Curt Cavin continues to fill in the details of yesterday's game of musical chairs, adding this anecdote.
Meira said Panther officials sent him an e-mail Monday to say his contract wouldn't be renewed for the No. 4 car he has driven since 2004."To: vitormeira@pantherracing.com. Subject: You're fired." Now that's cold. Lest we forget, just two years ago Panther co-owner John Barnes famously expressed his man-crush for Meira.
"Put two and two together," said Meira, who spent Tuesday contacting other IndyCar teams.
"Panther can't see anybody driving the 4 car but Vitor Meira. I can tell you, it would cost me my house and home and everything else, my wife would divorce me if he wasn't driving our car. We all love him."I'm guessing Barnes didn't have email then.
...so, by inference, can we assume that John Barnes is screwing a pit lizard and living out of his car now?
To: JBarnes
From IRL Fans Everywhere
Re: Vitor
On behalf of all IRL fans let me say that you send Vitor and email was B/S!
May you, your team, and your new (again) driver be a backmarker with Milka next year.
Doing it by email was cold. At least give him the word face-to-face.
Ouch that's got to hurt..
What a way to fire someone. Or even 'let them go'. My respect for Panther just dropped a notch or two.
I'm a Brit but I don't like Wheldon, I'd rather see Meira do well - and now doubly so.
I am SO glad dh and I decided not to buy those National Guard caps at Infineon!
I think they should have called him. In all likelihood Vitor would have found out before a face to face was possible, and at least he heard it from them first, but damn...I mean...an email...for one of the most popular drivers in the league? I went to three races this year, and three races last year, and I can tell you from first hand experience that Vitor got more applause during the introductions than Wheldon or Dixon. Come to think of it the only drivers that really got appluaded were Vitor, Danica, Marco, and Tony. I think we know where he belongs now.
So this was on the Q&A on panthers site.
"A. (9-4-08) This needs to be cleared up: Vitor was not fired over Email. Per his contract, Vitor and his management had to receive 'written notification' that the option on his contract was not being picked up. The letter must be sent prior to him being officially informed. He received that notification, via Email, and John Barnes called him immediately after to schedule a meeting to discuss the parting of ways."
So this was on the Q&A on panthers site.
"A. (9-4-08) This needs to be cleared up: Vitor was not fired over Email. Per his contract, Vitor and his management had to receive 'written notification' that the option on his contract was not being picked up. The letter must be sent prior to him being officially informed. He received that notification, via Email, and John Barnes called him immediately after to schedule a meeting to discuss the parting of ways."
WHy the hell did it post it twice--Jeff delete one of those please.