14 Facts About Raphael Matos

Raphael Matos was born on August 28,1981 and is a Brazilian professional racing driver.

Raphael Matos was the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights Series champion and the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Series champion.

Raphael Matos continued with the Sierra Sierra team in Atlantics in 2007 and clinched the championship with several races remaining in the season, securing for himself the $2 million "scholarship" for a ride in Champ Car for the 2008 season.

However, Raphael Matos decided to pass on the scholarship and sign with Andretti Green Racing to drive in the Indy Racing League's Firestone Indy Lights Series in 2008, where he won the series championship.

Raphael Matos competed in the full 2009 IndyCar Series season for Luczo-Dragon Racing.

Raphael Matos was the fastest rookie qualifier in his first Indy 500 and ran in the lead pack, but had a crash with Vitor Meira in which Meira was injured.

Raphael Matos captured seasonal Rookie of the Year honors by a wide margin over former F1 driver Robert Doornbos.

Raphael Matos was running at the finish of each of the last ten races of the season, consistency that led to 13th in the championship despite few top ten finishes.

Raphael Matos failed to qualify the AFS entry for the 2011 Indianapolis 500.

Raphael Matos was the fastest Rookie during the 2009 Indy 500 qualifying.

Raphael Matos raced full-time in Stock Car Brasil between 2013 and 2015, claiming a race win in 2014, and a best of 13th overall in 2015.

Raphael Matos claimed that he used the undisclosed substance in question in order to treat several tumors he had since he was 18.

In 2018, Raphael Matos started racing in the Trans-Am Series, and won the TA2 class championship at his first attempt.

Raphael Matos won the class championship again in 2021, after finishing in first place in six out of twelve races.