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Vitor Meira Plans To Attend His First IndyCar Race since Indy 500 Accident
MIAMI July 2, 2009—Indy car driver Vitor Meira will attend his first IndyCar Series race this weekend since sustaining two broken lower vertebrae in his terrifying accident in the Indianapolis 500 in May. Meira arrives at Watkins Glen (NY) International Friday afternoon.
“The reason I want to go to Watkins Glen is first of all to be with the team, with ABC Supply and A.J. Foyt Racing,” said Meira in a telephone interview from his home in Key Biscayne, Fla. earlier today. “They’ve been giving me a lot of support since the accident and most of all, they’re all my friends and I want to be with them. Second of all, to be at the race track, that’s where I always want to be and that’s where I love to be. I don’t want to be at home if I can be at the race track. If I have to choose, I’m definitely going to be at the race track.”
Meira plans to help the ABC Supply Racing team in any way he can once he’s at the beautiful 3.4-mile road course which is located in New York’s Southern Finger Lakes Region.
“I’ll probably go around the track and watch some cars with a stopwatch and take some times and take notes on some different lines so I can keep Ryan updated on what people are doing out there,” Meira explained. “I’ll do whatever else the team asks me to do but I’m just not going to be very good changing tires and fueling…the rest I will do!”
When asked if he ever had to watch someone else drive ‘his’ race car, Meira responded quickly, “Never. It’s very weird,” and then added with a chuckle, “Well, it’s not my race car, I’m just driving A.J.’s race car but it was planned for me to be there. But it is different. It makes you appreciate a little more the opportunities you have.”
Meira has just returned from a 10-day trip to his native Brazil where he was visiting his family and checking in with his personal physician. “I had some business things there to sort out that I didn’t have to do, but it would be good to do since I had the time,” Meira said. “And I saw my family and my family doctor to keep everybody abreast…not to get a second opinion because I value Dr. Trammell’s opinion but I just wanted to let my family doctor know how I was. It kept me busy a little bit.”
Meira plans to be a frequent spectator at the races but will not attend the upcoming Canadian races because he would need to get a visa. “It’s a lot of paperwork just to go watch a race,” he explained.
Defending race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay starts practicing in the No. 14 ABC Supply Indy car Saturday morning with qualifying for the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen taking place that afternoon. The race will be broadcast live on ABC-TV this Sunday afternoon starting at 1 pm EDT.
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HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
Father’s Day is a time to remember our fathers and step-fathers, those special men in our lives who helped make us the people we are today. Some used tough love to instill discipline while others motivated through encouragement of small successes while others used a little of both. For many people in all walks of life, not just racing or sports, their father was their first hero and in many cases their only hero, one they came to appreciate even more as they grew older and wiser. We asked our A.J. Foyt Racing team members and office staff how their fathers influenced their lives. Their answers are revealing as much as they are heart-warming.
Team owner A.J. Foyt, Jr. on his father Tony: “He was a hard working mechanic all his life and he had race cars and always had winning race cars. I enjoyed going to the races with him – he taught me all about building race cars and building motors and being a mechanic. The only advice he’d give me on driving was when I screwed up and he’d tell me how I made a bad mistake. Daddy was pretty tough on me, but I think that he had a lot to do with my desire to win, because there were many times I wanted to win just to show him I was right about this or that.”
Team Director Larry Foyt on his father A.J.: “My father has had a major influence on everything I have done in my life. I was very proud of him as a kid and I remember watching him at Indy every year and that certainly put racing in my mind and led me down this career path. At the same time, he didn't give me things without teaching me about working for it...which included sweeping floors at the race shop, and eventually led me to graduate college which was very important to him. As you can imagine, he was very straightforward about discipline, and this made it easy to resist getting into much trouble as a kid. I always respected his honesty towards people, and even though he has a reputation of ‘being A.J.’, he has a big heart, and I have enjoyed meeting people for whom he has done amazing acts of kindness, and never mentioned it to anyone. I strive in my life to touch people in the same way, and deal in business and relationships with the integrity he has shown.”
