Vitor Meira's Unbelievable Overtake at the 2008 Indy 500

[MrPifta]

Americans may say it's a super overtake, but it's nothing in F1. He just used his straight line advantage.

[MoNercy]

@MrPifta It's nothing in F1 because it simply doesn't happen. Double overtake on a straight at full throttle? Closest thing to that in F1 that I can think of is Hakkinen on Schumi at Spa in 2000. Though in that scenario, Zonta was a backmarker and not fighting for position. Also, it was Eau Rouge, not a straight (can't remember if the cars in 2000 were could full-throtte it).

This is all class. You wouldn't see it in F1, but in IndyCar machinery on an oval track, it doesn't get any better.

[MrPifta]

@MoNercy watch today's races more often. In the braking zones, double overtakes often occur.

[MoNercy]

@MrPifta That's what I'm saying. It wasn't a braking zone. The fact that it was at full throttle and done well before the upcoming turn was what makes it such an odd sight to an F1 enthusiast but not in IndyCar. And even by IndyCar standards, it was a great move - taking advantage of the bank, the draft and the better exit.

I was a little disappointed by the Indian GP. But that's because I'm Australian xD

[Zoomer30]

To paraphrae: Any pass that does not send you and the other car into the catch fencing is a good pass :)

[akosiCoco]

I'm not a fan of this kind of racing but still I must say, that's pretty bad ass..

[CDUB8989]

vitor meira - "man i'm running 3rd, i'm tired and i have yet to win anything... i hate my job"

*comes off turn 4*

vitor meira - "u know wut screw this i'm taking the lead or going up into the grandstands trying"

*enters turn 1*

vitor meira - "well shyt if i knew i could have done that i would have won like 8 races already... "

[pajasa62]

Actually even BETTER than Michael Andretti's move on the restart again Rick Mears in 1991.

[kicknetik]

Ok if you watch closely.. the yellow car had to pull very fast on the right to dodge Meira's car. There were no accident so he look like a genius.. but most of the time this kind of selfish behavior on the track result in DNF.

[TheMarching110fan]

I had a chance to meet vitor in the paddock at midohio in 2010 and he is a great gentleman as well as a great racer. Too bad he has never had the equipment or the top team to run with. Still the best pass I have ever seen.

[TheMarching110fan]

best oval pass I have ever seen in my 47 years of watching racing. The great thing was I was in grandstand a and I had a great view.

[nappa666]

no guts no glory

[imambro001]

Bye Carpenter, See ya Dixon - 1st.

[richdeveau24]

Best pass I've seen since Greg Moore's move on Zanardi at the Rio "roval" in 1998.

[NicksEvilTwin1]

outstanding!!!!

[CFSCOMPANY]

Nothing of special considering lots of overtakes in Formula 1

[richdeveau24]

@CFSCOMPANY Nothing special? Open wheel cars driving inches apart at over 220 mph is nothing special? Please! This was masterful and if you ask me, Lewis Hamilton is probably the only F1 driver I've seen in this current era that's shown he's got balls. A three-wide pass down Indy's narrow frontstretch complete with a move to the outside to gain the lead heading into turn 1 is absolutely incredible and can not be considered "nothing special".

[CFSCOMPANY]

@richdeveau24 Lewis Hamilton is the worst race driver in Formula 1...this overtake is not incredible considering lots of overtakes done in Formula 1. Do you know Gilles Villeneuve, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell? Look their overtakes (Prost did an overtake very similar to the overtake in this video)

[smithy15493]

I dont get indy 500 or nascar its just a constant left hand turn.... Why?

[calirider209]

@smithy15493 First of all its not called "Indy 500" its called "IndyCar". If you have respect for autos then you would understand.

BUT,

The best way to answer your "why?" would be go to a drive experience, such as Richard Petty Driving Experience or NASCAR Driving Experience.

Or, at least head down to your local shifter kart track and see if they have a doubles car or something in a larger 125cc class. Then quadruple the speeds and put other cars within inches of your wheels and fenders.

[calirider209]

@calirider209 There is no way a video or explanation can give you an idea of how amazing auto racing is. You must have first hand experience to fully understand "why".

[duncaann]

@calirider209 It's not about the Autoracing to smithy15493, but why they keep doing left turns. He thinks it's boring to drive. ( so do I) so, explain that to him

[erwinruys]

@calirider209 I think he meant, why ovals?

[327yellow]

@smithy15493 It's all about Driver vs. Driver and Slipstream strategies because in high speed ovals drivers spend the entire race in slipstreams and making constant overtakes. It may seem simple to make a left turn but keep in mind all the teams use little downforce as needed for maximum speed as the result the cars have massive oversteer and slipstreams further complicates the handling of the vehicles. They only have 600bhp but still average 230 mph during the race because of little downforce

[Phaedrus27]

@smithy15493 Same astute observation made on every oval track racing video posted; and the genius always delivers it with the same condescending airs, as though they've had an original thought. WATCH THIS VID AGAIN FOR THE ANSWER: Oval courses present the drivers with near-constant opportunities to overtake, where road courses restrict them to a handful of strategic spots per lap, essentially enslaving the driver to the course. Ovals reward the ability to pass, rather than hamstring it.

