Ana "Bia" Beatriz Caselato Gomes de Figueiredo, or Bia Figueiredo (born March 18, 1985) is a Brazilian racing driver. She 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.[2]

Ana Beatriz de Figueiredo
De Figueiredo in 2023
Nationality Brazilian
BornAna Beatriz Caselato Gomes de Figueiredo
(1985-03-18) March 18, 1985 (age 39)
São Paulo, Brazil
Awards2008 Firestone Indy Lights Rookie of the Year
2003 Formula Renault 2.0 Brazil Rookie of the Year
IndyCar Series career
29 races run over 4 years
2013 position29th
Best finish21st (2011)
First race2010 São Paulo Indy 300 (São Paulo)
Last race2013 Iowa Corn Indy 250 (Iowa)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of March 31, 2014.

Career

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Early career

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Ana started her career in karting races. Initially funded by her family, "Bianinha" ("Little Bia") began kart racing at age eight.[3]

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.[3]

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, Ana 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.

 
Ana driving in the Firestone Freedom 100 in 2008

2008

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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.[4] 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.[5] 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."[6]

2008 Awards

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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.

2009

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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.[7] She also skipped the final race of the season due to funding issues. She finished 8th in points despite missing the two races.

2010

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Bia at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May 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.[8] Further participation in the 2010 IndyCar Series season was confirmed and announced on May 12, 2010.[9] 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]

2011

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For the 2011 IndyCar Series season she competed full-time for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the #24 car.[10] Bia broke her wrist in the opening laps of the first race at St. Petersburg causing her to miss the next race and requiring her to compete with a brace for the large part of the season.

2012

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On March 8, 2012, Bia tested for Andretti Autosport, driving James Hinchcliffe's car #27 during a session of the open test at Sebring, with an eye to her running that team's fourth car at April's IndyCar Series event in her home town of São Paulo.[11] On April 5 it was announced that she would compete in the 2012 São Paulo and Indianapolis races for Andretti Autosport with assistance from Conquest Racing.

2014–present

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In 2014, De Figueiredo began competing in Stock Car Brasil.[12] Competing in around 120 races, she scored two top-five race finishes and a best championship result of 24th in 2018 before taking maternal leave. De Figueiredo returned to racing full-time in 2023 via the Copa Truck series.[13]

In June 2020, De Figuereido's husband and father-in-law were charged with embezzling BR$9 million from the Lagos Rio Health Institute, around a sixth of which was alleged to have funded her career in Stock Car Brasil.[14]

Motorsports career results

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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

American open–wheel results

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(key)

Indy Lights

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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

IndyCar Series

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Year Team Chassis No. Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Rank Points Ref
2010 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dallara IR-05 23 Honda SAO
13
STP
ALA
LBH
KAN
30th 55 [15]
25 INDY
21
TXS
IOW
WGL
TOR
EDM
MDO
SNM
24 CHI
24
KTY
MOT
HMS
26
2011 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 [16]
2012 Andretti Autosport Dallara DW12 25 Chevrolet STP ALA LBH SAO
20
INDY
23
DET TXS MIL IOW TOR EDM MDO SNM BAL FON 29th 28 [17]
2013 Dale Coyne Racing 18 Honda STP
22
ALA
24
LBH
14
SAO
25
INDY
15
DET1
DET2
TXS
MIL
19
IOW
22
POC
TOR1
TOR2
MDO
SNM
BAL
HOU1
HOU2
FON
29th 72 [18]
Years Teams Races Poles Wins Podiums
(Non-win)
Top 10s
(Non-podium)
Indianapolis 500
Wins
Championships
4 3 29 0 0 0 0 0 0

Indianapolis 500

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Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
2010 Dallara IR-05 Honda HI7R V8 21 21 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
2011 Dallara IR-05 Honda HI7R V8 32 21 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
2012 Dallara DW12 Chevrolet IndyCar V6t 13 23 Andretti Autosport/Conquest Racing
2013 Dallara DW12 Honda HI13TT V6t 29 15 Dale Coyne Racing

Complete Stock Car Brasil results

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Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Rank Points
2014 ProGP Chevrolet Sonic INT
1

