IRL: Brazillian Meira In, Briton Manning Out At Foyt

(from autosport)

IndyCar veteran Vitor Meira has joined AJ Foyt Enterprises in place of Briton Darren Manning.

Meira, who contested this season with Panther Racing and finished 13th in the championship, will make his debut with the team at the non-championship Surfer's Paradise event on October 26 and has also signed for the 2009 season.

"I'm definitely going into 2009 with a little extra motivation," said Meira. "I've 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'm getting to work with him, I think that says it all.

"The first race, we'll get situated with each other and learn where we're at. Then we can know where we need to improve. My goal is to come out and win. I've finished second many times but there were races where I finished fourth or fifth and felt good about them because we got the most out of the car that day.

"If we are getting top fives, it's because we're putting ourselves in a position to win, which is what you have to do. Then the wins will come."

A.J. Foyt is pleased to have Meira on board and has long been an admirer of the Brazilian.

"He's a hard racer who charges all day long," said 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 also praised Manning's contribution to the team but felt they needed to make a driver change.

"I appreciate everything Darren 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 change, as hard as it was."

Manning, meanwhile, agrees that his split with the team is amicable but is not yet sure where he will race next.

"There are no hard feelings, getting me on board was part of making his team better and I think we did that," said the Briton. "I wish him well."