Catchfence

SAO PAULO, Brazil April 30, 2011—For the third time in the last four races Vitor Meira barely missed advancing into the top six of his group by less than a tenth of a second; this time, it was .064 of a second!

For the Itaipava Indy 300 Meira will start in the seventh row but this time will line up in 14^th position because he was in the second group of 12 to qualify. He posted a lap time of 1:23.31 for a speed of 109.573 mph around the 2.536 mile street course.

“There was a time last year when we would have thought that this was ok but now we are the point where we want more and believe we can get more,” the Brazilian said. “Our ABC Supply team has been evolving and I think we have evolved more than the others but it is definitely tougher this year—you just have to look at how close the times are. We are seventh in our group for three out of the first four races and it is a bittersweet feeling.”

Last year Meira qualified 16^th for this race and finished third and that was without benefit of double file restarts! Race strategy and a strong drive by Meira in the closing laps proved to be the keys in that podium finish.

Will Power won his fourth straight pole position of the season and was the only driver to top 111 mph in qualifying. Ryan Hunter-Reay will start alongside him on the front row. Scott Dixon, Ryan Briscoe, Graham Rahal and Dario Franchitti rounded out the Firestone Fast Six.

The teams will get a final warm-up tomorrow morning from 8:30 to 9. Formula 1 and IndyCar champion Emerson Fittipaldi is scheduled to wave the green flag at 1:20pm local time. The 75-lap race will be broadcast on Versus starting at 12 noon E.T.

- A.J. Foyt Racing, Press Release