Ferreira Brings Home an 8th-Place Finish for BHA in St. Petersburg

Topics:  Duarte Ferreira, Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Andrew Herta
Bryan Herta Autosport
March 27, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Duarte Ferreira made his Firestone Indy Lights debut this afternoon at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg finishing eighth in the support race to the IZOD IndyCar Series season opener. It was an impressive start to the season for the 18-year-old from Luanda, Angola, who started 14th in the #28 LS Sports/Sonangol/BHA entry.

“I am proud of how the team performed this weekend,” said team co-owner Bryan Herta. “We had a nice looking and well turned out car. Duarte did a good job in making progress from the first session through to the race. We turned some of our fastest laps of the weekend in the race. He brought us an eighth-place finish in his first Indy Lights race and that is something we can build on.”

The 45-lap race featured numerous battles throughout the field, and Ferreira was able to benefit from a late-race caution and restart to move into eighth place on Lap 44.

“The race was difficult,” said Ferreira. “This track needs your full concentration. I was battling with understeer at the start but the car was better as the race went on and I turned some of my best laps at the end of the race. I really like this track. I want to thank the team for doing a good job and also my sponsors for making this possible.”

Race Results:
1. Josef Newgarden – Sam Schmidt Motorsports
2. Conor Daly – Sam Schmidt Motorsports
3. Peter Dempsey – 02 Racing Technology
8. Duarte Ferreira – Bryan Herta Autosport

Bryan Herta Autosport will return to racing action at Barber Motorsports Park on April 10.