A.J. Foyt Racing Tests Driver and Sponsors at MSR Houston
By Sydney Davis, MSR Houston
ANGLETON, Texas, October 8, 2008—A.J. Foyt Racing had a busy day down at MSR Houston testing both its new driver, Vitor Meira, and its sponsor ABC Supply.
The day started out with six ABC Supply guests testing an old IndyCar. The oval car was retro-fitted to drive on a road course. A section of the 2.38 mile road course was coned off to create a small oval-like course. The guests then took turns making runs of five and ten laps each.
"Today was great," A.J. Foyt said. "The ABC guys had a lot of fun and the weather was just perfect."
After the ride of a lifetime, Meira went out to show the guys how it's really done. Foyt made sure to point out how much better the professional was at driving, bringing out a laugh in everyone.
"See how he get's on the gas there?" Foyt asked the ABC Supply guests, "That's how it's supposed to be done."
Meira tested the car that was prepped for the upcoming race through the streets of Surfers Paradise in Australia.
"We just wanted to shake down the car," Meira said, "We actually have the Surfers' setup on the car, and we just wanted to get a feel for it. This gives us something to start with when we get on the other side of the world."
"We accomplished what we came out to do," Foyt said. "I won't be going down there though. It's too long of a trip for me, and I've been there five or six times before."
Today was Meira's first trip to the facility, not that it showed.
"I think he did a good job for not ever being here before," Foyt said. "His times got down pretty quick in the few laps he ran here."
"The track is good," Meira said. "It was a little green, with the hurricane and rain, but it's good. I like the track, and if it's up to me I'd like to come back, many times if possible."
Meira was hired by A.J. Foyt Racing in late September to replace Darren Manning. Meira previously raced for Panther Racing during the 2008 season finishing 13th in the overall standings with a best finish of second in the Indianapolis 500.
"Working for A.J., is always good," Meira said. "I have a lot to learn, but the first thing you learn is that you gotta push. You gotta push all the time with him."
"That's what I try to do when I'm in and out of the car," he continued. "It's too good of a job to take for granted. You have to try to be your best everyday, and you have to try and beat your best everyday cause that's how you are going to improve."
Catch the live race coverage at 10:30 p.m., October 25 on ESPN Classic as A.J. Foyt Racing and 23 other IndyCar Series teams race live down under. A rebroadcast of the race can be seen on ESPN2 at 11 p.m., October 26.
Vitor Meira Signs with A.J. Foyt Racing; Starts at Australia
WALLER, Texas Sept. 25, 2008—IndyCar veteran Vitor Meira has signed to drive A.J. Foyt’s No. 14 ABC Supply Dallara/Honda/Firestone car beginning with the IndyCar Series event in Surfer’s Paradise, Australia next month and continuing to drive through 2009, with an option for 2010.
The race in Australia is a non-points event and will give Meira and A.J. Foyt’s ABC Supply team an opportunity to work together in a race before the 2009 season begins in earnest.
“I’m really excited about this opportunity to work with Vitor,” said Larry Foyt, who negotiated the deal to sign Meira. “We’re looking forward to getting Vitor his first win in the IndyCar Series and getting A.J. Foyt Racing back into victory lane with ABC Supply.”
“I am definitely going into 2009 with a little extra motivation,” said Meira, who yesterday returned to Carmel (IN) from his native Brazil. “I have raced against the team for many years and have heard cool things about them. Many people would give an arm and a leg just to meet A.J. and I am getting to work with him, I think that says it all.”
Foyt won’t be requiring any body parts from Meira as A.J. already knows that Vitor puts his heart into every race.
“I’ve always admired him because he’s a hard racer who charges all day long,” said team owner A.J. Foyt. “He should have won a lot of races but he hasn’t had the best luck. I believe we can change that and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
Foyt was the owner when several drivers scored their initial triumphs in the IndyCar Series including Scott Sharp, Kenny Brack, Billy Boat and most recently, Airton Dare. That fact is not lost on Meira who summarized his approach to the 2009 season.
“This first race we’ll get situated with each other and we’ll quickly learn where we’re at, then we can know where to go—what we need to maintain and where we need to improve,” said Meira. “My goal is to come out and win, and by that I mean to give 100% no matter what is happening. I finished second many times but there were races where I finished fourth or fifth and I felt good about them because I gave 100% and we got the most out of the car that day. Whether it’s in races or in the championship, if we are getting top-fives, it’s because we are putting ourselves in position to win which is what you have to do before you can win. Then the wins will come.”
The 31-year-old Brazilian’s IndyCar career began in August, 2002 when he drove for the Menard team; three races and two months later, he won the pole and finished third in the season finale at Texas Motor Speedway.
He continued with Menard the next year driving a partial season and then joined the Rahal-Letterman team in 2004 for two full seasons. He moved to Panther Racing in 2006 and raced for them the past three seasons. In 93 career starts, Meira won two pole positions, led 424 laps and posted 27 top-five finishes, including two second-place finishes in the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and this past May. He claimed 56 top-10 finishes and earned over $6 million in prize money.
Darren Manning, who drove the No. 14 car for the past two seasons, will not be returning to the team in 2009. This season, the amicable Brit finished 14th in the standings after posting a career-best second place finish at Watkins Glen, NY and six other top-10 finishes, including a ninth place finish at Indy.
“We had a good relationship with Darren and I appreciate everything he did with our team,” said Foyt. “Towards the end, I felt like things had come to a standstill and we weren’t getting the best out of each other. It was time for a change and I was the one who needed to make the changes as hard as it was for us. I really like Darren and wish him well. I hope he remains my friend.”
