RFK's Beatriz Makes IZOD IndyCar Debut As 1st Brazilian Female To Race At Home

Racing For Kids' Racer Ana Beatriz, the first female to win a Firestone Indy Lights race, is slated to become the latest driver to graduate from Firestone Indy Lights to the IZOD IndyCar Series.

Beatriz will compete with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the season opener March 14 on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil, the most-populated city in South America.

Brazilian Native Beatriz finished third in 2008 in the Firestone Indy Lights standings for Sam Schmidt Motorsports with one win (at Nashville Superspeedway), nine top-five finishes and 11 top-10 finishes. In '09, she won at Iowa Speedway in the No. 20 Healthy Choice/Sam Schmidt Motorsports car among seven top-10 finishes in 13 races.

"It's great to be with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for the Brazil IZOD IndyCar Series race," she said. "Hopefully we can get the rest together for the whole season. I think the team is very professional and I have great teammates with Mike Conway and Justin Wilson. I hope that I can learn a lot from these British drivers. Both Conway and Wilson are Racing For Kids racers.

"This is very special for me doing my debut race at my home event. It's also very special to be the first female Brazilian race car driver to race there and it will be a great experience."