Driver A.J. Foyt IV on his father Tony: “I have always looked up to my dad on really how he does things. He never seems to do things half ass. I can say I have picked up on that myself. When I put my mind to something I always do my best at it. Also another important thing is to always be on time. He is never ever late. I have for sure picked up on that. I hate being late. He has always tried to steer me down the right path and make sure I’m doing the best I can and I have always appreciated that. He has always supported me and backed me up in a lot of things throughout my life. My mom is not so bad either!”
Driver Vitor Meira on his father Haroldo: “My dad was always very tough on me in regards to dedication, so I have to thank him a lot for pushing me. He also used to race himself and he was the one that introduced me to go karts. We are very close. Even though I'm 32 he still pushes me like I’m 15.”
Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay on his father Nick: “My dad has influenced my life—we’ve always been very close but the biggest thing obviously is the racing. We’ve always been car nuts together. He got me a go-kart and that started my racing career. He made a lot of sacrifices; he threw his social life out the window, threw money out the window, threw his time out the window to pursue something that I wanted to pursue. If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t be driving Indy cars today so he’s inspired my life in a lot of ways. That’s one way we became very close. On a personal level he’s the most relentless person I know, he never gives up, is very tenacious. He says don’t take no for an answer and there’s no such thing as a free lunch, you always have to work for it. He’s definitely ingrained that in me. A big influence.”
Team Manager Craig Baranouski on his father Bob: “He taught me right from wrong and he was always there for me. He worked an extra job to make sure I had motorcycles and snowmobiles but at the same time they were rewards for what I would do as far as school and stuff like that. That was part of helping me become a better person. My uncle (my dad’s brother) had an influence on me too because he was in the automotive business. My dad would take the extra time when I was only 13 or 14 to take me over there so I could work on Saturdays and earn a little extra money plus learn more about cars which is where my interest was. I got scolded when I was younger because I’d get a bike and have it a couple weeks and the next thing I’d have it apart and be in his tools and doing something to it. He probably scolded me more for being in his tools than for taking it apart. I always put it back together but it might be from two different ones, I might have wanted a bigger wheel on the one or something.”
Transporter Driver Rodney Klausmeyer on his father Virgil: “He was a really hard-working person who influenced me to be that way too. If you start a job, finish it, don’t leave things half done. That was one of the biggest things he impressed me with. He was raised on a cattle ranch but he became a truck driver.”
Crew Chief Tom Howatt III on his father Tom: “He taught me ‘Do as you’re told and pay attention to what you’re doing. My dad was a hard worker, he worked all of his life. He had a good family, had good values and he tried to pass it along to me and I try to attain those values.”
Mechanic Randy Baden Jr. on his father Randy: “My father and I were always close. I always wanted to do things around the farm and he would allow me when he had time and it wasn't too dangerous. We also went racing together. He encouraged me with racing and in sports but also kept me grounded when I would get a big head. We still talk a lot and like to go racing together when we both get the opportunity.”
Mechanic Brian McEntire on his father Alan: “He influenced my life with racing that’s for sure ‘cause him and his buddy used to race when I was a little kid, 8 or 9 years old. He raced dirt stock cars at El Paso (TX) Speedway. So I was brought up around racing all my life that’s why I still love it so much. That’s one thing he did for me and he taught me to be a good mechanic and I’m making a living out of it now. I did a lot of local racing around here, helping out others, mostly sprint car racing at Big H Motor Speedway and Devil’s Bowl Speedway—and Cowtown Speedway near Dallas.”
Mechanic Wade Crews on his father Alfred Williams: “I grew up in a military family [army] and he was pretty strict. We traveled quite a bit, I graduated high school in Germany but we moved around mostly in the U.S. As a kid we started building cars together on the military bases, we had a little shop on the side and he just taught me quite a bit of stuff on cars. I really admired the military side of him, he was a straightforward guy, very respectful, very kind. He’s actually my stepfather but I consider him my real father.”
