Thiago Medeiros

IRL IndyCar Series champion Tony Kanaan and IRL Menards Infiniti Pro Series champion Thiago Medeiros have been named to the Auto Racing All-America Team by the members of the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association.

Kanaan, who became the first driver in a major North American series to complete every possible lap during the 2004 season, was the leading vote getter in the open wheel category, which also included Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice and IndyCar Series runner-up Dan Wheldon.

Rice also earned All-America honors by placing on the second team after finishing third in the open wheel vote. Rice, who was a first- team selection in 2000, narrowly missed earning first team honors for the second time in his career, falling three votes shy of second place.

Medeiros, who rewrote the Menards Infiniti Pro Series record books with six wins and eight pole positions in 2004, was also involved in a close vote. The 22-year-old Brazilian edged promising road-racer Scott Speed by one vote to earn first-team honors in the at-large division.

Kanaan and Medeiros are the first Brazilian drivers to earn All- America honors and are among 13 first-time honorees. Other racers earning first team honors include Sebastien Bourdais (open wheel), Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson (stock car), Ron Fellows, Max Papis/Scott Pruett (road racing), John Force, Tony Schumacher (drag racing), Steve Kinser, Bobby East (short track), Martin Truex Jr., Bobby Hamilton (touring series) and Bill Auberlen (at large).

All three drivers will be honored at the AARWBA banquet January 15 in Pomona, California. The driver receiving the most votes, regardless of category, will be announced as the 35th winner of the Jerry Titus Award.

Press release
IRL