Bio

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Birthday: March 27, 1977
Hometown: Brasilia, Brazil
Residence: Miami

Vitor Meira began racing go-karts in his native Brazil when he was 12 and won a Brazilian karting title by the time he moved to Europe to race cars in 1995, just before his 19th birthday. He has also won the South American F3 title and was the inaugural winner of the Indy Racing League's Rising Star Award, given in honor of the late Tony Renna.

Away from the track, Meira enjoys competing in triathlons, a multi-sport endurance event consisting of swimming, cycling and running in immediate succession over various distances. "What I gain from competing in triathlons is that at any time I'm training, it reflects positively on my driving," he said.

Driver History

IZOD INDYCAR SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

First start: Aug. 11, 2002 (Kentucky Speedway)
First pole: Sept. 15, 2002 (Texas Motor Speedway)

2009
• Started season with ninth-place finish at St. Petersburg, improving eight positions.
• Injured in contact at Indianapolis, ending his season.

2008
• Finished 13th in IndyCar Series standings for Panther Racing with best finish of second at Indianapolis.
• Recorded two top-five and eight top-10 finishes.
• Led six races for total of 81 laps and was running at the finish in 11 of 17 races.
• Joined A.J. Foyt Racing after the season to compete in the No. 14 ABC Supply car. Made debut with the team in non-points race in October in Surfers Paradise, Australia.

2007
• Finished 12th in IndyCar Series standings for Delphi Panther Racing with best finish of fourth at Homestead.
• Recorded three top-five and 10 top-10 finishes.
• Led 71 laps at Iowa before retiring from the race because of mechanical failure while leading.

2006
• Finished fifth in IndyCar Series standings for Panther Racing with a best finish of second at Watkins Glen and Richmond.
• Recorded seven other top-10 finishes with the benefit of only one top-five start (fifth at Milwaukee).

2005
• Finished seventh in IndyCar Series standings for Rahal Letterman Racing with a best finish of second (Indianapolis and Kentucky). Recorded seven top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.
• Started seventh and finished second at 89^th Indianapolis 500. Led three laps - his first laps led at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

2004
• Finished eighth in IndyCar Series standings despite competing in only 14 of 16 races. Earned six top-five finishes, including runner-up positions at Richmond and Kansas.
• Qualified in the top five seven times and earned the pole position at Milwaukee.
• Led at Kansas, Nashville, Chicagoland and Texas 2 for a total of 152 laps.

2003
• Finished 22nd in IndyCar Series standings after competing in 10 events for Team Menard with a best finish of fourth (Texas2).
• Did not compete in the first three events of the season before finishing 12th in his first Indianapolis 500. Competed in the next seven races before suffering a wrist injury in practice crash at Kentucky. Missed next three races, but returned for final two races of the season.

2002
• Drove final four races of season for Team Menard.
• Won first career pole position in season finale at Texas. Led eight laps en route to a third-place finish.

ROAD TO IZOD INDYCAR SERIES

2002
• Competed in four races in European F3000 series.

2001
• Finished fifth in point standings in European F3000 series.

2000
• Won the South American F3 championship with eight victories.
• Tested a Formula 3000 car for SuperNova team at Jerez, Spain.
• Won 3 Hours of Fortaleza, Brazil.
• Tested an IndyCar Series car with Panther Racing at Texas Motor Speedway.

1999
• Rookie of the Year in the South American F3 series, finishing sixth in the point standings.
• Won two South American F3 races.
• Won 6 Hours of Fortaleza, Brazil and 3 Hours of Fortaleza, Brazil.

1998
• Finished fifth in the British Formula Renault championship, winning the 14^th round at Brands Hatch.

1997
• Class winner of Brazilian 1000 Miles sports car race.
• Finished fourth in the British Formula Ford championship, winning pole position at the Formula Ford World Finals.

1996
• Finished fourth in the British Formula Ford championship, winning pole position at the Formula Ford World Finals.

1995
• British Formula Ford Winter Series champion.

Early Career
• Competed in kart racing, winning Brazilian championship and finishing second in the South American championship.