Vitor Meira will attend this weekend's Watkins Glen race -- his first appearance at an IndyCar Series event since breaking two vertebrae in a crash at the Indianapolis 500.
The Brazilian has been sidelined until at least the final rounds of the season as a result of the injury, which was sustained in a collision with Raphael Matos. He has been recuperating at home in Florida, but now feels well enough to return to the racetrack to support his A.J. Foyt Racing team.
"The reason I want to go to Watkins Glen is first of all to be with the team," said Meira. "They've been giving me a lot of support since the accident and most of all, they're all my friends and I want to be with them.
"Second of all, to be at the racetrack -- that's where I always want to be and that's where I love to be. I don't want to be at home if I can be at the racetrack."
Meira hopes he can assist his replacement, Ryan Hunter-Reay.
"I'll probably go around the track and watch some cars with a stopwatch and take some times and take notes on some different lines so I can keep Ryan updated on what people are doing out there," he said. "I'll do whatever else the team asks me to do but I'm just not going to be very good changing tires and fueling... the rest I will do!"
The team has already said it is willing to add a second car for Meira alongside Hunter-Reay if he is fit to race again before the end of the season.