Mechanic Thomas Semik II on his father Thomas: “He's influenced me in various ways, a lot of hard lessons in the beginning, as a little kid you always get in trouble and he’d always let you know about it. But one thing that really stands out was when I was about 13, for my first job I was a caddy at a local golf course and when it came time to go in for the first day to get lessons I completed that and didn’t really like it so much, but when it came to the first day on the job, I said, I don’t really want to go. He forced me in a very encouraging way and it turned out that I had a really good time and I got a $20 tip which for a 13-year-old, that was huge. Since then I’ve always kept the idea that you never know unless you try. You can’t let time go by, you have to at least try whether you think you’re going to like it or not, you have to at least try. It helped me a lot in confidence in years down the road into my adult life.”
Chief Engineer Adam Schaechter on his father Wolfgang: “My dad is a continuing influence on my life. We raced karts when I was growing up, so we developed a relationship as team mates as well as father and son. Racing together taught me a lot about the value of hard work and desire, and through working together I developed a great deal of respect for my dad. He remains valuable counsel in many areas of my life.”
Tire Manager Bob Barnhart, Jr. on his father Bob: “He was a good leader, he worked with management for years and taught me everything I know about that type of thing and how to deal with people. He was a good common sense person which is something I think I have. He’s a great sportsman but I got him started in Indy car racing. When I was a kid, I went home and told him how much fun I was having at the Speedway and next thing I know he was working there and he worked for 21 years down in turn 1. He enjoyed it.”
Data Acquisition Engineer Buddy Blackburn on his father Jim: “The biggest way my father influenced me is the way he supported anything I was interested in. He helped me keep an open mind growing up.”
Office Manager Nancy Foyt on her father Freddie Ober: “My father, Freddie, was a huge influence in my life and my siblings. He showed us strength, honor, and loyalty. He loved to laugh, worked hard, and took great care of my mother, me, and my sister and brothers. He taught me to enjoy life now, because you never know when it is going to end. Life was short for my dad, he died at 59. He is truly missed.”
Travel Manager Becky Baranouski on her father Walter Morrow: “My father was adopted at a very young age and was not treated kindly by his new family. He joined the Army at a young age to get away, met my mother and had two girls. He was self-employed, starting his own business that my mother ran long past my father's passing. My father worked hard to give his family all of the things that he didn't have as a child, a good loving home, security, all the possessions two girls could want and lots and lots of fun. Dad died at a young 51 years of age and I miss him. But I always carry his 'recipe' with me; One part love and pride for your family and country, one part good work ethic and honor and mix it together with a huge helping of humor and you have his recipe for a happy life.”
Spotter Larry Arnold on his father Doyle: “He was the hardest working guy that I’ve known. He worked at International Harvester and then at Whirlpool as a superintendent of maintenance. He worked 6-7 days a week. You could tell he loved you but he wasn’t the kind of guy that would tell you that a lot but you knew he did. He supported us when we played sports in school, he’d take off work to see me play baseball. Just one of the nicest guys I’ve ever been around. The other person who really influenced me was my grandfather, he was the same way; ordinary, common hardworking people that tried to set you in the right direction, point you and if you were getting off course, set you straight but with me they never had to tell me I was off course because I was pretty dedicated to what they told me to do. Unfortunately he passed away in ’92. I miss him.”
Senior Pilot Robert Janke on his father Walter: “How my Dad influenced me was that I knew I needed to find a career other than farming! My mom and dad had twelve children, so my dad really had to work hard at farming to put food on the table and clothes on twelve kids. Farming was hard back then, not like it is today. Of course, we kids helped but it was a lot of stress on my dad. He was very strict and I knew if I stepped out of line, the belt was coming. But to tell the truth, my dad taught me how to work, how to be responsible for what I did, to tell the truth and whatever I wanted to do in life, to do a "good job" of it.
Junior Pilot Brent Nedbalek on his father Wayne: “I remember growing up, my dad said you can do anything in the world that you put your heart and mind to. I’ve always believed this and I’m grateful for my dad always being there for me growing up and helping me in anything I do. Happy Father’s Day!”
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