| | | | | ninth place in point standings (prior to the Indy 500), |
| Just like Ricky Bobby proved in Talladega Nights, it's | | | | signaling him as the comeback king. |
| better to get back in the saddle after a fiery crash | | | | Racing fans go after <a rel="nofollow" |
| than to let fear take over in the driver's seat. For | | | | onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(' |
| Brazilian IndyCar driver Vitor Meira, May 30 will be the | | | | outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=" Racing League |
| day to test that theory. Meira will travel back to | | | | (IRL) tickets</a> every year to catch a glimpse |
| Indianapolis during Memorial Day weekend to face the | | | | of the admirable Vitor Meira in action on the |
| foe that sent him to the hospital with two broken | | | | racetrack, and IndyCar enthusiasts are anxious to |
| vertebrae during the 2009 Indianapolis 500, and he's | | | | see how Meira will fare at this year's Indianapolis 500. |
| staring the beast (the Indianapolis Motor Speedway) | | | | The native Brazilian has finished in second place twice |
| in the eye for this year's installment of the famed | | | | at past Indy 500 races - in 2005 behind Dan Wheldon |
| Indy 500. | | | | and in 2008 behind Scott Dixon – and now he'll |
| 33-year-old Meira, sometimes referred to as the best | | | | shoot for No. 1 in his comeback effort from a |
| IRL driver who has never won an IndyCar race, will | | | | disappointing and altogether terrifying 2009 race. |
| return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the | | | | So far this year, Meira has notched several Top 15 |
| 2010 Indy 500, and the IndyCar veteran has been | | | | finishes, with a third place finish at Sao Paulo his best |
| preparing to revisit the track for months now. | | | | for the season. Meira has proven his resilience time |
| Speaking to ESPN earlier this month about his '09 | | | | and again on the IRL circuit, and racing fans would |
| misfortunes at Indy and on putting the past behind | | | | like nothing more than to see No. 14 speed into |
| him, Meira joked, "I actually watched the crash while | | | | Victory Lane at Indy and beyond. |
| I was still in the hospital. The Indianapolis Motor | | | | Recently talking about Meira's amiability and character |
| Speedway is 100 years old and I am easily the | | | | in the league to ESPN, fellow Brazilian driver Tony |
| record-holder for longest distance traveled on top of | | | | Kanaan said, "There is a reason that so many people |
| the wall." | | | | were so excited when Vitor finished on the podium in |
| Riding on the wall surely wasn't as exhilarating as it | | | | Sao Paulo. They love him because he races hard and |
| sounds, as Meira's vehicle went up in flames during | | | | he works hard. People love an underdog and a |
| last year's Indy 500 after his car hit Turn 1 of the | | | | comeback story." |
| track at IMS and rode on the wall backwards all the | | | | Meira will add more chapters to his comeback story |
| way into Turn 2 going more than 200 mph. The | | | | this month as racing season gets into full swing, and |
| accident sidelined Meira with two broken vertebrae | | | | tickets to several upcoming races are still available |
| for the rest of the season as he underwent | | | | from <a rel="nofollow" |
| extensive rehabilitation. He's made up for his losses | | | | onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(' |
| so far in 2010, however, as the A.J. Foyt Enterprises | | | | outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=" to catch Meira and |
| driver has maneuvered his No. 14 open-wheel car into | | | | all other IndyCar drivers in action this season. |