Return to Chicagoland

Thiago in Victory Lane.

The last time Thiago competed at Chicagoland Speedway, in September 2004, he started from the pole, led every lap and won the race to move one step closer to his eventual Infiniti Pro Series title.















Thiago celebrates his Chicagoland 100 win.

As the USAC Silver Crown Series prepares for the USG Fiberock 100 on July 7, Thiago is poised for another dominant run at the tricky 1.5-mile track outside Chicago.

Although engine problems plagued Thiago during a recent Silver Crown test at Chicagoland, he nonetheless posted a top speed of 167.701 mph.

"We just did a few laps to get back in the car and get comfortable," Thiago said. "We made a lot of changes on the car, and once we made it a little too low and the car kept bottoming out. In Turn 3, the car began to get sideways, and I just had to save it and keep it from hitting the wall.

"It's totally different to run this kind of car here, but it helped in bringing back a lot of fond memories. I do like this track a lot, and it was different to drive a Silver Crown car here. It'll be great to run with NASCAR on the weekend we are here. We're looking forward to coming back and having a little better luck the next time."

Flashback: 2004 Infiniti Pro Series Championship

Thiago celebrates his 2004 Infiniti Pro Series championship.

Thiago rewrote the Indy Racing League Infiniti Pro Series record book in 2004, winning the championship by a 134-point margin and leading 588 of 850 possible laps.

Thiago, whose first win in the series came as a rookie in the 2003 season finale, won six of 12 races in 2004, including a record four in a row. The talented Brazilian won the first of eight pole positions at Phoenix, where he became the first driver in IRL history to lap the field. He followed with consecutive victories at Indianapolis, Kansas and Nashville.

Thiago returned to Victory Lane at two of the final three races of the season, including the season finale at Texas Motor Speedway.


Thiago with the Infiniti Pro Series championship trophy at the 2004 IRL Awards Ceremony.

Richmond race update

Race day at Richmond began on a positive note as Thiago posted the second-fastest time in pre-race practice. Unfortunately, his bad luck returned during the race when a wheel-nut failure forced an early end to his run on lap 66. Thiago was classified 9th.

Richmond Times-Dispatch 100 race results: (100 laps) 1. Bud Kaeding, 2. Jay Drake, 3. Brian Tyler, 4. Wayne Reutimann Jr., 5. Josh Wise, 6. Pete Shepherd III, 7. Dave Steele, 8. Pablo Donoso, 9. Thiago Medeiros, 10. Aaron Pierce, 11. Rich Tobias Jr., 12. Tim Barber, 13. Bryn Gohn, 14. Rodney Weesner. 49:41.900

Richmond qualifying update

Photo courtesy Kenneth Plotkin, motorsport.com

Qualifying for the Richmond Times-Dispatch 100 at Richmond International Speedway was rained out, so the starting line-up was determined by combined practice times. Unfortunately, Thiago's first practice session was cut short due to engine problems, and he missed the second session while the PDM team changed the engine.

Thiago will start from the 10th position for Saturday night's race.

Here's what Thiago had to say about Friday practice:

"Friday was the first time I'd been on track at Richmond. Considering that we only did 10 laps before we had the engine problem and we were still only half a second off the pace, it wasn't that bad. The first time I went out, the car was pushing. Then when we came in and made a change, the car was loose on entry. I saw a problem with a valve and knew something was wrong with the engine. Luckily, I was able to pull in before it blew up. I actually did my best lap on the last lap when the engine was already losing power. For the race, we're running the same engine we did at Kentucky, which didn't have any problems. It will be a long race, so we'll see. It should be good."

Family photos

Thiago is very close to his family and friends, who travel to as many of his races as they can.


Thiago, his mom and dad, and his girlfriend Aline celebrating his Infiniti Pro Series title during the Indy Racing League championship cruise in 2004.



Thiago and Aline walking the runway during the CARA Charities fashion show prior to the Indy 500.




