.
2008
editMeira returned to Panther Racing in 2008 where the United States National Guard became the car's primary sponsor and Delphi became a secondary one. However, the team again contracted to a single car in the IndyCar Series as the Aguri and their sponsorship took Mutoh to the IndyCar Series with Andretti Green Racing rather than Panther.
Meira finished second in the 2008 running of the Indianapolis 500 matching his second-place finish in 2005. Meira chased the eventual winner, Scott Dixon, closing the gap to as little as 0.4 seconds until losing ground due to late race traffic. Meira set his fastest lap on lap 195 of 200.[1]
2009
editMeira drove the #14 for A. J. Foyt Enterprises in 2009, replacing Darren Manning. During the 2009 Indianapolis 500, Meira's car survived a spectacular fire in the pits and he later broke two vertebrae in his lower back during a crash involving Raphael Matos on lap 174. Meira did not need surgery and the fracture was treated with a back brace.[6] Meira was out for the rest of the 2009 season.[7]
2010
editMeira drove to a podium finish in his first race back after his injury; a 3rd-place finish in his home country of Brazil. This would be his best finish of the year. Vitor drove to a 12th place overall finish in the points standings for the 2010 IndyCar Series season.
.jpg)
2011
editMeira returned to A. J. Foyt Enterprises driving the #14 ABC Supply Company Indy Car. He finished 15th overall, with a best of 5th place of Toronto. He was involved in the 15-car accident that killed Dan Wheldon during the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship race.[8] Meira was left without a ride for the 2012 IndyCar season, and he left American racing as a result.[9]
2015
editMeira attempted a come back for the 2015 Indianapolis 500,[10] but failed to find a ride.
Business
editAfter his American racing career, Meira started a self-storage facility business in Brazil, and took over an advertising agency started by his father.[11]
Motorsports career results
editComplete Euro Formula 3000 results
edit(key)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | ADM Motorsport | VLL Ret |
PER Ret |
MOZ DNS |
DON Ret |
ZOL 2 |
IMO 5 |
NÜR 3 |
VAL 3 |
5th | 16 | |
| 2002 | ADM Motorsport | VLL 7 |
PER 11 |
MOZ Ret |
SPA | DON | BRN | DIJ | JER | CAG | NC | 0 |
Complete IndyCar Series results
edit(key)
| Year | Team | Chassis | No. | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Team Menard | Dallara | 2 | Chevrolet | HMS | PHX | FON | NZR | INDY | TXS | PPIR | RIR | KAN | NSH | MIS | KTY 15 |
STL 9 |
CHI 8 |
TX2 3 |
25th | 96 | [12] | ||||
| 2003 | 22 | HMS | PHX | MOT | INDY 12 |
22nd | 170 | [13] | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | TXS 12 |
PPIR 16 |
RIR 22 |
KAN 20 |
NSH 19 |
MIS 21 |
STL 9 |
KTY DNS |
NZR | CHI | FON 11 |
TX2 4 | ||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Rahal Letterman Racing | G-Force | 17 | Honda | HMS | PHX | MOT 17 |
INDY 6 |
TXS 6 |
RIR 2 |
KAN 2 |
NSH 12 |
MIL 5 |
MIS 5 |
KTY 7 |
PPIR 7 |
NZR 10 |
CHI 5 |
FON 21 |
TX2 4 |
8th | 376 | [14] | |||
| 2005 | Panoz | HMS 4 |
PHX 11 |
STP 5 |
MOT 15 |
INDY 2 |
TXS 9 |
RIR 20 |
KAN 3 |
NSH 16 |
MIL 9 |
MIS 14 |
KTY 2 |
PPIR 5 |
SNM 9 |
CHI 7 |
WGL 18 |
FON 3 |
7th | 422 | [15] | |||||
| 2006 | Panther Racing | Dallara | 4 | HMS 16 |
STP 5 |
MOT 10 |
INDY 10 |
WGL 2 |
TXS 6 |
RIR 2 |
KAN 3 |
NSH 3 |
MIL 15 |
MIS 2 |
KTY 6 |
SNM 3 |
CHI 6 |
5th | 411 | [16] | ||||||
| 2007 | HMS 4 |
STP 16 |
MOT 17 |
KAN 8 |
INDY 10 |
MIL 5 |
TXS 5 |
IOW 9 |
RIR 9 |
WGL 17 |
NSH 10 |
MDO 17 |
MIS 18 |
KTY 10 |
SNM 9 |
DET 15 |
CHI 18 |
12th | 334 | [17] | ||||||
| 2008 | HMS 10 |
STP 19 |
MOT1 16 |
LBH1 DNP |
KAN 22 |
INDY 2 |
MIL 22 |
TXS 7 |
IOW 15 |
RIR 20 |
WGL 22 |
NSH 6 |
MDO 6 |
EDM 19 |
KTY 4 |
SNM 7 |
DET 17 |
CHI 27 |
13th | 324 | [18] | |||||
| A.J. Foyt Enterprises | 14 | SRF2 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | STP 9 |
LBH 14 |
KAN 22 |
INDY 21 |
MIL | TXS | IOW | RIR | WGL | TOR | EDM | KTY | MDO | SNM | CHI | MOT | HMS | 28th | 62 | [19] | ||||||
| 2010 | SAO 3 |
STP 15 |
ALA 18 |
LBH 11 |
KAN 10 |
INDY 27 |
TXS 10 |
IOW 7 |
WGL 19 |
TOR 11 |
EDM 16 |
MDO 15 |
SNM 15 |
CHI 9 |
KTY 23 |
MOT 17 |
HMS 6 |
12th | 310 | [20] | ||||||
| 2011 | STP 8 |
ALA 12 |
LBH 9 |
SAO 17 |
INDY 15 |
TXS1 8 |
TXS2 11 |
MIL 24 |
IOW 18 |
TOR 5 |
EDM 12 |
MDO 10 |
NHM 10 |
SNM 22 |
BAL 9 |
MOT 25 |
KTY 16 |
LVS C |
16th | 287 | [21] | |||||
- 1 Run on same day.
