Bia Figueiredo
| Ana Beatriz Caselato Gomes de Figueiredo | |
|---|---|
 Bia at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May 2010. |
|
| Nationality |  Brazilian |
| Born | March 18, 1985 São Paulo (Brazil) |
| 2012 IndyCar Series | |
| Debut season | 2010 |
| Current team | Dreyer & Reinbold Racing |
| Car no. | 24 |
| Starts | 4 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Best finish | 30th in 2010 |
| Previous series | |
| 2008–09 2004–06 2003–05 |
Firestone Indy Lights Series Formula Three Sudamericana Formula Renault 2.0 Brazil |
| Awards | |
| 2008 2003 |
Firestone Indy Lights Series ROTY FR2.0 Brazil ROTY |
Ana "Bia" Beatriz Caselato Gomes de Figueiredo (born March 18, 1985 in São Paulo) is a Brazilian racing driver currently competing in the IZOD Indycar Series. Bia, as she is known by friends and fans, won her first Indy Lights race at Nashville Superspeedway on 12 July 2008, becoming the first woman to win a race in the Indy Lights series.[1] On June 20, 2009 Bia won her second Indy Lights race and became the first woman to win a race car event at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Career
[edit] Early career
Bia started her career in karting races. Initially funded by her family, "Bianinha" ("Little Bia") began kart racing at age eight.[2]
At the age of 12, racing coach Nailor Campos, former coach of racers Tony Kanaan, Rubens Barrichello, Enrique Bernoldi and Andre Ribeiro, became her coach and chief mechanic. When Bia's family could no longer fund her racing endeavors at the age of 15, Campos helped her attain sponsorship from the Medley pharmaceutical company, owned by former racer Xandy (Pollini) Negrão, father of racer Alexandre Sarnes Negrão.[2]
With formal sponsorship, Bia finished as runner-up in a variety of karting championships and won the Sorriso Petrobrás Kart Cup championship in 2003.
After three seasons in the Brazilian Formula Renault championship, Bia started competing in Formula Three Sudamericana in 2006, driving for the well-established Cesario Formula team. In 2006, she also drove a Red Bull Volkswagen Touareg for PPD Sports, owned by Pedro Diniz.
[edit] 2008
In 2008, Bia began racing in the American Firestone Indy Lights Series for defending championship-winning team Sam Schmidt Motorsports under the name Ana Beatriz.[3] Prior to racing in the United States, she was referred to as "Bia", not "Ana", and many people, including Bia herself, continue to call her "Bia". Several American reporters have begun to use the name Ana "Bia" Beatriz in their written articles.
Bia placed fifth in the Firestone Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on 23 May 2008, the highest finishing position by a female driver in that race.[4] On 12 July 2008, she led the most laps and won her first Indy Lights race at Nashville Superspeedway.[1]
With the excitement surrounding Bia's victory a reporter asked if she was the next Danica Patrick. She responded "Everybody is making that comparison... But I always say that I'm always going to be Bia. I'm never going to be Danica... I hope there is a place for a Bia now."[5]
[edit] 2008 Awards
The results she demonstrated on and off the track gained the attention of many, and as a result, she was awarded the Tony Renna Rising Star Award. Named after the late driver, the award was given to Beatriz for demonstrating qualities as Renna - teamwork, physical fitness, and resourcefulness.
Also, her third-place result in the final championship standings earned her "Rookie of the Year" honors and places her in a position to be a championship contender in 2009.
[edit] 2009
Bia returned to the #20 Sam Schmidt car for 2009. She was forced to miss the Milwaukee Mile race due to a lack of funding caused by a hard crash in the Freedom 100 the prior week. However, a week later she won the race at the Iowa Speedway, her second series win.[6] She also skipped the final race of the season due to funding issues. She finished 8th in points despite missing the two races.
[edit] 2010
Bia's official Portuguese language site revealed on 23 February 2010 that she will drive a third car for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the São Paulo Indy 300 in March 2010.[7] Further participation in the 2010 IndyCar Series season was confirmed and announced on May 12, 2010.[8] Bia qualified for the 2010 Indianapolis 500 on the outside of row seven with a four–lap average of 224.243 MPH and finished in 21st position after retiring on the final lap of the race, as she was involved in an accident with Ryan Hunter-Reay and teammate Mike Conway.
