Simona de Silvestro
| Simona de Silvestro | |
|---|---|
 Simona de Silvestro in May 2010. | |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Born |
1 September 1988 Thun, Switzerland |
| IndyCar Series career | |
| Debut season | 2010 |
| Current team | Andretti Autosport |
| Car no. | 25 |
| Former teams |
HVM Racing KV Racing Technology |
| Starts | 68 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| Best finish | 13th in 2013 |
| Previous series | |
| 2007–2009 2006 2005 |
Atlantic Championship Formula BMW USA Formula Renault 2.0 Italia |
| Awards | |
| 2010 | Tony Renna Rising Star Award |
Simona de Silvestro ("de" pronounced with a long E; born 1 September 1988) is a Swiss race car driver. She currently drives for Andretti Autosport in the Indycar Series. The nickname which has been applied to her is "The Iron Maiden".[1]
Racing career
She raced for Newman Wachs Racing's Nuclear Clean Air Energy/Entergy team in the Atlantic Championship in 2008 and for Team Stargate Worlds in 2009. She won the Atlantic race at the 2008 Long Beach Grand Prix, making her the second woman to win in that series and providing NWR with its first win.[2] She won four times during the 2009 season and led in points for most of the season. She ultimately finished third in the standings after retiring on the first lap during the season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
De Silvestro participated in an IRL IndyCar Series test on 8 December and 9, 2009 at Sebring International Raceway, a joint effort between HVM Racing and Team Stargate Worlds.[3]
2010
De Silvestro competed full–time in the IndyCar Series for HVM Racing for the 2010 season. On 22 May 2010, she qualified in the 22nd position for the 2010 Indianapolis 500. She finished the race in 14th position, and earned Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors. She suffered a burned right hand after a fiery crash at the Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway on 5 June 2010. HVM Racing strongly criticized IndyCar Series safety officials for their response to that accident.[4] For the season de Silvestro started 17 races, finished ten, and recorded two top-10 finishes, with a best finish of 8th at Mid Ohio. She finished 19th overall in the series standings and was runner-up to Alex Lloyd for Rookie of the Year honors.
2011
The 2011 season began with promising fourth and ninth place finishes at St. Petersburg and Barber; however the next race at Long Beach was not as successful: she started 18th and finished 20th. At the next race, the São Paulo Indy 300, an accident between her and Helio Castroneves put her nine laps down, after the race was postponed to the next morning due to severe rain conditions. She also received criticism from broadcasters during the race as she raced hard against the leaders even when she was several laps down, rather than letting them pass. She started 13th and finished 20th, nine laps down, but recorded the fastest lap of the race.
She received second degree burns on her right hand and superficial burns on her left hand in a crash during practice for the 2011 Indianapolis 500 on 19 May.[5] The crash, which sent her car sailing into the catch fence before flipping and landing on its left tires, was caused by mechanical failure in the left rear of her No. 78 Dallara/Honda. On 21 May, using her backup car, she qualified 24th for the race with a four-lap average of 224.392 mph.
After a crash at the Milwaukee Mile during qualifying, de Silvestro was cleared to drive in the race. but withdrew from the race after experiencing dizziness and impaired vision. At the next race in Iowa, she was not cleared to compete due to continuing dizziness.[6]
De Silvestro missed Round 13 of the season at Sonoma, after being refused entry to the United States. An agent working for US Customs became concerned over frequent trips from country to country that the 23-year-old racer had been taking as of late, and when de Silvestro tried to explain herself, the official refused to believe that the woman was a professional racer.[7] She finished 20th overall in the 2011 series standings.
2012
De Silvestro returned to HVM Racing for the 2012 IndyCar Series season, piloting the No. 78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy sponsored Dallara/Lotus. The entry was one of five cars to start the season powered by the new Lotus engine. The Lotus proved to be significantly underpowered compared to the Chevrolet and Honda engines used by the rest of the field. By the end of May, all entrants other than de Silvestro's No. 78 had abandoned the Lotus powerplant and switched to either Chevy or Honda. De Silvestro was saddled for the entire season with the inferior Lotus. The underpowered engine made it impossible for de Silvestro to be competitive, resulting in consistently poor qualifying and race results. On several occasions the car was black flagged for failing to maintain the minimum safe speed, including the 2012 Indy 500. For the season, de Silvestro qualified for all 15 races on the schedule, started 14, and finished 6. Her best finish was 14th at Detroit and Iowa. She finished 24th overall in the series standings.