- 2 Non-points-paying, exhibition race.
| Years | Teams | Races | Poles | Wins | Podiums (Non-win) |
Top 10s (Non-podium) |
Indianapolis 500 Wins |
Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 4 | 131 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 56 | 0 | 0 |
Indianapolis 500
edit| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 26 | 12 | Menard |
| 2004 | G-Force | Honda | 7 | 6 | Rahal Letterman |
| 2005 | Panoz | 7 | 2 | Rahal Letterman | |
| 2006 | Dallara | 6 | 10 | Panther | |
| 2007 | Dallara | 19 | 10 | Panther | |
| 2008 | Dallara | 8 | 2 | Panther | |
| 2009 | Dallara | 14 | 21 | Foyt | |
| 2010 | Dallara | 30 | 27 | Foyt | |
| 2011 | Dallara | 11 | 15 | Foyt |
Complete Stock Car Brasil results
edit| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Officer ProGP | Chevrolet Sonic | INT 27 |
CTB 8 |
VEL Ret |
RBP Ret |
LON 24 |
RIO 18 |
SAL Ret |
CGD 9 |
TAR 20 |
CTB 9 |
BSB 17 |
INT 28 |
23rd | 45 | |||||||||
| 2014 | Boettger Competições | Peugeot 408 | INT 1 Ret |
SCZ 1 |
SCZ 2 |
BRA 1 |
BRA 2 |
GOI 1 |
GOI 2 |
GOI 1 |
CAS 1 |
CAS 2 |
CUR 1 |
CUR 2 |
VEL 1 |
VEL 2 |
SAL 1 |
SAL 2 |
TAR 1 |
TAR 2 |
RBP 1 |
RBP 2 |
CUR 1 |
NC† | 0† |
| 2015 | Eurofarma RC | Chevrolet Sonic | GOI 1 6 |
RBP 1 |
RBP 2 |
VEL 1 |
VEL 2 |
CUR 1 |
CUR 2 |
SCZ 1 |
SCZ 2 |
CUR 1 |
CUR 2 |
GOI 1 |
CAS 1 |
CAS 2 |
BRA 1 |
BRA 2 |
CUR 1 |
CUR 2 |
TAR 1 |
TAR 2 |
INT 1 |
NC† | 0† |
† Ineligible for championship points.
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Vitor Meira Career Stats". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ "Vítor Meira fala quem são os favoritos da Fórmula Indy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
- ^ "Rookie Vitor Meira wins pole". United Press International. 2002-09-14. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ "Photo finish: IRL championship decided by inches at Texas 500". CNN Sports Illustrated. 2002-09-16. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ "Meira wins pole at The Milwaukee Mile". NBC Sports. Associated Press. 2004-07-24. Archived from the original on 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ "Meira breaks two vertebra in crash-filled Indy 500". USA Today. 2009-05-24. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
- ^ "AUTO-RACING - INDYCAR: Kanaan Hurting; Meira Out For '09 - SPEEDtv.com". Archived from the original on 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "Dan Wheldon killed in horrific, 15-car IndyCar pile-up at the final race of the season in Las Vegas". The Courier Mail.
- ^ "Vitor Meira bids farewell to US racing". Crash. 2012-02-11. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ Cavin, Curt. "Curt Cavin: Talking Carpenter and Meira". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "Meira Sees INDYCAR Career as Win despite No Checkered Flags". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "Vitor Meira – 2002 Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "Vitor Meira – 2003 IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "Vitor Meira – 2004 IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "Vitor Meira – 2005 IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "Vitor Meira – 2006 IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "Vitor Meira – 2007 IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "Vitor Meira – 2008 IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "Vitor Meira – 2009 IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "Vitor Meira – 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "Vitor Meira – 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
External links
edit