Bia Figueiredo

Infobox racing driver
name = Ana Beatriz Caselato Gomes de Figueiredo


pixels =
caption =
nationality = BRA
date of birth = Birth date and age|1985|3|18
place of birth = São Paulo
date of death =
retired =
related to =
current series = Firestone Indy Lights Series
first year = 2008
current team = Sam Schmidt Motorsports
car number = 20
starts = 16
wins = 1
poles = 0
fastest laps =
former teams =
best finish = 3rd
year = 2008
prev series = Formula Three Sudamericana
Brazilian Formula Renault
prev series years = 2006
2003-2005
titles =
title years =
awards = Brazilian Formula Renault Rookie of the Year
award years = 2003

Ana "Bia" Beatriz Caselato Gomes de Figueiredo (born on March 18 1985, in São Paulo) is a Brazilian female racing driver currently competing in the Firestone Indy Lights series. Figueiredo 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.IndyCar.com. (12 July 2008) [http://www.indycar.com/pro/news/story.php?story_id=11980 History -- Again] "IndyCar". Accessed 12 July 2008.]

Career

Figueiredo started her career in karting races. Initially funded by her family, "Bianinha" ("Little Bia") began kart racing at age eight.Wagner, Phillip. (30 July 2008) [http://www.motorsport.com/magazine/feature.asp?C=Special&D=2008-07-30 Is Bia Brazil's Danica Patrick (Part 1)] "Motorsport.com". Accessed 31 July 2008.]

At the age of 12, Afro-Brazilian racing coach Nailor "Nô" Campos, former coach of racers Tony Kanaan, Rubens Barrichello, Enrique Bernoldi and Andre Ribeiro, became her coach and chief mechanic. When Figueiredo'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.

With formal sponsorship, Figueiredo 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, Figueiredo 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.

In 2008, Figueiredo began racing in the American Firestone Indy Lights Series for defending championship-winning team Sam Schmidt Motorsports under the name Ana Beatriz.Knapp Schilke, Nancy. (1 January 2008) [http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=277602 Schmidt gives opportunity to Beatriz-Figueiredo] "Motorsport.com". Accessed 1 January 2008.] Prior to racing in the United States, Figueiredo was referred to as "Bia", not "Ana", and many people, including Figueiredo herself, continue to call her "Bia". Several American reporters have begun to use the name Ana "Bia" Beatriz in their written articles.

Figueiredo 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.Lewandowski, Dave. (1 January 2008) [http://www.indycar.com/pro/news/story.php?story_id=11503 Battistini holds off Antinucci at the Yard of Bricks] "IndyCar". Accessed 24 May 2008.] On 12 July 2008, she led the most laps and won her first Indy Lights race at Nashville Superspeedway.

With the excitement surrounding Figueiredo's victory a reporter asked if she was the next Danica Patrick. She responded, using her Brazilian nickname Bia, "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." [Braun, Travis. (16 July 2008) [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/irl/2008-07-16-beatriz_indylights_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip Beatriz looks to carve out own image among women racers] "USA Today". Accessed 3 August 2008.]

Summary career results

References

External links

* [http://www.biafigueiredo.com/ Bia Figueiredo's official site]
* [http://www.torcidabiafigueiredo.com.br/ Torcida Bia Figueiredo fan site]