IndyCar Series news

Meira dispatched from hospital

Vitor Meira has been released from hospital in Indianapolis following his frightening accident with fellow Brazilian Raphael Matos in Sunday's Indy 500. Meira, whose car skidded along the track on its side, sustained two fractured and will be missing this weekend's race at Milwaukee as well as, possibly, the rest of the 2009 season.     

Spilt fuel ignites around Meira's car during his incident-packed Indy 500 afternoon

After first suffering a large pit fire, Meira's dramatic Sunday afternoon came to a sudden and shocking conclusion at Turn 1 as his A.J. Foyt car became entangled with Matos' and airborne, collecting the safety fencing and thankfully landing the right way up on the exit of the corner. Clearly in no condition to climb back into the cockpit, Paul Tracy has already been confirmed as his replacement for the time being.

"I feel pretty good today," Meira said on Wednesday, despite suffering from two fractured vertebrae in the shunt. "I am going to see the doctors (on Thursday) to make sure it's okay for me to fly home to Miami this weekend, then I will get an x-ray down there in two weeks to make sure the spine is healing the way it should." From then on, the 32-year-old's recovery will be monitored by Miami doctors.

With a back brace in position, the Brasília-born driver will not need to undergo an operation but will be required to proceed with caution. "It's going to be very hard for me to do nothing for the next two weeks," he admitted. "The doctors have said that after that I can do a light workout but nothing that would load the spine; so I can work on my chest and arms and ride a stationary bike - I can't ride a regular bike because they don't want me to risk falling."



For GPUpdate TV's highlights of the 2009 Indianapolis 500, including the pit fire and crash of Vitor Meira, click here.

more news

• 26 Nov.
  • Full 2010 calendar established
  • 2010 season to begin in São Paulo
• 25 Nov.
  • 'Andretti Green becomes Andretti Autosport'
• 24 Nov.
  • Griffin steps down from IRL post
• 19 Nov.
  • Official: Power signs 2010 Penske deal
  • 'Power stays with Penske for 2010'
• 06 Nov.
  • IZOD confirmed as series title sponsor
• 04 Nov.
  • 'Clothing company to become series title sponsor'
• 27 Oct.
  • Wheldon to stay with Panther in 2010
• 19 Oct.
  • GPUpdate TV: IndyCar Series - Highlights of 2009
• 14 Oct.
  • GPUpdate TV: Franchitti wins thrilling championship decider
• 10 Oct.
  • Photos: Saturday in Miami
  • 'Pretty frustrating' outcome for Briscoe
  • Dixon predicted fate before race
  • Franchitti dedicates title to Greg Moore
  • Franchitti wins IndyCar championship at Homestead
• 09 Oct.
  • Franchitti snatches Miami pole from Dixon
  • Top 3 still on top as Penske suffers blow
  • Photos: Friday in Miami
  • Championship contenders lead first Miami practice
  • GPUpdate TV: Climax in triangular Indy shootout
• 30 Sep.
  • Meira looking forward to 2010 comeback
• 25 Sep.
  • Patrick signs fresh 3-year deal with AGR
• 21 Sep.
  • GPUpdate TV: Dixon takes charge at Motegi
• 19 Sep.
  • Photos: Saturday at Motegi
  • Briscoe still confident for Homestead
  • Dixon wins Indy Japan 300
• 18 Sep.
  • Photos: Friday at Motegi
  • Dixon on pole at Motegi
  • Ganassi lock-out second Motegi session
  • Castroneves leads first Motegi practice
• 17 Sep.
  • Special tyre for Japanese race
  • Barrett returns at Motegi
• 03 Sep.
  • Power on the road to recovery
  • Indy Lights Champion Lloyd to race in Miami
• 31 Aug.
  • Moraes delighted with 'amazing' podium
  • 'We've all seen this movie' - Dixon
  • Briscoe: We've got to keep it together
  • GPUpdate TV: Briscoe beats Dixon by a whisker
• 30 Aug.
  • Photos: Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway

Homepage