2013
On 30 October 2012, de Silvestro signed on with KV Racing Technology for the 2013 IndyCar Series season, driving the No. 78 Dallara/Chevrolet with sponsorship from Nuclear Clean Air Energy. De Silvestro joined veteran driver Tony Kanaan to make KV Racing Technology a two-car team for the 2013 season.[8] On 5 October 2013 in the Grand Prix of Houston, de Silvestro finished second in the first race for her first podium finish, joining Danica Patrick and Sarah Fisher as the only women in IndyCar history to record a podium finish.[9]
2014
Sauber
In February 2014, Formula One team Sauber announced that de Silvestro would join the team as an "affiliated driver" and would undergo a year-long training programme with the team, with the ultimate objective of racing in 2015.[10] De Silvestro began testing with the team at the end of April 2014 at Fiorano Circuit.[11] She had her first drive in the 2012 Sauber on April 26, and completed 112 laps during the test.[12] However, in October 2014, Sauber owner Monisha Kaltenborn stated the team had suspended de Silvestro's driving chances due to contractual troubles.[13]
2015
De Silvestro started the 2015 IndyCar Series season driving the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with Andretti Autosport. On April 2, 2015, de Silvestro announced she had agreed to a deal with Andretti Autosport to drive the No. 29 Honda in an attempt to make the 2015 Indianapolis 500.[14]
Motorsports career results
Career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Car No. | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Formula Renault 2.0 Italy | Cram Competition | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 20th | |
| 2006 | Formula BMW USA | EuroInternational | 14 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 113 | 4th | |
| 2007 | Champ Car Atlantic | Walker Racing | 5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 19th |
| 2008 | Atlantic Championship | Newman Wachs Racing | 34 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 167 | 8th |
| 2009 | Atlantic Championship | Team Stargate Worlds | 78 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 176 | 3rd |
| 2010 | IZOD IndyCar Series | HVM Racing | 78 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 242 | 19th |
| 2011 | IZOD IndyCar Series | HVM Racing | 78 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 225 | 20th |
| 2012 | IZOD IndyCar Series | HVM Racing | 78 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 182 | 24th |
| 2013 | IZOD IndyCar Series | KV Racing Technology | 78 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 362 | 13th |
| 2014 | FIA Formula One World Championship | Sauber F1 Team | Affiliated driver | ||||||
| 2015 | Verizon IndyCar Series | Andretti Autosport | 25/29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44* | 6th* |
* Season in progress.
American open–wheel racing results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Atlantic Championship/Champ Car Atlantic
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Walker Racing | LVG 17 |
LBH 28 |
HOU 15 |
POR1 16 |
POR2 16 |
CLE 11 |
MTT 7 |
TOR 18 |
EDM1 13 |
EDM2 22 |
SJO 10 |
ROA 22 |
19th | 69 |
| 2008 | Newman Wachs Racing | LBH 1 |
LS 10 |
MTT 9 |
EDM1 8 |
EDM2 19 |
ROA1 9 |
ROA2 18 |
TRR 4 |
NJ 11 |
UTA 5 |
ATL 4 |
8th | 167 | |
| 2009 | Team Stargate Worlds | SEB 5 |
UTA 1 |
NJ1 2 |
NJ2 1 |
LIM 1 |
ACC1 3 |
ACC2 2 |
MDO 2 |
TRR 1 |
MOS 10 |
ATL 2 |
LS 10 |
3rd | 176 |
| Years | Teams | Races | Poles | Wins | Podiums (Non-win)* |
Top 10s (Non-podium)** |
Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
- * Podium (Non-win) indicates 2nd or 3rd place finishes.
- ** Top 10s (Non-podium) indicates 4th through 10th place finishes.