Thiago hugs his mom following his dramatic Indy 500 qualifying run as his dad and Aline look on.

Fitness and Fun

When he's not racing, Thiago maintains an intense fitness regimen that includes long-distance cycling, running and weight-lifting.

For fun, Thiago enjoys wakeboarding, playing video games, listening to music and playing soccer with friends.

Thiago's Career Highlights

2006
•Competing in the USAC Silver Crown Series for PDM Racing, focusing on pavement events. Made IndyCar Series debut in No. 18 PDM Racing entry at the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 in May. Finished 31st following an electrical problem on Lap 24.

2005
•Participated in IndyCar Series testing at California Speedway in September, driving for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. Served as part of the broadcast team for Brazilian cable network BAND TV’s coverage of IndyCar Series races.

2004
•Dominated the Infiniti Pro Series, the Indy Racing League’s official development series. Set new series records with six victories and eight pole positions en route to the series championship. Led 11 of 12 races for a total of 588 laps, more than all other drivers combined. Won the Futaba Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Made history as first Infiniti Pro Series driver to lead all 100 laps and lap the field en route to victory at Phoenix International Raceway. Passed IndyCar Series rookie test in August 2004 at Chicagoland Speedway in a Patrick Racing car. Chosen to participate in an IndyCar Series test with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in November at Kentucky Speedway.

2003
•Finished fourth in point standings and was the top rookie in the Infiniti Pro Series. Captured the pole position for his first oval race, the season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Earned first Pro Series victory in the season finale at Texas Motor Speedway.

2002
•Finished fourth in point standings in South American Formula 3, despite contesting only eight of nine events. Earned one pole position.

2001
•Finished third in point standings in South American Formula 3. Earned five wins and five pole positions in 12 events.

2000
•Competed in South American Formula 3. Earned one victory and one pole position en route to sixth place overall.

1999
•Made South American Formula 3 debut. Earned one pole position and finished 10th in point standings.

1998
•Won Brazilian Formula Chevrolet championship.

1997
•Made debut in Brazilian Formula Chevrolet.

1996
•Earned one pole position en route to fourth place in Brazilian karting championship.

1993
•Finished third in Brazilian karting championship.

1991-92
•Started racing career in karts.

Great article about Thiago's Indy 500 qualifying effort

Rookie Medeiros well-qualified kid
May 23, 2006
By Mike Brudenell, Detroit Free Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- He gave me a hug and headed off into what, for him, was the great unknown. I don't mind saying, I was fighting hard to control my emotions.

A reporter should distance himself from the story, or the subject, right? Keep it professional. Just print the facts, and, please, no tears.

Easy to say, but when you're being embraced by rookie Thiago Medeiros an hour before the biggest gut test of his young life, you forget what that crusty old editor taught you years ago.

Medeiros, a 23-year-old driver from Sao Paulo, Brazil, qualified Sunday for this weekend's Indianapolis 500 -- his first 500 -- in last place, and in a car that resembled an automotive version of Dr. Frankenstein's monster.

His family was there to watch him take four laps in the No. 18 Ethanol Brazil Panoz/Honda, which was sewn and glued back together from spare parts donated by other teams after a crash in practice May 18.

Forget about the speed -- 215.729 m.p.h. -- it was the manner in which Medeiros went about qualifying for the race, and the respect he showed the people who helped him get there, that mattered.

To read more of this article, click on the headline above.

Ready for Richmond

Thiago will compete in his second Silver Crown series event this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. The race starts at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 24. It will be broadcast on The Outdoor Channel on Saturday, July 15 at 5 p.m.

Welcome Thiago Fans!

Welcome to the unofficial fan blog for Thiago Medeiros, driver of the No. 18 PDM Racing car in the USAC Silver Crown series.

Some info on the 2004 IRL Infiniti Pro Series champion, who made his IndyCar Series debut at the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 this year:

Birthdate: July 24, 1982
Residence: Indianapolis
Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Ht./Wt.: 6-3/185
Marital Status: Single