“There’s no hard feelings,” said Manning. “We had a good couple of years of improvements. Getting me on board was part of making his team better and I think we did that. I wish him well. We had a good relationship and I expect that to continue no matter what I end up doing.”
Following the final 2008 event in Australia Oct. 26th, the IndyCar Series celebrates its season with an awards banquet in Las Vegas, NV on Wednesday, Nov. 5th. The 2009 season gets underway April 5th in St. Petersburg, FL.
Foyt Racing Hires Rookie Franck Perera to Drive No. 41 ABC Supply Car at Chicagoland
WALLER, Texas Sept. 3, 2008—Veteran driver Darren Manning will have a rookie teammate in the final points race of the IndyCar Series. Franck Perera, 24, will drive the No. 41 ABC Supply Dallara/Honda in the PEAK Antifreeze Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend. It will be his second IndyCar race on an oval track, and third IRL IndyCar Series event (excluding the Long Beach Grand Prix).
“I would like to thank A.J Foyt and ABC Supply for giving me the chance to get back into an Indy Car this weekend in Chicago,” said Perera. “It’s a huge pleasure to work with a team like Foyt Racing with so much experience and such a big name in racing.”
“I thought Franck did a good job in the couple of IndyCar races he ran earlier and he’s been impressive in the Indy Lights Series this year,” said team owner A.J. Foyt. “I want to see how he gels with our team.”
Team Director Larry Foyt brought the French driver to his father’s attention as the team begins its scouting process for a driver for a possible second car in 2009.
“At the beginning of the year, I noticed that Franck was one of the quickest among the transition team drivers to adapt to the Indy cars,” said Larry Foyt. “He fared well on the oval in Homestead [FL] and qualified well at St. Pete. We thought then that he was a talented driver and, as we’re looking to become a two-car team next year, we thought he might be a good asset to our program. We’ll see how we get along with him this weekend.”
Perera started the year driving for the Conquest Racing team. He qualified 13th in the season opener at Homestead-Miami and finished 14th; it was the best performance among the transition team drivers. In St. Petersburg, he qualified 10th, ran as high as second, and was running ninth when he and Vitor Meira made contact on lap 75, ending their race. At Long Beach, he qualified third and finished sixth.
“Coming from European Racing, I have really enjoyed racing in America and this is where I want to stay,” said the talented driver who was born in Montpelier, France. “After Conquest lost their team sponsor for me earlier this season, I turned down a drive in Europe because I wanted my future to be in Indy cars. So I joined Guthrie Racing to learn more about the ovals and to stay in the Indy Racing League with the hope of returning to the IndyCar Series in the future.
“I especially want to thank CJMotorsport, who gave me the chance to continue racing after the Toyota Driver Development Program,” said Perera, who won the World Karting Championship at age 15. “With the series merger, it’s been a tough year for many drivers like me, so I'm very thankful that Foyt Racing and ABC Supply are giving me this incredible opportunity to be in the final IRL race in Chicago this weekend. I will do my best to help the team and Darren get the best results for the last race of 2008.”
Perera made nine starts in the Indy Lights Series (which include the doubleheaders at the road course events), he won two poles (Watkins Glen and Infineon) and qualified second at the Series’ other road course event in Mid-Ohio. Finishing second at Mid-Ohio, he won Infineon--his first Indy Lights Series triumph. His other top-10 finishes came at Nashville (7th) and Infineon. He finished fifth in second race of the Infineon doubleheader after starting eighth (when they inverted the top eight finishers from the first race).
Foyt will bring in the same crew that worked on the No. 41 ABC Supply entry in the Indianapolis 500 earlier this year. It will be headed by longtime Foyt Racing team manager Craig Baranouski.
After this weekend, Perera, who speaks four languages (French, English, Italian and Spanish), may be adding a fifth—Texan!
Franck Perera: Driver No. 41 ABC Supply Indy Car
Career Highlights
2007 ● Finished second in the Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda, recording two victories and two poles for Candor Motorsports. ● Finished in the top five in all 12 races he competed. ● Named Rookie of the Year.
2006 ● Competed in GP2 Series, with a best finish of second at Monaco. ● Competed in two races in the World Series by Renault. ● Toyota F1 test driver.
2005 ● Finished fourth in the F3 Euro Series Championship, recording three podium finishes. ● Member of the "Toyota Driver Program."
2004 ● Winner of the Euro Series Rookie Championship. ● Member of the "Toyota Driver Academy."
2003 ● Winner of the Formula Renault Italian Championship, recording five victories and seven pole positions. ● Winner of the Formula Renault Zandvoort Marlboro Masters. ● Member of the "Toyota Driver Academy."
2002 ● Finished eighth in the Formula Renault Italian Championship, recording two podium finishes and one pole. ● Competed in the Formula Renault Eurocup Championship. ● Member of the "Toyota Young Driver" program
2001 ● Signed to the "Toyota Young Driver" program. ● Finished fourth in the FSA World Championship. ● Competed in the Formula C European Championship. ● Competed in the Italian Formula Renault Winter Series.
2000 ● Finished second in CIK-FIA World Championship Karting Formula Super A
1999 ● World Champion in CIK-FIA World Championship Karting Formula A ● FSA European Championship 5th, 1 pole position FC Championship
Early career ● Won races and championships at the regional, national and European karting
For more detailed information on Franck Perera, please visit www.cjmotorsport.us