In December, she won the second race of the Brazilian karting event, Desafio Internacional das Estrelas. Bia became a fan favorite in the event as she went from her starting position of 11th to 1st, overtaking experienced drivers such as Tony Kanaan, Felipe Massa and Rubens Barrichello in the process. She ended 4th in the final standings despite scoring the same number of points as the winner, Lucas di Grassi (it was a four way tie).[citation needed]
[edit] 2011
For the 2011 IndyCar Series season she will compete full-time for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the #24 car.[9]
[edit] Motorsports career results
| Year | Category | Result | Awards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win, PP, FL | Overall | |||
| Karting | ||||
| 2000 | São Paulo Championship (Category B) | Runner-up | Price Racing of 2000 - Kart | |
| 2001 | Brazilian Championship (Category A) | 3rd place | Capacete de Ouro - Kart | |
| São Paulo Championship (Category A) | Runner-up | |||
| Brazil Kart Cup | Runner-up | |||
| 2002 | Brazilian Championship (Category A) | Runner-up | Capacete de Ouro - Kart | |
| São Paulo Championship (Category A) | 3rd place | |||
| 2003 | Sorriso Petrobrás Kart Cup | Champion | ||
| Petrobrás Karting Selective | Runner-up | |||
| Open–wheel | ||||
| 2003 | Brazilian Formula Renault | 2 FL | Rookie of the year - Brazilian Formula Renault | |
| 2004 | Brazilian Formula Renault | 5th place | ||
| 2005 | Brazilian Formula Renault | 3 win, 3 PP | 3rd place | Capacete de Ouro - Fórmula |
| 2006 | Formula Three Sudamericana | 5th place | Capacete de Ouro - São Paulo Citizen Driver | |
| 2008 | Firestone Indy Lights Series | 1 win | 3rd place | Rookie of the Year, Tony Renna rising star award |
| 2009 | Firestone Indy Lights Series | 1 win | 8th place | |
| 2010 | IndyCar Series | 30th place | ||
[edit] American open–wheel results
(key)
[edit] Indy Lights
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Sam Schmidt Motorsports |  HMS 7 |
STP1 3 |
STP2 16 |
KAN 14 |
INDY 5 |
MIL 19 |
IOW 3 |
WGL1 4 |
WGL2 3 |
NSH 1 |
MDO1 14 |
MDO2 5 |
KTY 16 |
SNM1 6 |
SNM2 3 |
CHI 2 |
3rd | 449 |
| 2009 | Sam Schmidt Motorsports | STP1 4 |
STP2 23 |
LBH 5 |
KAN 4 |
INDY 17 |
MIL |
IOW 1 |
WGL 9 |
 TOR 13 |
EDM 12 |
KTY 3 |
MDO 12 |
SNM 5 |
CHI 14 |
HMS |
8th | 320 |
[edit] IndyCar Series
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Dreyer & Reinbold Racing | SAO 13 |
STP |
ALA |
LBH |
KAN |
INDY 21 |
TXS |
IOW |
WGL |
TOR |
EDM |
MDO |
SNM |
CHI 24 |
KTY |
 MOT |
HMS 26 |
30th | 55 | |
| 2011 | Dreyer & Reinbold Racing | STP 14 |
ALA |
LBH 19 |
SAO 24 |
INDY 21 |
TXS1 22 |
TXS2 22 |
MIL 17 |
IOW 23 |
TOR 11 |
EDM 13 |
MDO 17 |
NHM 14 |
SNM 13 |
BAL 16 |
MOT 19 |
KTY 24 |
LVS C |
21st | 212 |
- * Season in progress.
| Years | Teams | Races | Poles | Wins | Podiums (Non-win) |
Top 10s (Non-podium) |
Indianapolis 500 Wins |
Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
[edit] Indianapolis 500
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Dallara | Honda | 21 | 21 | Dreyer & Reinbold |
| 2011 | Dallara | Honda | 32 | 21 | Dreyer & Reinbold |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c IndyCar.com. (12 July 2008) History -- Again IndyCar. Accessed 12 July 2008.
- ^ a b Wagner, Phillip. (30 July 2008) Is Bia Brazil's Danica Patrick (Part 1) Motorsport.com. Accessed 31 July 2008.
- ^ Knapp Schilke, Nancy. (1 January 2008) Schmidt gives opportunity to Beatriz-Figueiredo Motorsport.com. Accessed 1 January 2008.
- ^ Lewandowski, Dave. (1 January 2008) Battistini holds off Antinucci at the Yard of Bricks IndyCar. Accessed 24 May 2008.
- ^ Braun, Travis. (16 July 2008) Beatriz looks to carve out own image among women racers USA Today. Accessed 3 August 2008.
- ^ Lewandowski, Dave. (June 20 2009) SSM Sweep, IndyCar. Accessed 16 October 2009.
- ^ BiaFigueiredo.com (23 February 2010) Fórmula Indy: Ana Beatriz fecha com a equipe Dreyer & Reinbold Racing BiaFigueiredo.com. Accessed 23 February 2010.
- ^ GPUpdate.net (12th May 2010) Beatriz to compete in 500 with Dreyer & Reinbold GPUpdate.net. Accessed 30 January 2011.
- ^ Dreyer & Reinbold Racing names Ana Beatriz as driver, AutoWeek, Marc 3, 2011, Retrieved 2011-03-03
[edit] External links
- 1985 births
- Living people
- Brazilian racing drivers
- Female Formula Three drivers
- Female Indianapolis 500 drivers
- Brazilian Formula Renault 2.0 drivers
- Indy Lights drivers
- IndyCar Series drivers
- Indianapolis 500 drivers
- South American Formula Three Championship drivers
- A1 Grand Prix Rookie drivers
- People from São Paulo (city)
