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For Immediate Release
MEDEIROS WRAPS UP SERIES TITLE
Saturday Oct 02, 2004 - FONTANA, Calif. – Thiago Medeiros clinched the IRL Menards Infiniti Pro Series championship in the California 100 on Oct. 2, but it wasn’t the victory celebration he envisioned.
The No. 11 Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone, running on the inside of the lead pack of three on the penultimate lap at the 2-mile California Speedway oval, made contact with the No. 24 entry driven by Jeff Simmons and flipped. The car slid about 100 yards down the backstretch before coming to rest on its tires. Medeiros climbed out of the car, was checked in the infield medical center, and released to accept his championship trophy in Victory Circle.
“I’m happy. I did my best today,” he said. “I’m glad I wasn’t injured in the accident.”
James Chesson, driving the No. 67 Mo Nunn Racing entry, led Medeiros by 0.0200 of a second as they took the white flag. Chesson, Medeiros and Simmons were almost in a three-wide pack exiting Turn 2. The cars of Simmons and Medeiros touched wheels.
“I think Simmons and I touched wheels about two laps before that happened,” Medeiros said. “I was running down the back straight and I got hit twice on my back wheel. Then I just lost downforce, and some air got under the car and flew us into the fence. I flipped over a few times and went into the grass.”
“It was sad the race ended the way that it did, but I’m happy to get the championship,” said Medeiros, 22, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, who is in his second year in the Menards Infiniti Pro Series. “I think the job that I did this season got the attention of IndyCar Series owners, so hopefully I’ll get a ride next year. We’ll see. I think I’m ready.”
Medeiros, who started from the pole for a Series-record seventh time, finished ninth. But with a 95-point lead heading into the race, all he had to do was start. Medeiros has 461 points – 101 more than Paul Dana – with one race remaining.
Medeiros has recorded five victories, including a Series-record four in a row, and placed in the top 10 in all 11 races.
The Menards Infiniti Pro Series California 100, at California Speedway, will be broadcast at 3:30 p.m. (EDT) on Oct. 7 by ESPN2.
For More Information:
Michele Davis
Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation
C: 602-741-1915
F: 805-926-4052
E: mdavis@samschmidt.org
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