INDYCAR drivers get the beat

IndyCar drivers have the beat

They quickly got the rhythm of the dance and drums, and subsequently were invited to participate in one of the parades of Carnival in 2012.

"That would be a lot of fun," said Raphael Matos, who joined Helio Castroneves, Oriol Servia and E.J. Viso at the samba school Vai-Vai (loose translation: go and just do it) in São Paulo.

Participants at samba schools — a gathering spot, social club and community outreach program rolled into one — in many Brazilian cities plan their theme for Carnival, make costumes and their float, plan and practice the music and dance, etc., for more than nine months. Come Carnival time (in 2012 it's late March), samba schools compete for various prizes and trophies in the multitude of parades that take place in the Anhembi Sambadrome that is part of the circuit for the Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle.

"I had a little experience playing drums in Brazil a long time ago, and I enjoyed it much to be next to the people who are professionals teaching the samba," Matos said. "It was great to join some of the tradition in Brazil."

In another part of the city, Ana Beatriz visited the nation's soccer museum and the Assistance Association for Disabled Children as part of Racing For Kids. AACD is the largest association in Brazil supporting physically disabled children.