NASCAR Cup Series

IndyCar's Meira to compete in Ironman event

Published May. 19, 2010 1:33 p.m. ET

foxsports

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)IndyCar Series driver Vitor Meira will compete in a Half Ironman triathlon in November.

Meira, a Brazilian who finished second at the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and 2008, has competed in several triathlons already. He was invited to do the Nov. 13 Ironman 70.3 in Clearwater, Fla.

The distances - a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run - are all half of the traditional Ironman format.

Meira broke two vertebrae in his lower back after a crash during last year's Indianapolis 500 and missed the rest of the season. He said he now is in good health, and training for the event will help him be more fit as a driver.

Penske Racing's Will Power ran the Indianapolis 500 Festival mini-marathon earlier this month. He ran 13.1 miles in 1:36.46.