Matos Eager to Win 1st IndyCar Series Race

IndyCar Series rookie driver and Miami resident is confident that Luczo Dragon Racing can find a way to Victory Lane this year. Those goals aren’t that lofty when you consider what the talented driver has accomplished so far.

IndyCar Series rookie driver and Miami resident is confident that Luczo Dragon Racing can find a way to Victory Lane this year. Those goals aren’t that lofty when you consider what the talented driver has accomplished so far.



“I really believe we're capable of winning a race this year if we get everything right, said Matos in an interview following the race at Texas. “I think performance-wise on road courses we have what it takes.”

Matos is leading in the Rookie of the Year chase over Robert “Bobby D” Doornbos and Mike Conway. If not for two 20th place finishes at St. Petersburg and Kansas Speedway, Matos would have a stranglehold on the Rookie of the Year standings. Matos was in position to challenge for the Chase Rookie of the Year during the Indianapolis 500 and may have challenged Helio Castroneves in the late-going before tangling with countrymen, Vitor Meira. The Rookie of the Year honors fell into the lap of Alex Tagliani who was given the car that Bruno Junqueira qualified for Conquest Racing. Tagliani did a masterful job of staying out of trouble in his first experience in the Memorial Day classic to finish 11th.

If getting acclimated to racing on superspeedways was difficult enough, Matos must now prepare for the short track part of the schedule. The next two races are on tracks that are less than a mile in length. Iowa and Richmond do not lack for action because the drivers are constantly in traffic. Some drivers have said that racing on these two tracks are like “flying a fighter jet in a washing machine.” In that same washing machine, Matos will have to contend with the perennial series juggernauts like Andretti Green Racing, Team Penske and Target Chip Ganassi Racing.

“I think we have the personnel. I think we have the best people we can possibly get in the team,” explained Matos when asked about his chances against teams like Penske. “I think it takes time to build up a team, especially to fight against Andretti Green, Penske and Ganassi. But we're ready for the challenge. We put ourselves in that position and against the best and I'm doing everything I can to learn as much as I can and to improve every day.

photo courtesy Shawn Payne, IndyCar Media Read more!