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[Gettinold]

Updating my insurance.  Wheres the money with the eyes.     

[Gettinold]

Larry, AJ, and Vitor Meria @ pre race ceremonies

[Gettinold]

My long time friend and AJ's team mgr. since 1987 Craig Baranouski.

[Gettinold]

I have more pictures but seem to be having trouble post so I will post later.
All in all it was a great experience and I look forward to next year as well as Sept in Homestead for the season finale.
For those that watched the race or seen the highlites we were involved in a pit fire due to a miscue of the crew chief sending the car out before the fueler was done fueling. Chit happens and it did... right in front of my eyes, I was on the other end of that hose trying to reel it and Rodney back in, but the "probe" or  "buckeye" that goes into the cars fuel cell broke apart and sprayed fuel all over the car. Not good. Instinct takes over and I went for the fire hose that was in front of our score box.
The fueler was slightly injured from a hard  hit to the ground and a small burn from fuel that got up under his 2 piece fire suite. He also received medical treatment in the pits for fuel in his eyes that came under his full face helmet with a sheild. He weighs about 270 and he was completely upside down in the air be for he hit. He was trying his damest to get thay buckeye loose before it ran out of hose. AJ says his boys from Texas are tuff. I agree..... dont you. http://indy500.com/videos/watch/1646-Vitor_Meira_Pit_Fire
If you look to the R rear of the car you see "Rod Dog" getting up.

[Gettinold]

After all that we never went a lap down, just lost 6-8 postions and the car refired and we were off racing again, except... replacing the broken fuel buckeye...hmmmm  off to the hauler we went, and by the Rodey had shaken off his woo's and ahhs, man those boys from Tx are tuff as nails, and replaced hte buckey.
Vitor seemed to had cleared his head and was gaing postions when on lap 174 disaster struck the #14 car. A scary moment for the entire foyt team with no radio contact or movement for what seemed forever.,,,,,,,,,,
http://www.indy500.com/videos/watch/1649-Vitor_Meira_and_Raphael_Matos_Make_Contact

[Gettinold]

another   thank God for the technolgy, ten years ago, the out come would of been different.   http://photos.indystar.com/galleries/6494-indianapolis-500-meira-matos-crash-on-lap-174#id=6494&num=3

Look at that soft wall. It did its job. 

[Gettinold]

Vitor was knock unconscious and received 2 fractured vertrbraes and was treated a Methodist Hospital . Read this now...  http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/columnist/foyt/2009-05-27-indy-500_N.htm

[Gettinold]

Vitor on the wall and his teamate Anthony Foyt IV, AJ's grandson cruising by.

[sadunbar]

Thanks for the photos, links and commentary, Dave...  Exciting way to spend a day....

[RidinRuby]

Thanks for the video, amazing seeing the car ride the wall!

[Gettinold]

http://photos.indystar.com/galleries/6494-indianapolis-500-meira-matos-crash-on-lap-174#id=6494&num=1

Some scary ride for Vitor. Thank God for the  technolgy in these cars and the soft walls.
The 3rd pic realy shows the impact. Look how far forward his helmet is and the penetration of the car into the soft wall.