[calirider209]

@Phaedrus27 WRONG, you cant pass anywhere you want on an oval, I could say that same thing about road courses but it would be wrong as well. If you think that passing someone at 200+ MPH is easy to do then you must be an amazing race car driver your self. Racing at the top level in any major motor sport is amazing and passes like this are few and far between.

[Phaedrus27]

@calirider209 CHALLENGE: You tell me a spot on this track were passing is impossible and I'll find you footage of it happening. Now go ahead and dodge the question, genius.

[yankeesfan164]

@smithy15493 if you dont get it, then why did you watch the video, and waste your time commenting. by doing both these things you proved to be one of the dumbest people on youtube, which is impressive because of the incredible number of dumb people on here.

[turbo16vls]

BIGGGG BALLSS  -salute from italy-

[Tranzorr]

That is an outstanding overtake by this man, one of the best, can't deny it, or maybe the best overtake, 1mm clear of the car in front of him and the back of him.

[THEwilliamcheek]

VIIIIIIITOR!!!

It's tough seeing him struggle with Foyt...

[jimmywrangles]

Round and round and round and round....It's so fucking boring.

[demirhan13]

Watched this with my own eyes, watched F1 all my life and Indy for quite a bit, I haven't seen anything like this ever.

[TheCrashbones]

GREAT MOVE!

[sebensoph]

this is gotta be the most amazing overtake i've seen in 15 years of indy races....pure adrenaline

[firstbasedawg]

One of the most hard luck drivers in the sport. Met him once and Vitor Meira was a total class act and gentlemen. Sure hope he gets a win because he's earned it.

[AltoxKun]

best meira race so far, he's deserved the victory. Lost only because a yellow flag and the bad pit stop work of your team.

[triplehhhmytimewwf]

LOOK Hamilton and Sheckter are there!

[jraybay]

Wow.... very tight

[DavePI2]

I was sitting in grandstand and he made that pass just to my left, most amazing thing I have seen in almost 50 years of watching racing. Everyone became an instant vitor fan.

[HollywoodSheen]

i love f1 more than any other sport, but what max and bernie have done to that sport is sad, they're killing the sport more every year and soon it will be dead if things don't change. The cars this year are ugly as shit and there had actually been LESS overtaking than before, even though they claimed it would dramatically improve. I love indycar too, watch every race, but it's a spec series.

[Zadan]

Who cares if its a spec series??

Its still the best racing on the planet, bar none.

[HollywoodSheen]

debatable, but even if it is, it doesn't matter cause no one watches (tv or race attendance). The people who run the series now need to go away for it to return to prominence

[GTAstuntz]

Maybe it's the best in America, but in Europe its F1.

I dont know, but everyone has different views. So you can't really expect everyone to sort of agree with you.

[Runteh]

Have you been watching F1 this series? Or have you become dizzy from watching cars go round in endless circles?

[VideoCoolio]

These guys need to watch some F1, now that's some real overtaking.

[jarroyo1031]

i think overtaking in F1 is somewhat cheapened because some cars are just so much better than others. At least in indy, cars are very similar and skill shows more.

[AJ1964]

This pass was made at the speed of 380kph. No F1 car can reach that even on straights. The record for F1 car is about 360kph. Above that speed its a completely different world. F1 is very fast through slow corners because of huge downforce and big power, but this here is at incredible speed and requires much different skills.

[KingSnowman]

@VideoCoolio

Agree. Need more F1 fans in the US

[TasmanProductions]

What balls.

[davidsalieri]

Can you believe this move !! Telofav I agree with you !

[telofav]

Brazilian drivers the best...SENNA EVER F-1!

[jeffdale24]

Ballsiest man in Indycar. Michigan of 06, He was srapin the dust off the wall and making moves. He is my man and he will do great at Foyt

[silversky2000]

What a move!

[ShinobiJin]

i met Vitor, very nice guy.. i hope everyhting goes well for him.. hes been training really hard on Karts.

[firstbasedawg]

Most underrated driver in the Indy series. If Vitor Meira had a full season with Penske, Ganassi or Andretti the sky's would be the limit. First class man as well!

[telofav]

with a great car, he can be the best

[S2KINDYCAR]

he has a ride with Foyt next year

[calirider209]

Glad to hear that

[GoFeri]

Poor guy. Deserves a better ride

[calirider209]

Its better than not having a ride at all and that is where it was going before Foyt picked him up.

[GoFeri]

I agree. He still deserves to be on a top team though IMO.

[rdtli]

aj is knownhere in brazil as an ´´iron hand´´ chief , is that correct ?

we from brazil loves indy and motorsports in general , thanks u.s to give us indy and nascar , two of the greatest show on earth as WRC and F! . i don t like meira ,we enjoy castroneves and kanaan more , but aj seems to be a brazilian driver fan ... and i am particularly fan of him too , but as i said he s known in brazil as a dictator ( texan way ),and i think this affects the crew,am i correct?hug to you all fellas

[DavidSkywalker01]

Hey if he can make that Panther peice-o-crap do that, he will win races for Foyt!

[isi44]

that takes skills... too bad he doesn't ha a ride for next year

[RedFoxRick]

That's so nuts

[Mixery33]

starkes überholmanöver 5**