IndyCar Series
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | HVM Racing | Dallara IR-05 | Honda HI7R V8 | SAO 16 |
STP 16 |
ALA 21 |
LBH 17 |
KAN 21 |
INDY 14 |
TXS 24 |
IOW 21 |
WGL 24 |
TOR 9 |
EDM 22 |
MDO 8 |
SNM 13 |
CHI 23 |
KTY 25 |
MOT 23 |
HMS 23 |
19th | 242 | ||
| 2011 | HVM Racing | Dallara IR-05 | Honda HI7R V8 | STP 4 |
ALA 9 |
LBH 20 |
SAO 20 |
INDY 31 |
TXS 26 |
TXS 27 |
MIL 25 |
IOW DNS |
TOR 10 |
EDM 24 |
MDO 12 |
NHM 16 |
SNM | BAL 12 |
MOT 14 |
KTY 25 |
LVS1 C |
20th | 225 | |
| 2012 | Lotus-HVM Racing | Dallara DW12 | Lotus DC00 V6t | STP 24 |
ALA 20 |
LBH 20 |
SAO 24 |
INDY 32 |
DET 14 |
TXS DNS |
MIL 24 |
IOW 14 |
TOR 24 |
EDM 23 |
MDO 23 |
SNM 17 |
BAL 22 |
FON 26 |
24th | 182 | ||||
| 2013 | KV Racing Technology | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet IndyCar V6t | STP 6 |
ALA 18 |
LBH 9 |
SAO 8 |
INDY 17 |
DET 16 |
DET 24 |
TXS 16 |
MIL 24 |
IOW 21 |
POC 11 |
TOR 10 |
TOR 14 |
MDO 11 |
SNM 9 |
BAL 5 |
HOU 2 |
HOU 10 |
FON 8 |
13th | 362 |
| 2015 | Andretti Autosport | Dallara DW12 | Honda HI15TT V6t | STP 18 |
NLA 4 |
LBH | ALA | IMS | INDY |
DET | DET | TXS | TOR | FON | MIL | IOW | MDO | POC | SNM | 17th* | 44* |
* Season in progress.
- 1 The Las Vegas Indy 300 was abandoned after Dan Wheldon died from injuries sustained in a 15-car crash on lap 11.
| Years | Teams | Races | Poles | Wins | Top 5s | Top 10s | Indianapolis 500 Wins |
Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
Indianapolis 500
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Dallara IR-05 | Honda HI7R V8 | 22 | 14 | HVM Racing |
| 2011 | Dallara IR-05 | Honda HI7R V8 | 24 | 31 | HVM Racing |
| 2012 | Dallara DW12 | Lotus DC00 V6t | 32 | 32 | Lotus-HVM Racing |
| 2013 | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet V6t | 24 | 17 | KV Racing Technology |
References
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simona de Silvestro. |
- ↑ Pruett, Marshall (2011-06-21). "INDYCAR: Milwaukee Rewind". speedtv.com. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ↑ ATLANTIC: de Silvestro Becomes Second Winning Woman, speedtv.com, 20 April 2008
- ↑ "HVM Racing Testing De Silvestro at Sebring". HVM Racing Press Release (HVM Racing). 2009-12-07. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
- ↑ HVM criticises safety crew over fire
- ↑ "De Silvestro in massive Indy crash". racer.com. 2011-05-19. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ↑ De Silvestro, Simona (2011-06-30). "Auto Racing – In The Cockpit: Simona De Silvestro, Iowa". auto-racing.speedtv.com. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ↑ http://rt.com/usa/us-customs-driver-silvestro/
- ↑
- ↑ Fryer, Jenna (6 October 2013). "Simona Joins Patrick, Fisher as Podium Finishers". ABC News. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- ↑ "Sauber Names Simona De Silvestro Affiliated Driver". ABC News. 2014-02-14. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
- ↑ "Sauber's female driver to make F1 test debut". Motorsport. 2014-04-11. Retrieved 2014-04-11.
- ↑ "De Silvestro's first run in an F1 car". Motorsport. 2014-04-26.
- ↑ Anderson, Ben (2014-10-02). "Sauber F1 team says it had no choice on Simona de Silvestro". Autosport. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
- ↑ Lewandowski, Dave (April 2, 2015). "Technology company connects with the '500'". IndyCar Series (IndyCar). Retrieved April 19, 2015.
External links
- Official website
- Simona de Silvestro career statistics at Driver Database
- IndyCar Driver Page
- IndyCar 11 in '11 video
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alex Tagliani |
Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year 2010 |
Succeeded by J. R. Hildebrand |
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