The very fast Vitor Meira
A few days ago Brazilian race car driver Vitor Meira raced the Indy 500 and has quite a few other IndyCar races to tackle this season. But when Meira is not in a fast car he loves to swim, bike and run and later this year he'll be racing the Ironman World Championships in Kona.
Slowtwitch: With the Indy 500 behind you, what is next?
Vitor: We still have 12 races to go before the IndyCar season is over and I also have to do a lot of training for Kona!!
ST: A few things went wrong for you at the 500, but I guess you have to be really lucky to finish up high.
Vitor: We had a good car and the team did a very good job all month long, but as everybody who competes in sports knows, when it’s your day, it’s your day… but when it’s not your day, there is nothing you can do about it.
ST: Do the folks at your team share your passion for triathlon?
Vitor: They all support me very much but they don’t really share the same passion… I’m trying to get Larry Foyt to start riding, but so far no success!! Haha
ST: How well can Larry swim and run?
Vitor: Not well… I have to go step by step…
ST: How much swim, bike run training can you get done in a one-week period?
Vitor: How much I can train in a week depends a lot on the week. I try to do my riding at home in Miami and have one full rest day before an IndyCar race weekend. The running and swimming I have to adapt according to my schedule because like most age groupers, I also have a day job!
ST: How much time do you actually spend in a race car on an average day and can you explain to our readers how hot it is?
Vitor: I spend around 100 days a year in the race car. When I'm in the car, I spend all day in it. And it does get really hot… but it depends a lot on the weather! The car is an open cockpit, so there is allot of air circulation
ST: Who actually introduced you to triathlon?
Vitor: Nobody really, but Leandro Macedo and Mariana Ohata are from Brasilia which is where I grew up. I thought what they did was really cool so I started to learn about it. At first I was interested because I thought it would help me perform better as a race driver–which it has–but now I like it for the sport itself.
ST: It seems quite a few race car drivers are active in triathlon. Are some of the other drivers coming to races to see you compete in triathlon?
Vitor: I don’t think so, but I haven’t invited anybody yet. I bet that a couple of them would like to come.
ST: So you have not yet converted anyone?
Vitor: Maybe my brother, we will see. The problem is that he likes to party too much!! Haha
ST: Big race for you this year will be Kona, and that will be true for Tony Kanaan. Who will do better there?
Vitor: We are good friends so we know that doesn’t really matter… We just want to finish during daylight! The win for us is going to be the fact that we’re at the start/finish line together.
ST: Coming from Brazil and having all this experience spending days on days in a hot race car, do you think that gives you an edge for hot triathlons such as Kona?
Vitor: I don't think so… What is does give me an edge is being in sports all my life and knowing that preparation is everything. I have a lot of respect for all of those guys that are going to be there!
ST: What is the longest distance tri you have done to date?
Vitor: I’ve done three 70.3 triathlons.
ST: You recently picked up your new Trek Speed Concept. Who helped you with the fitting?
Vitor: My friends at The Racers Edge in Boca Raton, Florida. They use the Retul fitting system. They are very professional, and in general, they’re just awesome people!
ST: Have you been to the wind tunnel with a bike?
Vitor: No… I don’t have the legs to deserve that yet!! Maybe in the future!
ST: Talk to us about your diet.
Vitor: Nothing really special. I make sure I never get hungry and I don’t have any simple carbs at night. Basically, I eat very healthy.
ST: Is there anything else we should know about you?
Vitor: That I am so honored to be invited to Kona! I’ll be nervous as hell there but I will absolutely enjoy it too!!! That race really is on my Bucket List!!!
Below is Vitor Meira during his day job
