17 Quotes by Vitor Meira

Wow, this place is physical. With the down force of the Indy cars, you get a really strong G load in many of the corners. It is almost as much as some of the high-banked ovals we race. But it is different since we turning left and right. But that is why we train so hard off the track. (Meira is a tri-athlete). You need to be in as good shape as possible. Overall, we learned a lot with the car today. We'll be stronger on Saturday and be prepared for the race. Eighty laps is going to be long at a track like this place.

We have had a decent year, but we need that big finish to end the year right, ... I am anxious for the first win. I am not obsessing about it, but I am ready for it to happen so we can move on to the next challenge.

My goal coming into this season was to win my first race and I still haven't accomplished that, ... Our cars will be good at California and it would be a great way to finish the season with a victory. I think we'll be in the hunt right to the end.

I was telling (team co-owner) John Barnes that patience pays here. That's what we did the whole race. We were racing smart instead of aggressive. It paid off for us.

I have always admired the Special Olympics program and its thousands of athletes for their determination and enthusiasm. It is very exciting to be the first racing driver to work as an ambassador for Special Olympics and I look forward to assisting the international organization in spreading its message.

I have always enjoyed racing at Chicagoland, ... Yes, it is a basic 1.5-mile oval, but it seems to have a different personality. It is wider than most of the other tracks and the grip level is good everywhere. So you see a lot more drivers using the high groove. I think that is why there have been so many close finishes there. I think there will be another close one this year. I just want to have the front of my car cross the line first this time.

He did a good job of holding his line and protecting his position.

John has been backing me since I started in the IRL and we've got a great relationship and I feel very lucky,

It is a great honor to be an ambassador for the Special Olympics. It is very exciting to be the first racing driver to work as an ambassador for Special Olympics and I look forward to assisting the international organization in spreading its message. Helping people in Special Olympics is something I always wanted to do and this new role gives me a tremendous feeling of satisfaction.