Simona de Silvestro: Back to the Indy 500
UNIQUE CHANCE Simona de Silvestro wants to qualify for this year's Indy 500 in a newly formed team led by women. If the "Swiss Missile" manages to do so, it will be her sixth start at the Indy 500. Her team is Paretta Autosport, which will receive technical support from x-time winning and champion team Penske. Team founder and [...]
Their team is Paretta Autosport, which will receive technical support from x-time winning and champion team Penske. Team founder and owner is Beth Paretta, who has made a name for herself in the American automotive industry and racing.
Project for the advancement of women
The "Race for Equality & Change" project, which is supported by the IndyCar organization and the Roger Penske-owned Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has set itself the goal of promoting and providing equal opportunities for women in racing. The first banner bearer will now be the 32-year-old Swiss woman.
The prerequisite for their participation in the Indy 500 on May 30, 2021, is successful qualification for one of the 33 starting slots. Neither the initiators of the project nor Penske and their new team have any doubts about that.
Early star moments in Indy
After victories and third place overall in Formula Atlantic, Simona de Silvestro's star rose in 2010 when she won the Rookie Award in Indianapolis (14th place). In four full IndyCar seasons from 2010 to 2013 and three races in 2015, her best individual result thereafter was a second place in Houston in 2013.
In 2014, her attempt and that of her management to prepare her for Formula 1 with Sauber failed for budget reasons.
After a season in FIA Formula E in 2014/15 with Andretti Autosport (first woman in the points), she turned to Australian V8 Supercars. Although the Swiss was decently fast and popular, she didn't really make the breakthrough in Australia in terms of results. However, this was not only due to her.
Porsche release
In fall 2019, she became the first woman to be appointed to the Porsche works squad. She has since raced in the ADAC GT Masters and is a simulator driver for Formula E. She received clearance from Porsche to return to the most famous car race in the USA.
Simona de Silvestro: "I am enormously excited about this incredible opportunity to return to Indianapolis and Indy 500 with Paretta Autosport. My career once really took off with my involvement in the IndyCar Series. To return there with Beth and her new team in partnership with Team Penske is a special and rare opportunity. Part of this project to bring women into motorsports is very important to me and how I would like to see the future of racing. I thank everyone who is making this possible."
