Fast Facts: Simona de Silvestro

Credit: IndyCar Media/LAT Photo USA 

Simona de Silvestro, driver of the No. 78 for HVM Racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series, was the 2010 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. Here are a few fast facts on this Swiss driver and her road to North America’s top open-wheel series.

• Simona de Silvestro was born September 1, 1988 in Thur, Switzerland; as a teen, she moved to Europe to focus on karting. In 2004, she competed in the French Formula A Championship, moving to the Formula Renault 2000 Championship in Italy one year later.


• de Silvestro came to the United States in 2006 to compete in the Formula BMW USA Championship; she finished fourth in points with one win and eleven top 10 finishes. In 2007, she moved to the Toyota Atlantic Championship, earning two top 10 finishes as a rookie; she followed that up one year later with eight top 10s and her first win at Long Beach. In 2009, de Silvestro earned four wins and four poles on her way to a third-place finish in points.


• de Silvestro graduated to the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2010, driving for HVM Racing. In her first Indy 500, she qualified 22nd, one of four women to make the race. She went on to finish 14th, earning Rookie of the Year honors. She finished 19th in points in her first full-time season on the circuit.


• Learn more about Simona de Silvestro at http://www.simonadesilvestro.com/.