Simona de Silvestro

By Andrew Cutler
March 2 2010

Add two more women to the the ranks of IndyCar Series drivers. Switzerland's Simona de Silvestro has finally inked a deal with HVM Racing, putting her in the seat of the #78 Stargate Worlds car. The twenty-one year-old has three years of Atlantics Series (formerly the feeder series for the now-defunct CART/CCWS) under her belt, with five wins to her credit.

Simona participated in last week's pre-season test at Barber Motorsports Park with HVM, turning in some impressive lap times once she came to grips with the car.

In the past few weeks there had been a rumor going around that the IRL was considering not allowing de Silvestro to participate in any of the oval races on the IndyCar schedule until she had 'proven' herself in a Firestone Indy Lights oval race (something that several other rookie drivers over the past few seasons with no oval experiance have NOT been required to do), but that appears to have unfounded.

Meanwhile, Ana Beatriz, a veteran of the past two FIL seasons with two victories to her credit, has put togeather a deal to drive a third car for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for the season opener in Sao Paulo, Brazil. "This is very special for me doing my debut in the IZOD IndyCar race at my home event," she told reporters. "It’s also very special to be the first female Brazilian race car driver to race there and it will be a great experience." 

Ana is currently working on finding the funding to run other events throughout the 2010 IndyCar season. 
 

de Silvestro For Full Season, Beatriz For Sao Paulo

Discussion started by Indy Racing League , 02/03/2010 05:38

Indy Racing League
02/03/2010 05:38

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

sessions
02/03/2010 17:46

Look out Danica a Swiss brown eyed blonde from foreign shores.
Photo op competitions could get our feisty little darling in a tizzy. Especially if she has a decent ride and can drive.

sessions



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:03:02:19:33:25 by sessions.

Reply Quote Report

Washbush
03/03/2010 01:13

What is it with you guys? Leave Danica out of this. Seriously! Make her be a real driver. The more fuss you make out of beauty pageant racing, the more beauty pageant racing you will get. Stand up for your rights! Demand good racing instead! Demand good race tracks. Demand good cars. Demand good drivers. Just don't allow the media to spoil the sport for the sake of a few photos and more money. A girl wants to drive? Great! Then, let her get in the damn car and drive the wheels off of it.

You will have to look long and hard to find a better looking woman race car diver than Lynn St.James. When we say her name today, what we think of is a damn good race car driver. The lady can and did drive. Tell the sponsors that you will buy their stuff when they support women who can and do drive. Sponsors will put their money where we tell them we want them to put it. Can you imagine what GoDaddy would do if we told them we would not spend another dime with them until Danica wins three in a row? Come on! Tell them we want more women who drive. There are plenty of chickies at the mall...

J

Reply Quote Report

IndyAndy
03/03/2010 04:55

Well said: I agree about St. James. I also still believe that, once she gets her team ramped up, Sarah Fisher will yet prove to be as good as Danica. Look out for Ana Beatriz too - I think that she has real potential.

I havn't been following Atlantics, so I don't know anything about Simona, but I wish her all the best.





Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2010:03:03:13:40:16 by IndyAndy.

Reply Quote Report

sessions
03/03/2010 07:39

Well, Say what you wish but Danica's profile is two fold. Race driver and her marketability. That Marketability has to do with her gender and looks. Danica so far has driven a top car to top positions. That's a strong reason to believe in her as a good race driver regardless of gender. But, sadly there will be those who will exploit her gender and looks and not put the emphases on her driving ability. They will also compare her appearance to another woman if she compares in driving ability and looks. It won't happen between males. Tony K looks (vs) Castroneve's in a non issue because their looks won't make money.
Beauty and Sex sells, like it or not !

sessions

Reply Quote Report

gturner
03/03/2010 15:04

Quote:

What is it with you guys? Leave Danica out of this. Seriously! Make her be a real driver. The more fuss you make out of beauty pageant racing, the more beauty pageant racing you will get. Stand up for your rights! Demand good racing instead! Demand good race tracks. Demand good cars. Demand good drivers. Just don't allow the media to spoil the sport for the sake of a few photos and more money. A girl wants to drive? Great! Then, let her get in the damn car and drive the wheels off of it

While I freely admit that Danica gets far more attention than her results warrant, it's is simply unfair to remotely suggest that Danica is not a "real driver." She outperformed Tony Kanaan in equal equipment last year. She's won more races than VItor Meira, and I don't remember anybody ever trying to dismiss him as a driver. Is she a great driver? No, but she certainly belongs in the Indycar series on talent alone.

As for Simona DiSilvestro, I saw her in a couple Formula BMW races in Montreal in 2006 (or 2005, I'm not sure). From what I remember, she was really aggressive and came on stronger as the races went on, finishing top 5 in both. I know a lot of time has passed and drivers don't always continue to develop, but she looked promising at the time.

Reply Quote Report

sessions
03/03/2010 16:59

I don't see in any of the posts that anyone has doubted Danica's driving ability. Because of her gender she gets additional press. That's a positive thing IMHO.
If Simona has what it takes it will only create a (double your pleasure, double your fun) atmosphere in the Indy car world.

sessions

Reply Quote Report

Message List Search Log In

Your Name:
Subject:

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net