15
SCZ
1

22
SCZ
2

18
BRA
1

21
BRA
2

16
GOI
1

11
GOI
2

23
GOI
1

20
CAS
1

Ret
CAS
2

DNS
CUR
1

30
CUR
2

DNS
VEL
1

18
VEL
2

15
SCZ
1

21
SCZ
2

17
TAR
1

27
TAR
2

14
SAL
1

21
SAL
2

19
CUR
1

Ret
32nd 15
2015 União Química Bassani Peugeot 408 GOI
1

19
RBP
1

20
RBP
2

DNS
VEL
1

23
VEL
2

17
CUR
1

20
CUR
2

10
SCZ
1

24
SCZ
2

DNS
CUR
1

Ret
CUR
2

DNS
GOI
1

Ret
CAS
1

24
CAS
2

22
MOU
1

Ret
MOU
2

DNS
CUR
1

Ret
CUR
2

Ret
TAR
1

23
TAR
2

Ret
INT
1

18
32nd 13
2016 União Química Bassani Peugeot 408 CUR
1

Ret
VEL
1

17
VEL
2

24
GOI
1

18
GOI
2

14
SCZ
1

23†
SCZ
2

DNS
TAR
1

16
TAR
2

6
CAS
1

23
CAS
2

Ret
INT
1

13
LON
1

21
LON
2

17
CUR
1

Ret
CUR
2

19†
GOI
1

15
GOI
2

21†
CRI
1

19
CRI
2

11
INT
1

Ret
26th 57
2017 Full Time Academy Chevrolet Cruze GOI
1

Ret
GOI
2

Ret
VEL
1

Ret
VEL
2

DNS
SCZ
1

Ret
SCZ
2

6
CAS
1

Ret
CAS
2

11
CUR
1

16
CRI
1

23
CRI
2

20
VCA
1

23
VCA
2

21
LON
1

28
LON
2

Ret
ARG
1

Ret
ARG
2

DNS
TAR
1

Ret
TAR
2

16
GOI
1

17
GOI
2

16
INT
1

24
29th 28
2018 Ipiranga Racing Chevrolet Cruze INT
1

Ret
CUR
1

Ret
CUR
2

Ret
VEL
1

22
VEL
2

16
LON
1

Ret
LON
2

14
SCZ
1

21
SCZ
2

Ret
GOI
1

10
MOU
1

17
MOU
2

5
CAS
1

Ret
CAS
2

Ret
VCA
1

17
VCA
2

Ret
TAR
1

16
TAR
2

11
GOI
1

Ret
GOI
2

15
INT
1

17
24th 21
2019 Ipiranga Racing Chevrolet Cruze VEL
1

19
VCA
1

22
VCA
2

16
GOI
1

Ret
GOI
2

22
LON
1

Ret
LON
2

4
SCZ
1

23
SCZ
2

Ret
MOU
1

13
MOU
2

21
INT
1

Ret
VEL
1

19
VEL
2

20
CAS
1

15
CAS
2

10
VCA
1

15
VCA
2

18
GOI
1

Ret
GOI
2

19
INT
1

16
25th 73

Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as she completed over 90% of the race distance.

Complete IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2019 Heinricher Racing w/ Meyer Shank Racing GTD Acura NSX GT3 Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 DAY
12
SEB
8
MDO DET WGL
4
MOS
6
LIM ELK
13
VIR LGA PET
7
16th 137
2021 Team Hardpoint EBM GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY SEB
5
MDO DET WGL WGL LIM
ELK LGA LBH VIR PET 51st 280
Source:[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b IndyCar.com. (12 July 2008) History -- Again[permanent dead link] IndyCar. Accessed 12 July 2008.
  2. ^ DesMoinesRegister.com. (20 June 2009) [1][permanent dead link] Des Moines Register. Accessed 20 June 2009.
  3. ^ a b Wagner, Phillip. (30 July 2008) Is Bia Brazil's Danica Patrick (Part 1) Archived September 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Motorsport.com. Accessed 31 July 2008.
  4. ^ Knapp Schilke, Nancy. (1 January 2008) Schmidt gives opportunity to Beatriz-Figueiredo Archived July 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Motorsport.com. Accessed 1 January 2008.
  5. ^ Lewandowski, Dave. (1 January 2008) Battistini holds off Antinucci at the Yard of Bricks[permanent dead link] IndyCar. Accessed 24 May 2008.
  6. ^ Braun, Travis. (16 July 2008) Beatriz looks to carve out own image among women racers USA Today. Accessed 3 August 2008.
  7. ^ Lewandowski, Dave. (June 20, 2009) SSM Sweep[permanent dead link], IndyCar. Accessed 16 October 2009.
  8. ^ BiaFigueiredo.com (23 February 2010) Fórmula Indy: Ana Beatriz fecha com a equipe Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Archived February 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine BiaFigueiredo.com. Accessed 23 February 2010.
  9. ^ GPUpdate.net (12th May 2010) Beatriz to compete in 500 with Dreyer & Reinbold GPUpdate.net. Accessed 30 January 2011.
  10. ^ Dreyer & Reinbold Racing names Ana Beatriz as driver Archived March 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, AutoWeek, March 3, 2011, Retrieved 2011-03-03
  11. ^ The Indianapolis Star, March 9, 2012, edition
  12. ^ "Ana Beatriz".
  13. ^ "Bia Figueiredo to race in Brazilian Copa Truck". Racers: Behind the Helmet. 19 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Bia Figueiredo linked with embezzlement case in Brazil". Motorsport.com. 28 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Ana Beatriz – 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  16. ^ "Ana Beatriz – 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "Ana Beatriz – 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "Ana Beatriz – 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  19. ^ "Ana Beatriz Results". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
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