Highest television ratings in Brazil for IZOD IndyCar Series race in Sao Paulo

Highest television ratings in Brazil for IZOD IndyCar Series race in Sao Paulo

As reported on VERSUS TV, Bob Jenkins stated that it has been measured that the highest ratings for any television broadcast ever in Brazil was registered for the opening race of the IZOD IndyCar Series in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This was a very good race on ANY level. The CCWS was fairly well represented on the driverside (Will Power, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Raphael Matos) ... not so much on the teamside (top CCWS transition team finish was KV Racing technology at P12). RHR and Vitor both were coming into the race having sustained back injuries last year - a very good drive? for those in the top five places - a good start for the first year series sponsor, IZOD!

The race started with a first lap compression accident touched off by ICS rookie and seven year former Formula 1 driver for KV Racing Technology's Takuma Sato. Sato, came in too hot on the first corner setting up a chain reaction accident that aids in taking out KV Racing Technology teammate Mario Moraes (also has trouble slowing down) who lands on top of Andretti Autosport's Marco Andretti.

The ratings were boosted by the fact that seven drivers from Brazil were competing in this first race of the 2010 ICS season and many are household names ... they are Vitor Meira - AJ Foyt Racing - finishing P3, Raphael Matos - Luczo Dragon Racing - finishing P4, Helio Castroneves - Verizon Penske Racing - finishing P9, Tony Kanaan - Andretti Autosports - finishing P10, Ana Beatriz (Bia Figueiredo) - Dreyer&Reinbold Racing - finishing P13, Mario Romancini - Conquest Racing - finishing P17, and Mario Moraes - KV Racing Technology - finishing P24.

... notes from The EDJE

Vitor Miera Out For The Rest Of The Season

Vitor Miera and AJ Foyt discuss set-up strategy in the pitbox at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Vitor Miera Out For The Rest Of The Season

My Name Is IRL reports that the medical diagnosis is in and Vitor Miera has fractured lumbar vertebrae (refer to yellow section in graphic) in his lower back and that it will take several months to heal.

The Vertebral Column - Image Credit: Gray' Anatomy

This excerpted and edited from My Name Is IRL -

Vitor has been defined, his entire career, by his valiant inability to win races. Now, after being lit on fire and crashing hard into the wall in Turn One (in separate incidents, no less) it appears for the remainder of 2009 he won't even be able to enter races, much less [NOT] win them.

The intrepid Curt Cavin has now busted out his twitter and told us "Vitor out 4-6 months, but he and Matos have reconciled things. Anthony is 50-50 as choice at Milwaukee." Fractures in the L-1 and L-2 vertebrae are the culprits for the demise of his season.

I know that Anthony, a.k.a. AJ Foyt IV, is family, but considering how badly the pairing of Foyt and Foyt went a few years ago this might not be good idea. Regardless of who fills the seat, our thoughts and prayers for as speedy a recovery as possible go out to the Vitor during his convalescence.
Reference Here>>

Vitor debates set-up strategy with AJ Foyt, Team owner of the ABC Supply Dallara. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

I really thought that with Vitor Miera, ABC Supply, and AJ Foyt (the elder) had a winning combination. I watched the two of them sharing set-up information in the pits at Long Beach and they seemed to have a special rapport.

Odd that AJ would take to the Brazilian after having a history of issues with drivers in the past. It says a lot about Vitor.

Hope Vitor heals and is able to do what any good cowboy does when he gets kicked off of a horse ... he gets right back on!

Additional Background On Vitor Miera's Compelling Race Day At The 93rd INDY 500 Plus Photos Of AJ & Vitor From Racing Nation>>

... notes from The EDJE

Transition Player, Will Power, Takes INDY LB Pole

Rick Mears (center profile with black cap) stands as "Captain" of the Will Power, Penske Racing, Verizon Wireless sponsored pit operation. Will Power takes the pole for the first ever IRL Long Beach Grand Prix ... Will was last year's ChampCar Long Beach Grand Prix winner. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Transition Player, Will Power, Takes INDY LB Pole

Dario Franchitti, Justin Wilson***, Raphael Matos, EJ Viso***, Scott Dixon and Will Power*** battled for the pole in the Firestone Fast Six after advancing out of the second round. Three Transition Players (***) make the Firestone Fast Six for sunday's race ... now, that's parity!

How they fared ...

Will Power will defend his Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach title from the pole on Sunday after running the fastest lap in the Firestone Fast Six final round of qualifying this afternoon.

Power, driving the "NEW" Vorizon Wireless No. 12 Team Penske machine (with the pit crew managed by Rick Mears) after Helio Castroneves returned to the No. 3 this morning, ran a lap of 1:09.7107 (101.631 m.p.h.) to defeat Dario Franchitti for the top spot.

Row 2 will feature rookie driver Raphael Matos and E.J. Viso, who earned his best starting position in IndyCar Series competition. The third row will see Justin Wilson on the inside and defending series champion Scott Dixon on the outside.

By comparison, last year, Justin Wilson captured the pole position in his ChampCar DP01 with a time of 1:06.6020 (105.898 m.p.h.).

... notes from The EDJE