By Felipe do Brazil & Michael Eiseman - guest photos by Scott Haber and Caroline Nakao.

See also: The Chronicles of Felipe do Brazil at http://rhythmofhope.spaces.live.com/

From 2001 through 2009 Brazilians at the Indianapolis 500 have led 34% of laps and won 44% of the time!

With five talented Brazilians in the field it seemed four might finish in the top-ten, and at one tme Brazilians ran 3, 4, 5, and 9. Then one after another Brazilians fell out of the race to accidents caused by contact and mechanical failure. But the final Brazilian on the track, a man who only weeks earlier was on trial and we all feared might never race again, retstored our joy!

Follow up:

At Indianapolis the winner drinks milk. It's Indiana after all

Sunday morning was filled with optimism. Mario Morães pictured with our own Michael Eiseman below, who had been lightning quick in practice, was relaxed and confident. Veteran fellow Brazilian Bruno Junqueira offered him some tips and Morães was playful with the media, me included, outside his team sponsor's hospitality tent. Unkown to most people though Mario's father is in a Texas hospital with cancer. Surprisingly fast practice speeds and 7th place qualifying position seemed to bode well, and it seems fair to assume that Mario was looking forward to performing well for his father. He unfortunatly crashed with Andretti around the 1st lap and was out for the rest of the race.

While the teams and drivers worked through race-day routines, so did the media. But eventually the cars were moved to the starting grid, the drivers were strapped in and it was time for the historic first centennial running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Hélio Castroneves was sitting at the pole and favored to win, and Tony Kanaan pictured below with Michael Eiseman and in his 7-11 car, the only driver to have led in each of his first Indy 500s, was starting from the second row and a sentimental favorite.

Hélio fell back and Target Chip Ganassi teammates, both former Indianapolis 500 champions, dominated well into the second half of the race. But, the Ganassi team's dominance was fed by an inordinate number of laps run under the caution flag, which maintained the running order, and by the fact that, unknown to us at the time, Hélio was just pacing himself. And Tony appeared to be holding back.

Said Hélio later: "We were just taking it easy. It was good, actually, because behind I knew what I needed to do. But once I got in the front, it was never look back. What a day. This place is magical".

Chip Ganassi teammates Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon dominated early. The Chip-Ganassi entries continued to look very strong. But in due time the Brazilians, minus lightning quick Morães, began to make a statement. Kanaan, Castroneves, and Matos were running 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively. Meira had moved up to 9th from his row five 14th starting position.
Kanaan, Castroneves and Matos running 3-4-5. Hélio appeared to benefit from pit stops. Matos and Meira, meanwhile, lost precious running positions in one particular pit sequence. Vitor's car had become engulfed in flames while in the pits. It took quick action by a fire crew to put out the flames and Vitor communicated to his team that he wanted to continue to race.

Matos repeatedly clawed his way back up the field following pit stops.

Meira had been consistently stronger before the fire in the pits.

With Castroneves chasing Kanaan, Tony 's car had a rear suspension failure. Castroneves and Danica Patrick saw it and Patrick was overheard on radio communications saying it really looked bad and she hoped Tony was alright. Said Tony: "I don't know. Something broke in the middle of the straightaway. I hit head-on on the wall. I don't think the cameras caught that on the first hit, and then I went for a wild ride. I rest my head on the headrest and closed my eyes".

Kanaan continued "I knew it was going to be a big one. I'm pretty much beat up. I have to thank my guys and the championship people who have kept me in shape. And thank you to the safety team. I hit the wall at 190 mph, and I'm standing here talking to you. I'm a little sore, and I'm going to be sore tomorrow. Something broke in the rear suspension at 190 miles an hour, and I have to thank the safety crew that I can walk back to my motorhome."

All and all it was a fantastic Race, we are glad Helio won the race! Uur group from APEX Brasil was actually pulling for Tony Kanaan. Caroline and I enjoyed every minute and would gladly go back next year!