IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Tony Kanaan and Vitor Meira were victorious in a different type of race over the weekend.
“Now I can say I’m an Ironman,” Kanaan relayed a few hours after crossing the finish line in the Ford Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.
Kanaan and countryman Meira completed the grueling 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 24.2-mile run in under 13 hours. Both had competed in Ironman 70.3 events, but this was their first full-scale endurance race.
“The day after a car race doesn’t feel this bad,” said Kanaan, who checked in at 12 hours, 52 minutes, 40 seconds.
Meira completed the race in 12 hours, 24 minutes, 2 seconds. A total of 1,918 male and female triathletes who qualified or participated via a lottery jumped in the Pacific Ocean in Kona for the start of the event.
“This was awesome, and painful,” said Meira, who along with Kanaan is resting and recovering before getting in the race car Oct. 13 for the initial practice session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the IZOD INDYCAR World Championships Presented by Honda. “The pros are unreal.”
Maybe this will spur on the 36-year-old Kanaan and the 34-year-old Meira: Craig Alexander, 38, of Australia, won the event for the third time and set a course-record 8 hours, 3 minutes, 56 seconds in the process. How awesome is that? After completing the consecutive swim and bike, he ran a 2:44.03 marathon.
Congrats guys! We are so proud of you!
Congratulations to both of you on your successful finish to the Ironamn. You have set a standard for others to achieve. Now, on to the big show. Maybe this will turn into a successful return to Indy car and you both get to the podium in the last race. Time will tell but rest up and get ready. 1 week to go to the finale. Good luck from your Canadian fans in Edmonton.
Too Cool. I actually went to the website just to see how you guys did. Thanks for the extra ammunition everytime I have the arguement that Race drivers are atheletes.
Man, I’m sore just reading about it. Congratulations on a truly impressive endeavor.
I spoke with Tony on the track at Vegas just before he climbed in to his car and invited him to Hawaii for some rest and relaxation after the race and season…. he humbly replied he was just in Hawaii last week so I figured he had probably played a round of golf and had some umbrella drinks by the pool…. little did I know he did the IRONMAN race…. right on too both competitors