Beatriz Is Fifth Woman In 2010 Indianapolis 500 Field
May 11, 2010 | By Paul Kelly
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has named rookie Ana Beatriz as the driver of its fourth entry for the 2010 Indianapolis 500, as she could be one of a record five women to make the field for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Beatriz, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, will drive the No. 25 Dreyer & Reinbold entry starting on Indianapolis Star Opening Day, Saturday, May 15 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Race Day is Sunday, May 30.
It’s the team’s fourth entry as Beatriz will join regular drivers Justin Wilson and Mike Conway plus former 500 Mile Race Chase co-Rookie of the Year Tomas Scheckter.
“We are excited about having Ana back with the team,” team co-owner Dennis Reinbold said. “She did a great job for us in Brazil, and it’s good to have her in our fourth entry. Ana really showed us her talent when we ran her back in March. We look forward to running her as she attempts to make her Indianapolis 500 debut.”
Beatriz will be the fifth female – the most in race history – attempting to qualify May 22-23 for the 33 starting positions, joining regular IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Simona De Silvestro, Milka Duno, Sarah Fisher and Danica Patrick.
Beatriz, a two-time race winner in Firestone Indy Lights, has competed the past two years in the Firestone Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a best finish of fifth in 2008 in a Sam Schmidt Motorsports car. That season, she finished third in the series standings.
She made her IZOD IndyCar Series debut in the Sao Paulo Indy 300 in March with a solid 13th place, advancing nine positions from the start.
“I’m very excited to be back in an IZOD IndyCar with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and to be competing in the biggest open-wheel event in the world, the Indianapolis 500,” said Beatriz, who will have primary sponsorship from Ipiranga, FlowGuardGold and Monange. “It will be a dream come true to have my debut in the Indy 500 in the Centennial Era, and I hope to have a smooth and very competitive month of May. Hopefully my experience in Indy Lights can help me at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”
Beatriz will join fellow Indianapolis 500 Chase Rookie of the Year candidates Bertrand Baguette and Mario Romancini (Conquest Racing), Takuma Sato (KV Racing Technology), Jay Howard (Sarah Fisher Racing), Sebastian Saavedra (Bryan Herta Autosport) and De Silvestro (Team Stargate Worlds/HVM Racing) this month.
***
2010 Indy 500 tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 30, are on sale now. Race Day ticket prices start at just $20.
Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.